A microphone is a vital tool when creating any sort of multimedia content such as movies, songs, shows, and videos. It is used to record instruments, vocals, and different types of sounds. The microphone is a type of transducer that works by converting sound waves into audio signal or electrical energy.
There are 2 main types of microphones which is the dynamic microphone and the condenser microphones. Dynamic microphones are more versatile and it is suitable for louder sounds. On the other hand, condenser microphones are more suited for capturing subtle sounds.
For those who are wanting to start making videos on YouTube with the best mic, record their own song, have their own podcast microphone, or teach classes online, it is great to invest in a good quality microphone. With the amount of different types of microphones available in the market, it can be very hard to choose which one to purchase.
Not all of them are the same and each one has their own unique qualities and special features. It is also important to note that you don’t necessarily need to spend a lot of money when buying a lavalier microphone.
Just because it is the expensive one does not mean that it is the best for you. You would have to be aware of what exactly it is that you need.
To ease your decision-making, we have reviewed one of the best microphones in the market, the LyxPro LDC-10 Cardioid Condenser Studio Microphone.
Table of Contents
LyxPro LDC-10 Cardioid Condenser Microphone
Features
The LyxPro LDC-10 Cardioid Condenser Studio Microphone is a must-have for any person who wants to record songs, do voice overs on videos, do podcasts, and more. This microphone is from a company that manufactures diverse high quality audio equipment that are professional-grade yet suitable for home use.
Although they only started last 2013 and are quite new to the industry, they have proven themselves as a great brand. Their product ranges from headphones, speakers, vocal booths, cable adapters, and even guitars. To know more about their cardioid condenser studio microphone, below is a list of its features:
- Cardioid polar pattern
- LDC-10 large 18 mm diaphragm microphone
- Has a frequency response of 20 Hz – 20 KHz
- – 38 dB ± 2 dB sensitivity
- 136 dB SPL
- Made from pure aluminum diaphragm capsule
- This microphone’s body is made from professional-grade zinc
- Has a brass grille
- Plug and play microphone: does not require any extra accessory and software
- Includes a studio shock mount
- The XLR microphone cable’s length is 10 ft.
- Comes with a foam wind screen to reduce unwanted sounds
- Clear and crisp audio quality
- Great quality for the price; works better than other microphones from well-known brands that are very expensive
- It is very sensitive yet ignores unwanted background noises
- Comes with a lot of great accessories: the XLR cable, studio shock mount, and foam wind screen
- Great microphone for starters
- Very easy to set up and operate with or without the help of the instruction manual
- The quality of the studio shock mount and XLR seems to be cheaply made
- Although it is a great quality microphone, it is not that suitable for professional use
- The stand it comes with is not that stable
- Has a tendency of picking up a lot of echo
Possible Alternatives
As great as the LyxPro LDC-10 Cardioid Condenser Studio Microphone is, there may still be some people who are looking for something else. For those who are looking for something more professional, you may want to check out the Rode NT1-A Cardioid Condenser Microphone.
It has a few similarities with the one from LyxPro. Both microphones has cardioid polar pattern and has a frequency rate of 20 Hz – 20 kHz. What makes them different is that the one from Rode is bit bigger and it only has a 5 dB self-noise.
The sound of this microphone is also a lot clearer and is more sensitive. This high-end microphone is a perfect choice if you have a big budget.
If you are looking for a cheaper option, you may want to consider the Professional Cardioid Condenser Microphone from ZaxSound. This microphone has some similarities with the one from LyxPro.
What makes this different is that is suitable for all types of devices like computers, cameras, Go Pros, and smartphone, and it is also smaller. Despite of its small price tag, the quality of this is great as well.
Lastly, if you are looking for a microphone that can capture sound from any direction, you may want to consider the MXL 770X Multi-Pattern Vocal Condenser Microphone. This microphone has a feature that lets you change the polar pattern of the microphone. You can choose from omnidirectional, cardioid, or figure 8.
Conclusion
The quality of audio highly depends on what microphone you use. No matter how great your speakers are, it would be no use if the quality of the audio itself is bad.
If you are a multimedia content creator, a singer, or an online teacher, it is vital that you invest on a good microphone. A good microphone does not have to cost a lot of money. There are a lot of microphones in the market that are high quality yet inexpensive, just like the LyxPro LDC-10 Cardioid Microphone. You can see prices and buy online here.
This is not only suitable for song recordings, it can also be used to record voice overs and host podcasts. This microphone also comes with useful accessories such as an XLR cable, foam wind screen, and studio shock mount.
So if you plan to start sharing your talent to the world or create great videos, do not hesitate to consider purchasing this microphone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LyxPro Mic good?
The LyxPro is an XLR based condenser mic with a cardioid polar pattern. It has many good features such as a strong zinc-based body, low in-built self-noise (16dB), wide frequency range (20Hz to 18KHz), high SPL range (134dB), and high sensitivity (-34 to 3dB).
Due to its cardioid pattern, the mic is good for podcasting, music recordings, live gaming and streaming, and other applications that have a unidirectional voice input. The mic comes with its shock mount, stand, and foam windscreen.
The LyxPro is good for those who are looking at home recordings. It is not a professional studio quality mic, but this is an excellent mic, reasonably priced, and gives a high-quality sound for a home set up.
What is a cardioid condenser?
Condenser mics use an electrical component known as a capacitor, which is also called a condenser (hence the name). A capacitor consists of two metal plates that can hold a charge between them. The amount of charge held depends on the distance between the two plates.
One of the plates of the condenser acts like the diaphragm of the microphone. When the artist sings, the diaphragm vibrates, thereby changing the distance between the two plates of the condenser. The change in distance causes a small current to be released. Thus, your sound gets encapsulated in the form of an electrical current, which can then be stored and processed for further use.
Cardioid is a type of polar pattern. A cardioid mic picks up sounds from directly in front of the mic and one of its sides. This property makes a heart-shaped pattern around it that is most sensitive to sounds, giving it the name “cardioid.” See what is a cardioid mic here.
Should I get a dynamic or condenser microphone?
I have already explained how condenser mics work above. Dynamic mics use a very different technique to produce sound. The diaphragm connects to a metal coil wound around a magnet. When the diaphragm moves, it causes the coil to move too. This movement generates a small electric current that encapsulates the sound.
The key difference here is that a dynamic mic is not as sensitive to sound as a condenser. The coil has its weight, so it takes a higher SPL to move the coil. So, if you speak on a lower volume, a dynamic mic will not pick it up. On the other hand, condensers are very sensitive to every sound.
The other key differences are durability and price. Dynamic mics are fairly rudimentary in design, so they are quite cheap. The diaphragm is heavier, so the mic is more durable as well.
For these reasons, dynamic mics are used more often in live concerts, field recordings, and places where you expect a higher noise level. In contrast, condenser mics are used in studio recordings and home setups to find finer sound quality in a relatively low noise environment.
Best Studio Mics was started by a husband and wife team who love the sound and the technicals behind recording it. Both are professional theatre artists, one with a stage management background and one more on stage. One also has experience in film and television work and the different audio requirements of that arena.