Condenser microphone

More sensitive than a Dynamic microphone, a condenser microphone uses a small amount of electricity to suspend a diaphragm. Sound waves hit and vibrate the diaphragm producing a fluctuation that can be transformed into an audio signal. All condenser microphones need what's known as "phantom power" to run. Condenser microphones tend to have a noticeably higher and more flat frequency response than dynamic microphones. Condenser microphones are more sensitive on the frequency spectrum, and have a wider dynamic range.

Two main caveats to the condenser microphone are fragility and the necessity for phantom power. Condenser microphones are a fairly intricate system working within them, which means they need to be handled with care. Impact and compression wave overload can both easily damage the condenser microphone. So, do not tap your hand on it to see if it the system is "turned on," do not drop it and do not overload it with extremely loud sound.

Main microphone types: Dynamic, Condenser, and Ribbon.

Historic microphone evolution: Carbon, Crystal/Ceramic, Ribbon, Condenser, Electret, and Dynamic.