Hi Linda,

I think you mean the difference between dynamic and condenser. Condenser microphones and dynamic microphones both have diaphragms. The diaphragm is the thing that vibrates with the sound.

To put it very simply (and without other details), a dynamic microphone does not use added electric power, a condenser microphone uses electricity, either from a battery or from another power source, to increase and enhance the sound.

Cardiod, super cardiod, and hyper-cardiod refer to the pattern of the microphone. Some microphones will pick up sound coming from in front of them and reject sound coming from behind them. The pattern of this "hot area" is often heart-shaped (hence the term "cardiod"), though I think of it as "pumpkin" shaped. Here's a website that gives an animation of the different popular patterns available:

http://www.indiana.edu/~emusic/etext/studio/studio_images/micpatterns5.swf

Well, I hope this helps.

Mike

You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

Mike Dunbar Music