{"id":5176,"date":"2022-11-20T06:26:21","date_gmt":"2022-11-20T11:26:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/audioapartment.com\/?p=5176"},"modified":"2023-06-03T22:32:58","modified_gmt":"2023-06-04T02:32:58","slug":"what-is-a-microphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/audioapartment.com\/instruments-and-equipment\/what-is-a-microphone\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Microphone? Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

Microphones are arguably the most important part of a home studio. After all, you need something to record sound, don’t you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This post will cover everything you need to know about microphones. We’ll discuss how microphones work so whether you’re a beginner or an experienced audio professional, this post is for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a microphone?<\/strong> Microphones are transducers that convert sound pressure into an electrical signal. Microphones are used in the music industry for recording audio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a microphone?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A microphone is a device that transforms sound waves into an electrical signal. <\/strong>A microphone’s capsule has a little diaphragm on a moving coil within. Sound waves cause the diaphragm to vibrate. This results in the coil oscillating in the magnet’s field, creating an electric current.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it’s not quite that simple. There’s much more to microphones, including diaphragm size, condenser vs. dynamic mics, and polarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a diaphragm?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To fully understand microphones, it is necessary first to understand the diaphragm, which is a crucial component of any microphone. Diaphragms function like miniature speakers and are made of a thin sheet (often plastic), a magnet, and a coil (the electrical conductor). The diaphragm vibrates<\/strong> in response to acoustic energy, producing a voltage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Condenser microphones vs. dynamic microphones<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not all microphones are the same. Let’s take a look at the difference between condenser and dynamic microphones.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Condenser microphones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Condenser microphones are best for capturing vocals and high frequencies. Condenser mics, often referred to as “capacitor mics,” are typically used in recording studios because of their high fidelity and precision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A condenser microphone is like a capacitor with some extra features. A capacitor is a passive electrical part that stores energy in an electric field for a short amount of time. Two parallel plates are used to create a capacitance in a capacitor. As the distance between the two objects gets smaller, the capacity to hold an electric charge, or capacitance, increases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When sound waves hit the diaphragm, they vibrate,
and the distance between the plates changes. <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A condenser microphone’s diaphragm is hung on a solid plate and weighs very little. The diaphragm shifts in response to the pressure of sound waves<\/a>. When sound waves hit the diaphragm, they vibrate, and the distance between the plates changes. The resultant change in capacitance represents the acoustic energy from the input source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Dynamic microphones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The dynamic microphone <\/a>is the industry standard. They’re low-priced, long-lasting, and sound great. Dynamic microphones make a sound in the opposite direction of a normal speaker by suspending a moving induction coil in the field of a magnet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional recording studios often use dynamic microphones because they are sensitive to sudden changes in sound and can handle loud volumes. This makes them an excellent option for close-miking very loud sources like a drum set or bass guitars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studio engineers often put an in-line preamp between a dynamic microphone and the console or microphone preamplifier. With the help of an in-line preamp, you can boost the signal and get the most out of a dynamic microphone, which is often a low-output instrument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

What are microphone polar patterns?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The polar pattern of a microphone shows where it picks up sound<\/strong> best and where it doesn’t pick up sound as well. There are generally six different types of microphone polar patterns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Directional:<\/strong> Mics that are directional or unidirectional are adept at picking up sounds coming from a certain direction, making them a good choice for recording in noisy environments.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Bidirectional: <\/strong>Bidirectional microphones<\/a>, sometimes called “Figure 8 microphones,” capture sound from the east and west while rejecting noise from the north and south. They are especially good for recording phone conversations because they can pick up sound from more than one direction.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Omnidirectional<\/strong>: Sound from any direction may be picked up using an omnidirectional microphone. Omnidirectional microphones can pick up all the sounds in a given area, but they don’t do a good job of focusing on a single subject when there is a lot of background noise.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Cardioid<\/strong>: The cardioid pattern is about the shape of a heart, which is how it got its name. It is most sensitive to sounds coming from straight ahead and to the sides, while it ignores sounds coming from 180 degrees in the opposite direction. Mics with a cardioid, super cardioid, or hyper-cardioid pattern filter out everything but the singer’s voice, keeping the signal clear and stopping feedback.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Supercardioid<\/strong>: The super-cardioid mic has a wider acceptance angle, taking in sound from about 180 degrees, but it also rejects more sound from the sides.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Hyper-cardioid<\/strong>: At 180 degrees, the hyper-cardioid can pick up an even wider range of frequencies. However, it can’t pick up frequencies at 90 and 270 degrees. For example, if you’re making music in a loud room or studio, you’ll want to pay attention to polar patterns. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"Image
    Image of a condenser microphone in a stand with a headphone beside it. Source: john wolf, pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    What are the different types of microphones?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Let’s take a look at some different types of microphones<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Lavalier<\/strong>: A lavalier microphone, also called a “lavalier,” is a small headset microphone that actors and public speakers wear to freely use their hands while using the microphone. They are typically small and unassuming. Small clips are typically included to facilitate attachment to collars, ties, and other clothing.
      <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Shotgun Microphones<\/strong>: Shotgun microphones are long mics and are often used in film and TV production to pick up sounds from a distance.
      <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Laser microphones<\/strong>: Laser microphones use the vibration of surfaces affected by sound waves to pick up sound. This is because vibrations cause the angular speed of the reflected lasers to change, which is then taken as sound. Laser microphones are useful when capturing audio from a great distance.
      <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Ribbon microphones<\/strong>: Ribbon microphones consist of a magnetic field and a narrow strip of conductive metal. Typically, the ribbon is fabricated from a material like aluminum, duralumin, or nanofilm. When sound waves hit a microphone, they cause the ribbon to move, turning it into an electrical signal.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      If you want even more tips and insights, watch this video called “A Quick Guide to Microphones” <\/em>from the Soundfly YouTube channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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