Dynamic Mics are Noiser than Condenser Mics? (ft. Shure SM7B)

In this video I want to address the myth that dynamic mics don't have any noise. That's of course not true. The amount of noise a dynamic mic creates depends on its impedance. I will show you exactly how much noise a dynamic mic creates and compare it to a condenser microphone.

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[libertyDude]

Your videos make it blatantly clear, that I am completely clueless when it comes to audio knowledge.
With that said, I still thank you for the clear and complete presentations of the subject matter your cover.
I always know more after watching than I did before.
Well done!

[geoffgodwin]

I learn so much from your channel. Came for the dbx-286s setup and stayed for the variety of interesting things you teach!

[doraft]

"Just to make Shure", awesome :D

[MichaelWynneCAS]

Excellent video and very clear explanations Julian. Understanding mic specs including strengths and weaknesses of each is critical to choosing the right mic for any application!

[innercynic]

My own practical tests with my own dynamic and condenser mics bear this out. What I "thought" would be the quite microphone, the dynamic, in fact was noisier than the condenser even when taking into account how much more sensitive the condenser was in comparison. Blew my mind!

[christopherjames]

Random video to post this on, I know, but your YouTube channel is awesome. So much useful stuff, even for a noob like me. Thanks!

[TrevorTV]

Very good video, I was aware of this having owned several dynamics and comparing with condensers, but the detail you delve into makes me keenly aware of my lack of intelligence when it comes to math and engineering :D

[danilomedeirosmusica]

Julian, thank you for all the great videos, they are the best theoretical explanations I've seen on YouTube, backed up by great experiments and tests. If I may ask you, could you do a Julian Krause style video on all the different dB types all the way from the mics/instrument thru the preamp, interface, daw and finally to the mastering? As a home studio musician I find it very difficult to understand all the levels, dB types, vu, lfs and always seem to be messing up the gain level in some stage. Thank you so much!

[Mordi]

Interesting! I always assumed dynamic mics were quieter, even though I've personally experienced the opposite in various recording experiments.

[ShiroiAkumaSama]

Fantastic! It compares exactly the two mics I own myself.

[tstankie]

Would you consider making a video about the belief that dynamic microphones reject background noise better than condenser mics? I myself am an acoustic engineer and I can't recall any physical rule that would implicate this. I know that people observe this dependency, because they speak closer to dynamics. But when you take a dynamic cardioid and a condenser cardioid at the same distance and compensate the sensitivity difference with gain, there will be the same amount of room reverb or room noise.
Of course, there is some subjective difference caused by different frequency responses and the high-frequency reverb might be easier to distinct from the source signal. Would you comment on this? Because although I know how it should be, the belief is so common that I'm losing my confidence on this.

[murraystechtime]

Very informative, first video I've seen on this subject. Awesome work and this never even entered my mind, to this extent. I figured there was some because of the mechanical movement between the voice coil and the magnet, just like in a speaker but not that much. Especially the Shure SM7B, wow same equivalent self noise as a medium self noise condenser microphone, like on my MXL 606. I know the preamps with higher gain and the cleaner audio the better, as always. Dynamic microphone equivalent self noise, is a great point to explore, thanks...

[JReilly]

Very interesting topic to tackle - I have not seen this addressed anywhere else...great job! One thing does confuse me, though. Julian, you quoted the SM7b sensitivity as -56.8, however, the spec sheets I find online quote it as -59.0 (1.12mV). Am I incorrect in trying to align the sensitivity figure you presented with the "Output Level" quoted in the spec sheet (this is most likely the case, as I am a relative amateur)? Or, did you measure a different number yourself in your own tests, than what is in the spec sheet?

[bahathir_]

Hi,

Very good video explaining the noise level of certain type of microphones.


Another parameter which we have to includes is the transmission noise'. which is the cable itself. It also picks EMI from surroundings. Dynamics microphone produces very small electric signal.. While travelling through cable it also mixed with surrounding EMI and it amplified by the preamp.


Compared to condenser mic, the output signal is quite high and need lesser gain which also reduce the EMI noise..


So, it is wise to have short cable, to reduce the MI noise level.


Please correct me, if I am wrong about it.


Thank you very much.

[charleslandmark]

I would love to see you do a review of the new shure Behringer mic clones. Great videos, I just discovered your channel.

[helioz]

Finally found an explanation for this, thanksss man

[tristanwalker]

Great video and all but can we talk about that sweater? Looks so good.

[michaelgraflmusic]

I kind of skipped around the video so I may have missed it, but I'd take into consideration that at least when I'm recording my voice, I tend to get a lot closer to a dynamic mic, than to a condenser, which would compensate for the lower sensitivity.

Also, one type of noise can sound different than another type of noise even when matched for energy.

So I guess you really have to actually try out different mics in different situations and listen to the results, as opposed to think too much about the theory behind equivalent noise levels.

[MarketingProf.]

Great explanation! Thanks for the guide :)

[Not-Only-Reaper-Tutorials]

Great explanation for a complex argument like this.