Top Ten Instrument Microphones

Experience the true enchantment of your musical performances with our meticulously curated selection of top instrument microphones. From guitars to drums, pianos to saxophones, we've carefully chosen a range of exceptional mics that will faithfully capture the intricate nuances and dynamic range of your instrument.  

1.   Shure SM57 - Dynamic microphone, cardioid polar pattern, high SPL handling, ideal for recording snare drums, guitar amps, and brass instruments

• Designed for clear reproduction of amplified and acoustic instruments
• Contoured frequency response cuts through the mix
• Uniform cardioid polar pattern isolates the main sound source and minimizes background noise

2.   AKG Pro Audio C414 XLII - Large diaphragm condenser microphone, nine selectable polar patterns, high SPL handling, ideal for recording vocals, drums, and acoustic instruments

• Widely used in the studio for vocals, pianos, and stringed instruments
• Five selectable polar patterns for placement and application flexibility
• Three attenuation levels handle up to 158dB SPL

3.   Audio-Technica AT4053b - Hypercardioid condenser microphone, high SPL handling, switchable low-frequency roll-off, ideal for recording acoustic guitar and percussion

• Ideal for professional recording and critical applications in broadcast and live sound
• Direct-coupled, balanced output results in a clean signal even under high-output conditions
• Transformerless circuitry virtually eliminates low-frequency distortion and provides superior correlation of high-speed transients

4.   Sennheiser MD421-II - Dynamic microphone, cardioid polar pattern, high SPL handling, ideal for recording guitar amps, drums, and brass instruments

• Frequency response and cardioid pick-up pattern are optimized for drum sets and other percussion instrument miking
• Five-position bass control enhances its 'all-round' qualities
• The MD421's cardioid pattern offers outstanding feedback rejection, making it an ideal choice for live situations and recording environments where bleed from other instruments is a problem

5.   Neumann TLM 102 - Large diaphragm condenser microphone, cardioid pattern, high SPL handling, ideal for recording acoustic guitars and drums

• A standard for home recording and the music industry
• Extremely low noise floor and high sensitivity
• Large diaphragm capsule provides a wide dynamic range with a flat frequency response

6.   Royer R-121 - Ribbon microphone, figure-eight polar pattern, high SPL handling, ideal for recording electric guitar and brass instruments

• Warm and realistic reproduction of brass and woodwind instruments
• Flat frequency response and well balanced sound field
• High SPL capabilities enable the Royer R-121 to handle loud electric guitar amps, brass instruments, and percussion instruments with ease

7.   Shure SM81 - Small diaphragm condenser microphone, cardioid polar pattern, high SPL handling, ideal for recording acoustic instruments

• Flat response curve for accurate reproduction of sound sources
• Low noise and high output clipping level
• Cardioid polar pattern picks up the most sound from in front of the microphone and some sound from the sides, ideal for isolating the instrument being recorded

8.    AKG Pro Audio C12VR - Large diaphragm condenser microphone, cardioid polar pattern, ideal for recording vocals, acoustic guitars, and percussion

• A reissue of the classic AKG C12 tube microphone
• Nine selectable polar patterns provide flexibility for various recording scenarios
• Ideal for vocals, acoustic guitars, and percussion with its warm, vintage tone

9.   Beyerdynamic M160 - Ribbon microphone, hypercardioid polar pattern, ideal for recording brass, strings, and percussion

• A classic ribbon microphone used by professional recording engineers worldwide
• Hypercardioid polar pattern provides isolation and rejects off-axis sounds
• Captures the full frequency range of instruments with a natural,

10.   Neumann U87 Ai - Large diaphragm condenser microphone

•  three selectable polar patterns
• high SPL handling,
• excellent for vocals, acoustic guitar, drums, percussion, and brass instruments.