microphones

Features of Dynamic Microphones

-Doesn’t need phantom power

-usually used live and on louder instruments

-can handle higher sound pressure levels

-Versatile can record many instruments

-limited HF response

moving coil microphones

dynamic microphones

transducer

a device that converts between different types of energy

how a microphone is a type of transducer

it converts sound/variations of air pressure into electrical energy

the transducer element on a microphone

the capsule

Microphones

a type of transducer which converts sound to electrical energy

How a Dynamic Microphones produces a signal

-Vibrations in the diaphragm move a coil inside the mic backwards and forwards which generates a current

How the coil in a dynamic microphone is positioned

in a magnetic field attached to a diaphragm

how the diaphragm in a dynamic microphone causes the coil to move in a dynamic mic

it moves in response to the changes in air pressure

How the coil in a dynamic microphone produces sound

it moves due to the vibration of the diaphragm and induces an electrical current proportional to the change in air pressure

the microphone which uses electromagnetic induction to produce an electrical signal from sound

Dynamic Microphone

Shure sm57 and sm58

Examples of Dynamic microphones

Features of Condenser Microphones

-needs phantom power

-captures detailed recordings

-flat frequency response

-can’t handle higher SPLs

-good signal-to-noise ratio

two plate contraption in a condenser microphone

capacitator

what the capacitator acts as when one of its plates vibrate in a condenser microphone

a diaphragm

how the gap changing between the two capacitator plates creates current in a condenser mic

They are powered meaning the movement of the diaphragm causes a change in capacitance and produces a current

Rode NT1

Example of a condenser microphone

Features of Ribbon Microphones

-most fragile

-Damaged or broken by phantom power

-warm sounding

-very expensive

Royer Labs R-121 Ribbon Microphone

example of ribbon microphone

Proximity Effect

-Closer microphone is to mic more lower frequencies captured

-Variation of frequencies depends on how close or far away you are

Frequency response

-the frequencies a microphone picks up

what the ‘flatness’ of a frequency response graph shows

how true the sound is to real life

how the metal ribbon is positioned in a ribbon microphone

suspended in a magnetic field

how sound vibrations produce a voltage in a ribbon microphone

the movement of the ribbon is proportional to the voltage generated

type of sound produced when using a ribbon mic as a close mic

warm with emphasis on low frequencies

what peaks on a frequency response graph show

those particular frequencies are captured louder than they are in real-life

Transient response

how quickly the diaphragm in a microphone moves in response to sound

quickest transient response mic

small diaphragm condensers

Slowest transient response mic which can cause a form of acoustic compression

Large diaphragm dynamic mics

Proximity effect

the increase of low frequencies depending on how close the microphone is to the sound source

pad switch

allows you to reduce the sensitivity of the microphone

sound produced off axis (angled microphone capture)

duller sounding

sound produced on axis (90° microphone capture)

brighter sounding