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Microphones & Wireless

Capturing inspired vocal and instrumental performances requires microphones that reproduce every detail with warmth and clarity. Whether singing, speaking, or playing, Sweetwater's condenser and dynamic mics help you sound your best.

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Top Picks for You

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What Is a Sales Engineer?

Skyler Giordano

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The Sweetwater Difference

Why Choose Sweetwater?

At Sweetwater, we have one single goal in mind — to make you a satisfied customer. That single focus is our shared commitment and promise to you, and it drives everything we do at Sweetwater. We’re here to help you live your music dreams by giving you more than any other retailer.

Live Support from Gear Experts

Our on-site Support team is just a phone call away when customers need help getting up and running.

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From guitar picks to complete drum kits, nearly everything ships for free — no minimum purchase required.

Personalized Gear Advice

Every customer has a dedicated Sales Engineer — a personal gear expert — to help them choose the perfect gear with confidence.

Free 2-year Warranty

Our Total Confidence Coverage Warranty gives customers extra peace of mind at no extra charge.

Payment Options for Every Budget

With budget-friendly flexible payments and special financing available, we give customers more ways to pay than anyone else.

About Microphones

From nailing the take to landing the tone, every great podcast, performance, and production starts with the right microphone. Microphones come in a wide range of types suited to different sources, environments, and workflows. Pair your mic with a quality audio interface to complete your signal chain, and explore the basics in Sweetwater’s guide to how a microphone works.

Microphone Categories

Dynamic Mics Are Stage Staples and a Producer’s Secret Weapon

Dynamic mics handle loud sources with ease: guitar and bass cabs, kick and snare drums, and high-intensity singers. They also make a dependable recording mic for home studios with less-than-ideal acoustics, since their natural directional rejection helps reduce room noise. A dynamic mic is the classic singing microphone for live stages, rewarding vocalists who know how to work the mic: stepping in for intimacy and pulling back to let loose. Pair yours with a preamp that offers plenty of clean gain for best performance.

Condenser Microphones Shine on Vocals and Acoustic Instruments

Also known as capacitor microphones, condenser mics are highly sensitive and excel at capturing nuanced sources such as vocal performances and percussion transients. A preferred professional microphone for studio tracking, a large-diaphragm condenser is a go-to option for recording vocals, acoustic instruments, and any source where detail and presence are non-negotiable. Condensers are also increasingly common on live stages.

Ribbon Microphones Bring Vintage Depth to Modern Recordings

Ribbon mics use a thin strip of metal suspended in a magnetic field to yield a smooth, natural tone with soft transient edges. Passive ribbons demand lots of clean gain but reveal beautiful coloration with the right preamp. Active ribbons use phantom power for higher output and broader compatibility with modern interfaces.

USB Microphones Make Podcasting a Snap

USB microphones handle sound pickup and digital conversion without the need for phantom power or an external audio interface, making them a popular option for plug-and-play podcast streams and voice-over work.

Lavalier Mics Keep Hands Free and Sight Lines Clear

Widely used in television and interviews, a lavalier mic is a clip-on option small enough to stay hidden on camera while still delivering a clean audio source.

Shotgun Microphones Capture Dialog and Live Events at a Distance

A shotgun mic is a highly directional microphone built for capturing focused audio in outdoor or ever-changing environments, making it a favorite among videographers and on-location sound recordists.

Specialty Mics Expand Your Setup

Sweetwater also carries headset, wireless, and camera microphones, plus curated microphone bundles to help you build out your kit. Round out your rig with the right microphone accessories, including stands, pop filters, and shockmounts.

Microphone Polar Patterns Explained

A microphone’s polar pattern determines its sensitivity to sound arriving from different directions. Stage and studio mics center on three main polar pattern types:

  • Omnidirectional: picks up sound evenly from all angles.
  • Figure-8: picks up sound from the front and rear, rejecting sound from the sides.
  • Cardioid: picks up sound mainly from the front, rejecting sound from the rear and sides.

Learn more about different polar patterns

What to Consider When Choosing Your Next Microphone

Application

Different microphone types serve different needs. A microphone for recording vocals in the studio demands clarity and detail, while a live guitar mic benefits from midrange punch and dynamic control. Drum mics are built for high SPL and fast transients. Choosing the right mic for your application makes a meaningful difference in the final result.

Budget

You don’t need to spend thousands to achieve professional results. Consider all components in your setup, including your audio interface, preamp, and acoustic treatment, when setting a budget.

Portability

Some microphones are designed for travel. Look for a battery-powered model or pair a compact mic with a portable recorder.

Microphone FAQs: Handy Answers to Common Mic Questions

What Makes Each Microphone Type Unique?

There are four main microphone types: dynamic, ribbon, large-diaphragm condenser (LDC), and small-diaphragm condenser (SDC). Each has its own inherent strengths. For instance, LDCs combine high sensitivity with low self-noise, making them a standout for studio vocals. On the other hand, dynamic mics offer rugged construction and high SPL handling, making them a first choice for drums and amplifiers. For more, see What Is the Difference Between Dynamic and Condenser Microphones?

Which Microphone Type Is Right for Me?

For live vocals on a hot stage, a handheld dynamic with a supercardioid pattern helps minimize bleed. For tracking cello in a treated space, an active ribbon delivers smoothness and dimensionality. For mobile podcasting, a USB condenser offers unbeatable convenience. The right choice depends on your source, environment, and the gear you already own.

Why Shop Microphones at Sweetwater?

With a massive selection of microphones, free shipping, a free 2-year warranty, and 24/7 award-winning support, Sweetwater gives you more than any other mic dealer. Call our Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700 for a personalized recommendation.

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