MICROPHONES

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A microphone is a device that translates sound vibrations in the air into electronic signals and scribes them to a recording medium or over a loudspeaker. Microphones enable many types of audio recording devices for purposes including communications of many kinds, as well as music vocals, speech and sound recording.

Types Of Microphone

There are three main types microphones based on construction -:

1. Dynamic/Moving coil. 2. Ribbon. 3. Condenser/ capacitor

1. Dynamic / Moving coil

A microphone in which the sound waves cause a movable wire or coil to vibrate in a magnetic field and thus induce a current.

Key Advantages -:

1. Rugged and able to handle high sound pressure levels, like those delivered by a kick drum.
2. Provide good sound quality in all areas of microphone performance.
3. They do not require a power source to run
4. They are relatively cheap

Key disadvantages -:

Heavy microphone diaphragm and wire coil limits the movement of the assembly, which in turn restricts the frequency and transient response of the microphone
Generally not as suitable as condenser microphones for recording instruments with higher frequencies and harmonics, such as a violin.

Dynamic microphones can be used for many applications, produce an excellent sound and are suitably rugged – great for traveling on the road. They are best avoided when recording high-frequency content on an important recording.

For reliable, everyday tasks you will not find a more multifaceted, trustworthy device than a good quality dynamic microphone.

Ribbon -:

A ribbon microphone, also known as a ribbon velocity microphone, is a type of microphone that uses a thin aluminum, duraluminum or nanofilm of electrically conductive ribbon placed between the poles of a magnet to produce a voltage by electromagnetic induction. Ribbon microphones are typically bidirectional, meaning that they pick up sounds equally well from either side of the microphone

Key Adavantages -:

1. Ribbon Microphones are very sensitive and accurate
2. Ribbon microphones have a very low noise
3. Ribbon microphones tend not to pick up lots of background noise
4. Ribbon microphones can be very expensive
5. Ribbon microphones are good to produce a thin and tinny sound

Key disadvantages -:

1. Ribbon microphones can be very large and heavy
2. Ribbon microphones are very sensitive to air movements
3. It is very difficult to achieve a tight polar pattern
4. The ribbon is fragile and susceptible to damage
5. Ribbon microphones are not as popular as dynamic microphones
Ribbon microphones require more maintenance

Ribbon microphones are often described as the most natural-sounding microphones available, and for good reason: they condenser microphones that use a thin ribbon of aluminum foil to pick up sound (instead of a solid diaphragm).

Condenser/ Capacitor Microphones -:

A Condenser capsule is constructed similarly. It consists of a thin membrane in close proximity to a solid metal plate. The membrane or diaphragm, as it is often called, must be electrically conductive, at least on its surface. The most common material is gold-sputtered mylar, but some (mostly older) models employ an extremely thin metal foil.

When sound waves hit the diaphragm, it moves back and forth relative to the solid backplate. In other words, the distance between the two capacitor plates changes. As a result, the capacitance changes to the rhythm of the sound waves. Thus, converted sound into an electrical signal.

Key Adavantages -:

1. They have a Greater Dynamic Range than Ribbon or Dynamic Mics.
2. They Have a Better Frequency Response than Dynamic Mics.
3.They Have a Better Noise Floor than Dynamic or Ribbon Mics.
4. When Hit with Loud Transients, They Generally Sound Snappier than Dynamic or Ribbon Mics.

Key Disadvantages -:

1. The limited number of operating microphones at the same time and place.
2. The limited number of radio channels.
Sound files can use up a lot of computer memory in a device.
3. Voice recognition system software is not as accurate as typing manually.

Condenser microphones are best used to capture vocals and high frequencies. They are also the preferred type of microphone for most studio applications.

Conclusion -:

Microphones are used everywhere, from stage performances, broadcasting, and even talking on the phone. The microphone is a transducer, a machine that changes one form energy to another form of energy. Microphones are an essential part of any audio recording system.