Microphones are components in virtually all audio systems.There are many types of microphones,from usb to lapel mics for seminars and computer,telephone,boom etc,etc.The reason for this diversity is that while all microphones perform the same basic function,they are adapted to a wide variety of different enviroments and uses.That said, all microphones have one thing in common: microphones convert a sound wave into an electrical signal in which the voltage and current are proportional to the original sound.To perform this task microphones use a thin membrane, known as a diaphragm, which mimics the function of the human ear.When sound waves strike a microphone’s diaphragm, they cause it to move within an electro-magnetic field, which, in turn, creates a variance in an electrical current. This signal is then transmitted to output devices, which reproduce the original sound wave and reinforce it. Typical output devices for microphones are power amplifiers, sound mixers, PA systems and audio recorders.The internal configurations of microphones used for 99% of all audio systems have one of three basic designs, which are often used to organize microphones into distinct categories. These three categories are dynamic microphones, condenser microphones, and ribbon microphones.The link between the microphone’s diaphragm and the output device can be either wired or wireless. Wired microphones are physically connected by a cable to the output device. Wireless microphones, which are more portable, must come with both a transmitter (either FM or InfraRed) and a compatible receiver.Finally, to fully understand how microphones work, and the differences among them, it’s important to consider the way different microphones gather sound from the ambient environment. Microphones can be classified by three types of pickup patterns: unidirectional or cardioid, bidirectional or figure 8, omnidirectional or boundary and switchable.Each of these features has its own strengths and weaknesses.Choosing among alternative configurations - say a wired dynamic cardioid microphone, a wireless ribbon omnidirectional microphone or a wireless condenser unidirectional microphone - is the key to making your audio system perform the way you want.The pick-up pattern of microphones including unidirectional, bidirectional and omnidirectional:
- Unidirectional or cardioid pickup patterns are most sensitive to sound produced on the front side of the microphone capsule.
- Super-cardioid pickup patterns have a greater sensitivity than cardioid pickup patterns.
- Bidirectional or figure 8 pickup patterns are sensitive to signals emanating from the front and back sides of the microphone capsule while rejecting sounds from the left and right sides of the microphone capsule.
- Omnidirectional or boundary pickup patterns are sensitive to sound from all directions of the microphone capsule.
- Switchable pickup pattern microphones are hybrid microphones that can be switched from one pickup pattern to another for all-in-one flexibility in different environments.
Whoa that was enough for this one post. Tommorrow i will break down the differences and uses of ribbon,condensor and dynamic mics
