Lesson Plan: Microphones
Tools for Teaching: Introduction to Audio Recording
Lesson Plan: Microphones
Given classroom lecture and textbook content, learners will articulate a basic understanding about microphones. Specific areas of attention include: transducers, standard microphones types, pickup patterns, frequency response, and signal. Content knowledge will be assessed by achieving a score of 70% or better on an in-class paper-and-pencil assessment.
Number of learners: 15-30
Duration: 75 minute class
Activity: lecture/presentation
Equipment: presentation computer with PowerPoint software and USB inputs, video projector and screen, speakers for audio in room (for video playback), example microphones for demonstration, whiteboard, access to internet for video streaming, slide advancer with a pointer
Materials: 'Microphone' slide presentation. Download here: www.metaprod.org/ID/microphonepowerpoint.pptx
Pre-reading preparation: ‘Chapter 4: Microphones’ in Modern Recording Techniques by David Miles Huber & Robert E. Runstein
Step Title Content
1 Welcome video: Name That Mic!
http://forum.mixrevu.com/index.php?topic=45.msg60#msg60
2 Microphone design PPT slide 1 – introduction of microphone design concepts
3 Microphone design PPT slide 2 – element/transducer
4 Microphone design PPT slide 3 – diaphragms
5 Microphone design PPT slide 4 – dynamic mics
6 Microphone design PPT slide 5&6 – condenser mics
7 Microphone design PPT slide 7 – ribbon mics
8 Microphone design Demonstration of microphones
9 Microphone design video: The different microphone types
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2edewYkE_f0
10 Microphone design video: Recording 101: Microphones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5Nza3Z6WTY
11 Microphone design video: Microphone types
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INFUjFJUWBg
12 Microphone design video: A Lesson on Microphone Types
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Zz5kOXK4tE
13 Microphone design video: Dynamic v Condenser Microphones: What's the Difference?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPjUB-KQ3_Q
14 Microphone design video: Condenser Microphone vs. Dynamic Microphone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCqRa1nCYTY
15 Microphone design Discussion
15 Pickup patterns PPT slide 8 – introduction of pickup pattern concepts
16 Pickup patterns PPT slide 9 – cardioid
17 Pickup patterns PPT slide 10 – omnidirectional
18 Pickup patterns PPT slide 11 – figure 8
19 Pickup patterns PPT slide 12 – hypercardioid and supercardioid
20 Pickup patterns PPT slide 13 – frequency response
21 Pickup patterns video: Hearing the different directional patterns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cj18EQQAm8
22 Microphone Signals PPT slide 14 – DI box
23 Microphone Signals PPT slide 15 – phasing
24 Microphone Signals PPT slide 16 – SPL, clipping
25 Microphone Signals PPT slide 17 – impedance
26 Question and Answer
27 Assessment Quiz: Microphones www.metaprod.org/ID/QUIZ-Microphones.pdf
Follow-up references/further study
Videos
The Best Cheap Recording Microphones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEVnimUthCU
The 3 Best Studio Microphones Under $100
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llMCTP22cWA
Home Recording Studio Microphones - My 6 favorite mics and how I use them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy1qGlCumjQ
Picking a microphone for your home studio - Condenser vs. Dynamic, Polar patterns, Budget and more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y8YYFWzvx0
Website references
Microphone Buying Guide
http://thehub.musiciansfriend.com/audio-recording-buying-guides/buying-guide-microphones
Lesson Plan: Microphones
Given classroom lecture and textbook content, learners will articulate a basic understanding about microphones. Specific areas of attention include: transducers, standard microphones types, pickup patterns, frequency response, and signal. Content knowledge will be assessed by achieving a score of 70% or better on an in-class paper-and-pencil assessment.
Number of learners: 15-30
Duration: 75 minute class
Activity: lecture/presentation
Equipment: presentation computer with PowerPoint software and USB inputs, video projector and screen, speakers for audio in room (for video playback), example microphones for demonstration, whiteboard, access to internet for video streaming, slide advancer with a pointer
Materials: 'Microphone' slide presentation. Download here: www.metaprod.org/ID/microphonepowerpoint.pptx
Pre-reading preparation: ‘Chapter 4: Microphones’ in Modern Recording Techniques by David Miles Huber & Robert E. Runstein
Step Title Content
1 Welcome video: Name That Mic!
http://forum.mixrevu.com/index.php?topic=45.msg60#msg60
2 Microphone design PPT slide 1 – introduction of microphone design concepts
3 Microphone design PPT slide 2 – element/transducer
4 Microphone design PPT slide 3 – diaphragms
5 Microphone design PPT slide 4 – dynamic mics
6 Microphone design PPT slide 5&6 – condenser mics
7 Microphone design PPT slide 7 – ribbon mics
8 Microphone design Demonstration of microphones
9 Microphone design video: The different microphone types
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2edewYkE_f0
10 Microphone design video: Recording 101: Microphones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5Nza3Z6WTY
11 Microphone design video: Microphone types
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INFUjFJUWBg
12 Microphone design video: A Lesson on Microphone Types
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Zz5kOXK4tE
13 Microphone design video: Dynamic v Condenser Microphones: What's the Difference?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPjUB-KQ3_Q
14 Microphone design video: Condenser Microphone vs. Dynamic Microphone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCqRa1nCYTY
15 Microphone design Discussion
15 Pickup patterns PPT slide 8 – introduction of pickup pattern concepts
16 Pickup patterns PPT slide 9 – cardioid
17 Pickup patterns PPT slide 10 – omnidirectional
18 Pickup patterns PPT slide 11 – figure 8
19 Pickup patterns PPT slide 12 – hypercardioid and supercardioid
20 Pickup patterns PPT slide 13 – frequency response
21 Pickup patterns video: Hearing the different directional patterns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cj18EQQAm8
22 Microphone Signals PPT slide 14 – DI box
23 Microphone Signals PPT slide 15 – phasing
24 Microphone Signals PPT slide 16 – SPL, clipping
25 Microphone Signals PPT slide 17 – impedance
26 Question and Answer
27 Assessment Quiz: Microphones www.metaprod.org/ID/QUIZ-Microphones.pdf
Follow-up references/further study
Videos
The Best Cheap Recording Microphones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEVnimUthCU
The 3 Best Studio Microphones Under $100
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llMCTP22cWA
Home Recording Studio Microphones - My 6 favorite mics and how I use them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy1qGlCumjQ
Picking a microphone for your home studio - Condenser vs. Dynamic, Polar patterns, Budget and more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y8YYFWzvx0
Website references
Microphone Buying Guide
http://thehub.musiciansfriend.com/audio-recording-buying-guides/buying-guide-microphones