How to Buy a Microphone for Speech

If you are dictating into a recorder, you don't want to pick up the conversation in the next cube. Yet if you are recording a conference meeting, you want to pick up everyone at the table. This article covers selecting the right type of microphone for specific uses.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer Microphones
• Microphones

1. Buy a magnetically shielded microphone to use with a computer (these are normally sold as "computer microphones").

2. Make sure the microphone has the correct plug if you will use it with a computer, portable recorder or camcorder.

3. Buy a unidirectional microphone for dictation, for use with a public address system, for broadcasting or for other situations in which you want to pick up only an individual voice.

4. Consider a stereo, cardioid or unidirectional microphone for interviewing.

5. Use a lavaliere (clip-on) microphone when you need your hands available and won't be using a podium.

6. Buy an omnidirectional microphone for recording lectures or meetings.

7. Employ a close-talk microphone (one that is built into a headset) for word processing with voice-recognition software. If a microphone is included with the software, use it instead of any other computer microphone you have.

8. Buy a close-talk or stick-on microphone for basic computer speech recognition (operating system instructions, task control, and so).

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a portable tape recorder with a built-in omnidirectional microphone (usually on the top side for sitting on a desk or table), you can buy a unidirectional microphone to gain intelligible sound-quality for dictation.
• If you have a portable tape recorder with a built-in unidirectional microphone, you can buy an omnidirectional microphone to pick up more distant sounds.
• Make sure a close-talk microphone is satisfactorily comfortable before buying it.
• Check to see that your tape recorder has a microphone input before buying a microphone. Most portables have inputs; most decks do not.
• Make sure a computer microphone is compatible with your computer (in rare cases, it may not be).