There are several different types of microphone, the most popular being Condenser and Dynamic. For recording sound sources where dynamic range, tonal accuracy and intricate detail are critical, a Condenser microphone is usually the best choice.
Due to their relatively delicate design, Condensers are able to capture tiny nuances and details - however, for the same reason they're also relatively fragile, so they're not always ideal for live environments or very loud sound sources.
Recording Subtle Sounds
We stock both large-diaphragm and small-diaphragm Condensers - this is the size of the element that captures the sound - and as a rule-of-thumb, if you want to capture a small sound (e.g. hi-hats, xylophone) you should go for a small diaphragm. Conversely, for big sounds (like Vocals or Drum Overheads) you need a large-diaphragm.
Also, look out for mics with variable polar patterns - this feature lets you 'focus' the microphone to the sound source. For example: a Cardoid pattern is responsive to sounds in front of it, but rejects sounds that come from behind it; an Omni Directional pattern, on the other hand, will pick up sound from the entire 360 degrees around it.