Umair Gaines
Microphones are transducers that convert sound energy into electrical signals. They are available in various types, including dynamic, condenser, ribbon, and crystal, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. The diaphragm, a shared component across all microphones, is a thin piece of material that vibrates when struck by sound waves, initiating a chain reaction of vibrations within the microphone that ultimately produces an electrical current, or audio signal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Function | Converts sound energy into electrical signals |
| Types | Dynamic, condenser, ribbon, crystal, carbon, large diaphragm condenser, small diaphragm condenser |
| Components | Diaphragm, coil, capacitor, conductive plates, conductive ribbon |
| Diaphragm | A thin piece of material (e.g. paper, plastic, or aluminium) that vibrates when struck by sound waves |
| Electrical Current | Very small, referred to as "mic level" and measured in millivolts |
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What You'll Learn
Microphones are transducers
There are many different types of transducers, each offering different tonalities and characteristics. The most widely used transducer is in dynamic microphones, which consist of a diaphragm, a voice coil, and a magnet. The diaphragm vibrates in response to sound waves, and the attached voice coil moves within a magnetic field, generating an electrical signal that corresponds to the original sound waves. Dynamic microphones can handle high sound pressure levels without distorting and are also durable and able to tolerate rough handling.
Another type of transducer is found in condenser microphones, which use a thinner diaphragm with an electrically charged back plate instead of a voice coil and magnet setup. Condenser microphones are more sensitive than dynamic microphones and are better at picking up high-frequency details and percussive sounds. They are often used for recording acoustic guitars, stringed instruments, and nature sounds. Condenser transducers can also be made very small, making them ideal for lavalier, head-worn, or thin gooseneck microphones.
Ribbon microphones are a variation of dynamic microphones, with a thin piece of metal, typically corrugated aluminum, suspended between two magnetic pole pieces. The ribbon represents the moving conductor, vibrating in a magnetic field and generating an electromotive force.
Other types of microphones include those that depend on the piezoelectric effect of certain crystals, such as Rochelle salt, and carbon microphones, which use carbon granules to vary electrical resistance in response to sound waves.
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Dynamic microphones
Microphones are devices that convert sound into electrical signals. Dynamic microphones, in particular, are microphones that use electromagnetism to achieve this conversion. They are the most commonly used type of microphone and are often simply referred to as "dynamic mics" or "dynamics". They fall into two main categories: moving coil microphones and ribbon microphones.
Moving coil microphones are constructed in a similar way to loudspeakers. They consist of a coil attached to the rear of a membrane, surrounded by a strong magnet. When sound waves hit the microphone, the membrane vibrates in rhythm with the sound waves, causing the coil attached to it to move within the magnetic field, generating a small electrical signal. This process is known as electromagnetic induction. Moving coil microphones are widely used due to their durability and not requiring external power, making them ideal for live performances on stage.
Ribbon microphones, on the other hand, function on the same principle of electromagnetic induction but with a different design. Instead of a membrane and coil, they use a narrow strip of extremely thin aluminium foil, known as a ribbon transducer, placed within a magnetic field. This ribbon acts as both the membrane and the electrical conductor. Ribbon microphones are lighter and more fragile than moving coil microphones and are known for their superior sound reproduction, although they have lower sensitivity and require a specialised preamp.
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Condenser microphones
Microphones are devices that convert sound energy into electrical energy. They are used in a variety of applications, such as recording audio, and can be classified into different types, including condenser microphones.
The fundamental component of a condenser microphone is its capsule, which houses a thin membrane of conductive material, known as the diaphragm. This diaphragm is positioned adjacent to a solid metal plate that is charged with a current. When sound waves interact with the diaphragm, it vibrates, leading to the induction of a current in the metal plate, thus creating an audio signal.
The diaphragm in a condenser microphone is distinguished by its ability to move closer to or further from the backplate in response to sound, resulting in variations in capacitance. This dynamic capacitance can be translated into changes in voltage, forming the basis of effective microphone functionality. The sensitivity of condenser microphones is attributed to the design of their capsules, which allows for a variable capacitance influenced by sound.
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Ribbon microphones
Microphones are instruments that change sound into electrical energy. Ribbon microphones are a type of dynamic microphone that uses a thin aluminium, duraluminum, or nanofilm ribbon of electrically conductive material placed between the poles of a magnet. This ribbon is usually corrugated and is placed under light tension within a magnetic field.
The ribbon vibrates as it receives sound from both the front and back sides, producing a voltage by electromagnetic induction. This voltage is then picked up by contacts at the ends of the ribbon. Ribbon microphones are also called "velocity microphones" because the induced voltage is proportional to the velocity of the ribbon. The ribbon's movement in response to sound waves creates a corresponding electrical signal, which is then transmitted to a recording device or amplifier.
Today, ribbon microphones are known for their ability to capture high-frequency detail and are often used in pairs to produce the Blumlein pair recording array. They are also prized for their bidirectional pick-up pattern, allowing them to capture sound equally well from either side of the microphone. While most ribbon microphones are passive devices, a new breed of active ribbon microphones has emerged, offering stronger output levels and better consistency with different preamps.
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Diaphragm and coil
Microphones convert mechanical wave energy (sound) into electrical energy (audio signal). The microphone diaphragm is a crucial component in this process. A microphone diaphragm is a thin membrane that moves in reaction to external sound pressure variation. The three main diaphragm types are the moving-coil, ribbon, and condenser.
The moving-coil diaphragm is made of two parts: the diaphragm itself and the moving coil. They are attached to each other and move as a single piece. Moving-coil diaphragms are typically circular and stretched tightly around a stationary ring in the microphone capsule. The coil is usually made from thin copper wire coiled into a hollow cylindrical shape. The diaphragm and coil combination vibrate in response to external sound waves. The diaphragm detects the air pressure variance between its two sides, and the coil converts these vibrations into an audio signal.
The condenser microphone capsule has a conductive metal backplate and a conductive diaphragm. The diaphragm moves closer to or further from the backplate in response to sound, changing the capsule's capacitance. This change in capacitance can be translated into a change in voltage, forming the basis of a sensitive microphone.
Ribbon microphones differ from moving-coil microphones by combining the diaphragm and coil into a thin, lightweight conductive ribbon, usually made of aluminium. This ribbon is placed under light tension within a magnetic field.
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Frequently asked questions
A microphone is a type of transducer that converts sound energy into electrical signals.
Microphones convert acoustical energy (sound waves) into electrical energy (the audio signal). Different types of microphones have different ways of converting energy, but they all share one thing in common: The diaphragm. This is a thin piece of material (such as paper, plastic, or aluminium) that vibrates when struck by sound waves.
The most common types of microphones are dynamic, condenser, ribbon, and crystal. A dynamic microphone, for example, uses a coil of wire suspended in a magnetic field to convert the air pressure variations of a sound wave into electrical signals.
