Podcast: : Other types of microphones

All the microphones described previously will serve you well, but they're not the only mics suitable for podcasting. A number of specialized mics might be better suited for your podcast, depending on your situation.

Clip-on (Lavalier) mics
Clip-on mics are common in television news broadcast, because they're small and unobtrusive. This also can be an advantage in podcasting, particularly if your guest has little or no experience talking into a mic. Many folks can be intimidated by large broadcast mics. Clip-on mics are great because the guest can forget about the mic, relax, and give a good interview. Two great lavalier mics are shown in Figure 1.


Figure 1: Clip-on (lavalier) mics: ElectroVoice RE90L, Audio Technica AT803B

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Headset mics
Headset mics can be ideal for some applications. You often see them on tradeshow floors so that the speakers can use their hands and not worry about holding a microphone. The other reason they're useful is that the microphone is very close to the speaker's mouth, so very little background noise is picked up. Some headphones include a built-in microphone, which is handy in situations where you need to wear headphones and want the convenience of a headset mic.

Many, many headsets today are sold by numerous companies to work with your cell phone, your laptop, your PDA, and who knows what else. Many of these headsets are very cheaply made. If you want to go the headset route, stick to the professional models. Most microphone manufacturers make a headset model. Two good headset mics are shown in Figure 2.


Figure 2: Headset mics: Audio Technica ATM75CW, Shure WBH53B

Wireless mics
Wireless microphone technology has been around much longer than wireless connectivity has. A number of different standards and transmission methods exist. Wireless mic setups involve one or more wireless mics and receiver units that convert the wireless signal back into analog audio. Wireless can be pretty slick, but it can be pricey. Setups start at around $500 per single mic and go up from there. The other problem is that wireless systems are prone to interference. Also, wireless microphones run on batteries, and as we all know, batteries always run out right in the middle of the most important part of the interview, right?

PZM / boundary mics
Pressure zone microphones (PZM mics) are designed to be placed on a large flat surface. They're ideal for conference room tables or podiums. They're kind of cool because they don't look like mics, so folks tend to ignore them. An example of a PZM mic is shown in Figure 3. They're not going to give you the same performance as a quality handheld or clip-on mic, simply because they tend to be further from the people speaking. However, they can be useful in situations where it's not practical to put a microphone in front of every single speaker.



Figure 3: PZM mic: Crown PZM 185

USB mics
One of the most interesting recent developments has been the arrival of the USB microphone. USB mics have built-in digital audio conversion, so instead of connecting them to a mixing desk, you plug them directly into your workstation. All mixing and signal processing of your podcast must be done in your audio-editing software, because you aren't using external hardware. You also are limited by the number of USB ports your workstation has. However, if you're looking for the ultimate in portability, a USB mic may be ideal. A number of USB mics are available, including the ones shown in Figure 4.


Figure 4: USB mics: Samson CO1U, Blue Microphones Snowball, Sound Professionals USB Mic-1

If you're looking for the ultimate in portability, Sound Professionals makes a USB mic the size and shape of a small flash drive, which offers amazing quality for the money. While it doesn't offer the quality of a dedicated microphone placed in front of each person talking, it's an indispensable tool for the laptop warrior.