Dynamic vs Condenser Mic

Dynamic and condenser microphones are the two main families of microphone transducers. A dynamic (moving-coil) microphone has a coil attached to the diaphragm and moving in a magnetic field. It needs no power, is mechanically robust and handles very high sound pressure levels, which makes it common on drums, guitar amplifiers and live vocals. A condenser microphone uses a light diaphragm facing a fixed backplate to form a capacitor. It needs power for its internal electronics and, unless it is an electret, for the polarisation of the capsule, usually from 48 V phantom power. Condenser microphones are generally more sensitive and reproduce transients and high frequencies in more detail, but they are more sensitive to humidity, and their maximum SPL depends on their electronics.