Turn the left-hand dial to choose between FET and tube circuitry, or any blend of the two. To help you access its myriad features, Lewitt provides a decent-sized combined PSU and remote-control unit. The LCT 940 is two quality mics in one, and everything in between. Fancy the warmth of a tube mic one minute and the purity of a FET mic the next? Well, the LCT gives you both at a twist of a dial, plus the ability to blend them together. If you love the idea of shaping sound with a microphone, or instantly being able to dial in a faithful tone, then the Lewitt LCT 940 is worthy of a place on your shortlist. Yes, it’s expensive but it should hold its value and will serve you well for decades. This is an heirloom-quality mic with a modern feature set that's blessed with a simply stunning sound. But, ultimately, there's no substitute for hand-built quality, so our recommendation is the incredible Audio-Technica AT5040. Slate Digital's VMS (Virtual Microphone System) is an impressive bit of kit that ticks a lot of boxes. Those fortunate enough to have £1,000 or more to spend may be tempted to dip their toes into virtual modelling. This rugged, large-diaphragm condenser mic will work hard all day in the studio and then play hard out on the road at night. If you're on a tight budget and can afford only one microphone that's got to do everything, then the Shure SM27 (opens in new tab) takes some beating. Generally, if well looked-after, some are robust enough for stage use, and you can pick up a decent model for well under $400/£300/€350. But if you're on a limited budget and can only invest in one mic, then a condenser still makes a lot of sense.

Condenser mics are less durable than their cousins – dynamic microphones – and they're usually more expensive, too.

These sonic advantages do come at a price.

Summing mixer vs slate virtual mix rack