which type of mic would be best suited to recording the sound of a pin dropping on a table?

Question

which type of microphone would be best suited to recording the sound of a pin dropping on a table? (dynamic microphone or condenser micro phone ?) why would we choose this type of microphone ?

Answer 1

Let's look at your question, you asked which type of mic, and it has to be said that a CONDENSER mic would be the obvious choice as for most recording scenarios.
After that, we could look at the polar patterns that are available, you can use an 'omni-directional' and have the mic in the vicinity - or a cardiod and point the mic at the pin-drop. Basically you can make anything work, it's just a case of getting the result that you desire...
for more on microphone types and polar patterns, please see:
http://www.cassette2cd.co.uk/studio
for a comparison of dynamic and condenser, visit:
http://www.cassette2cd.co.uk/studio/dynamic.htm
hope this helps

Answer 2

Condenser

A/B test them

I'd tend, off hand, to go with a Telefunken U47 TUBE followed by an AKG C-12 TUBE, followed by an M59 or M60.

We are talking the $5,000 to $15,000 range here.

Gold Foil

Large diaphram

Tube electronics

There are some NICE Chinese mics

Church Electronics makes some EXCELLENT 12AUX8 conversions

But that ORIGINAL Telefunken tube and that Original goil foil diaphragm can't be beat.

Use a Sennheiser U89 FET in a pinch, but make sure it's a good one!