A microphone converts the air vibrations of a voice or an instrument into an electrical signal for recording or amplification. The type, the polar pattern and the distance all change the sound you capture.
The basic idea
The closer to the source, the more direct sound you get; the farther away, the more of the room’s ambience enters.
What to check when using one
Think about the sound you want and the unwanted room noise, then move the position and the angle a little at a time and listen.
Dynamic microphones and condenser microphones are the two common types.
