Dynamic microphone

A dynamic microphone uses a diaphragm attached to a coil of wire moving inside a magnet to generate an electrical signal, the same basic principle as a small speaker working backward. That mechanism needs a fairly loud, close sound source to produce a strong signal, which is exactly what makes dynamic mics good at ignoring everything else in the room.

Because they pick up mostly what is right in front of them and are less sensitive overall, dynamic microphones capture less of the hum from a computer fan, less echo off bare walls, and less noise from a busy household. That makes them the default recommendation for podcasters recording in a bedroom or office rather than a treated studio.

The tradeoff is gain. Dynamic mics need more clean amplification than condensers, so a cheap audio interface or a mixer with a weak preamp can leave the recording sounding thin or hissy. Pairing a dynamic mic with an interface that has plenty of gain on tap, or a mic with a built-in USB preamp, avoids the most common complaint people have after switching to one.