Describe the major types of microphones and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

What will be an ideal response?

There are four major microphone types. These include built-in microphones, stick microphones, lavalier microphones and boom microphones. Built-in microphones are packaged with the recording device, such as the microphone that is included with mobile phones. They are the most portable microphone type and are the least likely to be left behind, but they produce the lowest quality audio. Stick microphones are the most ubiquitous microphone type, featuring a caged ball on the end of a handle. They capture high-quality audio, but are bulky and obtrusive. Lavalier microphones clip on to the subject or reporter’s clothing. They are the most unobtrusive microphone type, but often capture the ruffling of the wearer’s clothing or other noises from movement. Boom microphones allow reporters to capture sound from a distance by holding them at the end of a long pole. However, they require a significant amount of effort to ensure that they stay pointed at the source and do not dip into the camera shot.