Microphone Frequency Response Charts
So, you in the market for a new mic? What key criteria do you have for selecting the perfect mic? Have you considered checking the frequency response charts?
A recent Shure Notes article covers the topic very well, so I won’t bother re-explaining the whole thing. Here’s an except from their great article:
A microphone’s frequency response chart can tell you a lot about which situations are appropriate for a given microphone and which situations are not.
The chart is usually over the 20 Hz to 20 kHz range, which is the range of human hearing. So, how do you read it?
The horizontal numbers in a microphone frequency response chart represent frequencies (again, usually over the 20 Hz to 20 kHz range) and the vertical numbers represents relative responses in dB (Decibels). As you look at a frequency chart, you can tell how a given microphone performs at certain frequencies.
It’s interesting to check out the frequency response of different microphones. Luckily, they are all published on the internet, so it’s easy to compare the response of the mics.
Here’s the response of the good ‘ol Shure SM58:
Compare that to the Rode Broadcaster:
Comparing the frequency response of these two very different microphones is quite interesting – you notice that the Rode Broadcaster has a much better response in both the high and low frequencies. Another difference between these two microphones is the price – there is a difference of a couple of hundred of dollars, which I suppose isn’t that much to pay for good sound.
Finally, here is a frequency response chart from the AKG C1000S, which I have seen used in quite a few radio studios (including my own):
I’ll leave you to make your own conclusions.
Of course, when selecting microphones you also need to take into consideration the pickup pattern; something which is very important. However, you can get a good comparison between models and brands of microphones from the frequency response chart.