A dynamic microphone is a rugged and often passive mic prized for its durability, high volume handling, and clean separation between sources. Dynamic mics have been a go-to choice for artists and engineers for the better part of a century, and today they’re a top pick for touring vocalists, home podcasters, and sound engineers working with loud sources like guitars and drums.
Iconic examples of dynamic mics include the Shure SM57 (the President’s mic), the Electro-Voice RE20 (the “Frasier mic”), and the Shure Super 55 (the “Elvis mic”).
Dynamic microphones operate on the electrodynamic principle of induction. They generate electric current as sound waves move a copper coil suspended in a magnetic field. As sound enters the mic capsule, it’s converted (or transduced) into an electric current we know as audio signal. You can think of a dynamic mic like a tiny loudspeaker wired in reverse: instead of an electric signal moving a coil to produce sound, the mic harnesses sound to generate electricity.
Dynamic and condenser microphones may share space in many mic lockers, but their internal designs are quite different. dynamic mics generate signal as sound waves move a coil through a magnetic field, producing voltage proportional to the incoming sound. Their lower sensitivity makes them great at handling loud sources without distorting, soaking up preamp character, and rejecting room noise in untreated spaces. Condenser microphones don’t rely on magnetic induction. Instead, they generate signal electrostatically using two conductive plates, one of which is a moving diaphragm. This gives higher-sensitivity condenser mics the edge for capturing delicate top-end detail on sources like cymbals, acoustic guitar, and vocals in quiet studio settings. To learn more about when to reach for each mic type, check out “What Is the Difference Between Dynamic and Condenser Microphones?”
Thanks to their price and simplicity, dynamic mics offer several key advantages onstage and in the studio:
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