How Do Microphones Work?

The Basics
Microphones are a type of transducer - a device which converts energy from one form to another. Microphones convert acoustical energy (sound waves) into electrical energy (the audio signal). Different types of microphone 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) which vibrates when it is struck by sound waves. In a typical hand-held mic like the one below, the diaphragm is located in the head of the microphone.

Location of Microphone Diaphragm

When the diaphragm vibrates, it causes other components in the microphone to vibrate. These vibrations are converted into an electrical current which becomes the audio signal. Note: At the other end of the audio chain, the loudspeaker is also a transducer - it converts the electrical energy back into acoustical energy.

Types of Microphone
There are a number of different types of microphone in common use. The differences can be divided into two areas: (1) The type of conversion technology they use This refers to the technical method the mic uses to convert sound into electricity. The most common technologies are dynamic, condenser, ribbon and crystal. Each has advantages and disadvantages, and each is generally more suited to certain types of application. The following pages will provide details. (2) The type of application they are designed for

Some mics are designed for general use and can be used effectively in many different situations. Others are very specialised and are only really useful for their intended purpose. Characteristics to look for include directional properties, frequency response and impedance (more on these later).

Mic Level & Line Level

The electrical current generated by a microphone is very small. Referred to as mic level, this signal is typically measured in millivolts. Before it can be used for anything serious the signal needs to be amplified, usually to line level (typically 0.5 -2V). Being a stronger and more robust signal, line level is the standard signal strength used by audio processing equipment and common domestic equipment such as CD players, tape machines, VCRs, etc. This amplification is achieved in one or more of the following ways:

Some microphones have tiny built-in amplifiers which boost the signal to a high mic level or line level. The mic can be fed through a small boosting amplifier, often called a line amp. Sound mixers have small amplifiers in each channel. Attenuators can accommodate mics of varying levels and adjust them all to an even line level. The audio signal is fed to a power amplifier - a specialised amp which boosts the signal enough to be fed to loudspeakers.

Microphones
Microphones are transducers which detect sound signals and produce an electrical image of the sound, i.e., they produce a voltage or a current which is proportional to the sound signal. The most common microphones for musical use are dynamic, ribbon, or condenser microphones. Besides the variety of basic mechanisms, microphones can be designed with different directional patterns and different impedances.

Index Sound reproduction concepts

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Dynamic Microphones
Advantages:

Relatively cheap and rugged. Can be easily miniaturized.

Disadvantages:

Principle: sound moves the cone and the attached coil of wire moves in the field of a magnet. The generator effect produces a voltage which "images" the sound pressure variation - characterized as a pressure microphone.

The uniformity of response to different frequencies does not match that of the ribbon or condenser microphones.

Index Sound reproductio n concepts

The geometry of a dynamic microphone is like that of a tiny loudspeaker, and that is not just a coincidence. A dynamic microphone is essentially the inverse of a dynamic loudspeaker. In a dynamic microphone, the sound pressure variations move the cone, which moves the attached coil of wire in a magnetic field, which generates a voltage. In the loudspeaker, the inverse happens: the electric current associated with the electrical image of the sound is driven through the coil in the magnetic field, generating a force on that coil. The coil moves in response to the audio signal, moving the cone and producing sound in the air.

A small loudspeaker can be used as a dynamic microphone, and this fact is exploited in the construction of small intercom systems. Depending upon the position of the Talk-Listen switch, the device on either end of the intercom system can be used as a microphone or a loudspeaker. Of course, this is not a high fidelity process, and for commercial dynamic microphones, the device is optimized for use as a microphone, not a loudspeaker.

Microphone discussion
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Ribbon Microphones
Advantages:

Adds "warmth" to the tone by accenting lows when closemiked. Can be used to discriminate against distant low frequency noise in its most common gradient form.

Index Sound reproduction concepts

Disadvantages:

Principle: the air movement associated with the sound moves the metallic ribbon in the magnetic field, generating an imaging voltage between the ends of the ribbon which is proportional to the velocity of the ribbon - characterized as a "velocity" microphone.

Accenting lows sometimes produces "boomy" bass. Very susceptible to wind noise. Not suitable for outside use unless very well shielded.

Example of use

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Condenser Microphones
Advantages:

Best overall frequency response makes this the microphone of choice for many recording applications.

Disadvantages:

Principle: sound pressure changes the spacing between a thin metallic membrane and the stationary back plate. The plates are charged to a total charge

Expensive May pop and crack when close miked Requires a battery or external power supply to bias the plates.

where C is the capacitance, V the voltage of the biasing battery, A the area of each plate and d the separation of the plates.

A change in plate spacing will cause a change in charge Q and force a current through resistance R. This current "images" the sound pressure, making this a "pressure" microphone. Further discussion

Pressure Zone Microphone Application Microphone discussion