.

Also question is, what is a condenser microphone and how does it work?

The term condenser is actually obsolete but has stuck as the name for this type of microphone, which uses a capacitor to convert acoustical energy into electrical energy. Condenser microphones require power from a battery or external source. The resulting audio signal is stronger signal than that from a dynamic.

One may also ask, can you use a condenser mic live? Condenser microphones are most often found in recording studios. However, many condenser mics are now being used in live sound environments. The condenser microphone is a very simple mechanical system, simply a thin, stretched conductive diaphragm held close to a metal disk called the back plate.

In respect to this, should I use a condenser or dynamic microphone?

Because of the thin diaphragm, condenser mics are used to pick up delicate sounds. While condenser mics are great for capturing acoustic guitars, they don't work well for big booming sounds. If you want to mic up a singer with a powerful voice, or any big booming sound, your best option is a dynamic microphone.

How do you power a condenser microphone?

Condenser microphones almost always need phantom power. This is a 48V voltage that is usually supplied to the microphone from the mixing board or mic preamp by the XLR cable. If you're using an XLR-to-stereo-mini plug then it's probably not going to work. You could buy a USB audio interface.