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Microphone Sensitivity: One Hot Microphone

Topics: Equipment Usage, microphones By: Chris Huff October 18, 2012

Microphone Sensitivity: One Hot Microphone

Sometimes you need a hot microphone.
Photo provided by RAWKU5

Microphone sensitivity becomes a topic of discussion as soon as it becomes a problem.  I’d hazard a guess that most people don’t think about microphone sensitivity until the moment when a microphone picks up a sound that explodes out of the house speakers, to which someone says, “that microphone’s really hot!”

The definition of microphone sensitivity

Microphone sensitivity is the measure of the microphone’s ability for converting acoustic pressure into an electric voltage.  The higher the sensitivity, the less amplification required to bring the sound to a useable level on the mixer channel.  The less the sensitivity, the greater the amplification required.  Talking about amplification is in the area of the mixer’s pre-amplifier.  This pre-amp boosts the signal coming into the mixer. Depending on your mixer, it will be called by different names such as head amp or pre amp.

Microphones which appear significantly more sensitive than others, in the signal chain, are thought of as “hot” or as a “hotter” microphone.

Digging into the details

Sensitivity is measured against a specific baseline in a specific way.  That is to say, it’s measured against a specific sound level, on-axis to the microphone, in a free sound field.  Even more specifically, the microphone sensitivity is based on a 1 kHz frequency at 94 dB SPL.  Specifically speaking, that is.

The measurement of acoustic pressure converted into electric energy is listed in two ways.  It can be listed as milli-volts (mV) produced per Pascal unit.  It can also be declared as dBV per Pascal unit.  Don’t worry too much about the new “Pascal unit” terminology.  A Pascal unit is the unit for pressure and in this case, it’s a constant of 94 dB SPL.

Shure SM58 sensitivity example

Let’s look at an example for the Shure SM58 and I’ll explain how it works out…

SM58: -54.5 dBV/Pa (1.85 mV)

This means it produces 1.85 milli-volts when a 1 kHz frequency is broadcast at 94 dB SPL.  Now, let’s look into the dBV value.  This is where things get a bit complicated.  Think, “less is more.”

It produces 54.5 decibels relative to 1 volt when a 1 kHz frequency is broadcast at 94 dB SPL.  We know that decibel is a ratio measurement.  But here’s the kicker, it’s not always about sound pressure. dBV is a measurement of voltage.  Therefore, the ratio calculation is comparing 1.85 mV and a reference level of 1 volt.  This means that when the SM58 microphone is hit with our 94 dB SPL 1 kHz frequency, the microphone produces a signal 54.5 decibels BELOW one volt.  This is why it’s a negative number.  This is also why -50 dBV is more sensitive than -60 dBV.

Shure microphone sensitivity examples

Vocal Mic’s

  • SM58: -54.5 dBV/Pa (1.85 mV)
  • SM86: -50 dBV/Pa (3.15 mV)

Instrument

  • SM57: -56 dBV/Pa (1.6  mV)
  • SM81: -45 dBV/Pa (5.6  mV)

Lav

  • SM93: -43 dBV/Pa (7.0 mV)

Notice how the SM86 is more sensitive than the SM58.  Also, notice how the lav. mic is the most sensitive.  Considering the distance used in lav applications, it makes perfect sense.

Practical application

Knowing about sensitivity can help you in buying the right microphone as well as knowing when to use a microphone.  It can also explain why your microphones perform the way they do.

Take for instance the SM58 compared to the SM86.  The SM86 is a condenser microphone, a type of microphone more sensitive based on the nature of the inner workings of the condenser microphones.  The SM57 is a dynamic microphone with a 1.6 mV sensitivity.  Compare that with the SM81 condenser microphone with a 5.6 mV sensitivity.  Which would you want hanging over your cymbals and which would you want sitting up close on your snare drum?

Using a new microphone that’s hotter than the last, you’d need to use significantly less gain.  Often times in the case of such sensitive condensers, you must go as far as engaging the channel Pad to decrease the amount of signal coming into the channel.

A general rule-of-thumb has been that condensers are more sensitive than dynamics and ribbons are more sensitive than condensers.  However, I don’t think that’s really the case, especially with ribbons.  Much of it depends on the use of the microphone.  For example, a broadcasters ribbon microphone doesn’t have the same sensitivity needs as an instrument ribbon microphone.   Microphone sensitivity is an important microphone property which must be considered when picking the right microphone for a specific need. Don’t assume one microphone is more sensitive than another just because of the microphone type.

The Take Away

Microphones have many properties as can be seen in my one-page guide to vocal microphones.  Microphone sensitivity is yet one more property that goes towards giving the microphone its unique properties so you can use it in the right way and for the right applications.

Filed Under: Mixing Tagged With: Equipment Usage, microphones

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Comments

  1. Akshay says

    October 22, 2016 at 6:19 am

    Hi, Chris nice article.
    According to me impedance is directly related to sensitivity. Is it right?

    I often don’t find the sensitivity of the mics mentioned on Amazon pages, can you provide me a resource where I can check those?

    Reply
    • Chris Huff says

      October 22, 2016 at 2:44 pm

      To find out the sensitivity to a microphone, look up the brand model on the brand’s web site and it will tell you in the tech specs.

      Reply
  2. Salva Tore says

    June 23, 2016 at 6:35 pm

    Thank you very much Sir. I am a newbie with studio recording but I have stayed up in the night engrossed in your lessons at your site. Well done Sir and thank you for being generous.

    Reply
  3. PremAnand says

    December 8, 2012 at 1:37 am

    hy bro… We hav ordered a AKG D40, sensitivity – 4 mV/Pa (-48 dBV) . We will be usin it fr Tabala(a Indian percussion instrument). Is it a disadvantage to use it fr close micin? Will it draw d surrounding noises? Can v use it on a Guitar amp?

    Reply
    • Chris says

      December 8, 2012 at 9:12 am

      According to the instrument spec’s found here, it should get you exactly what you want. Also, search youtube for AKG D40 and you’ll see a youtube video on it’s use. Note, the spec page also has some good stuff.

      Reply
      • PremAnand says

        December 8, 2012 at 10:30 pm

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh4YfrKtcos.. Found only one comparison of AKG D40 with sm57.. Their sensitivities AKG- 4 mV/Pa SM57- 1mV/Pa, differ a lot .. Will it be effecting positioning, gain, Extraneous noise n wt else would it?

        Reply
  4. Wilts says

    October 24, 2012 at 11:20 am

    [MARKED AS SPAM BY ANTISPAM BEE | Server IP]
    Sensitivity is only half the story. What is also important is the noise floor of the microphone. You can have a “hot” mic but if it’s noise floor is too high, you might be better off using a mic with a lower sensitivity but which has a lower noise floor. Also, in a proper “system” you have also got to consider the noise floor of the mixer. Ultimately we want a high signal to noise value rather than just a high signal.

    Reply
  5. Quaid says

    October 18, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    Oops, I didn’t finish the last sentence.
    It would make more sense if “the change” was there.

    Reply
  6. Quaid says

    October 18, 2012 at 9:44 pm

    At our church, we recently switched out 4 SM 58’s for 3 CAD C195’s, and an Audio Technica AT 4051. A couple, who also sing very often, wanted to set up their mics. So I took down the 58’s and set up the 4 condensers. The 4 “new” mics are far superior, not because they are condensers (which is what the couple seems to erroneously think), but because of the tonal quallity. Getting enough volume with a dynamic mic isn’t a problem at all, when you have 1) a proper system gain structure, and 2) singers who know how to use a mic.
    Since ours is a small church, getting a “loud enough” SPL isn’t my problem. Even with singers who aren’t the best when it comes to vocal projection or mic technique. I’m in favor of the change because, to me, the mics are a higher quality product than the SM 58’s. So, it’s a win-win situation for me and the ones who wanted to make

    Reply
    • Chris says

      October 19, 2012 at 8:06 am

      The SM58 are durable, but you are definitely right, there are better sounding mic’s out there.

      Reply

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