What You Should About The Technology Of Microphones

A microphone is just a sound transducer that takes sound-waves and transforms them, producing electrical current. They are designed to convert the pressure changes into the signal. Mics, for short, come in many variations of polar patterns and design. Mics can be defined into two primary groups namely; dynamic and condenser microphones. The two different kinds of microphones have differing ways of catching sound waves. For instance, the dynamic mic uses Faradays law which dictates that an electrical current is induced in a conductor when it moves within a magnetic field.

In dynamic mics there are two ways in which mic conductors are arranged in a magnetic field. In the first configuration, the conductor is entwined into a coil and set inside a fixed magnetic cylindrical ring. Inside the coil a cylindrical core is placed to focus the magnetic fields around the coil.

 The top-side of the conductor coil is affixed to a diaphragm made of mega-thin material; in most cases aluminum or plastic. Whenever there are pressure changes, the diaphragm fluctuates forcing the coil to move within the magnetic field and a current of electricity that corresponds to the pressure changes is activated in the conductor coil. In the second configuration, a ribbon is freely hung between two perpetual magnets.

Lightweight material like a metallic foil is used to fashion the ribbon. When pressure around the mic varies, the ribbon moves within the magnetic field and current is induced in the metallic ribbon and lead away by the conductors. While the two arrangements are very different, they both use Faradays law. They are both acoustical transducers that use variation of sound intensity to produce a corresponding electrical signal. Both the coil and ribbon type of dynamic microphones are easily purchased through a reputable store or online. 

Unlike dynamic mics, the condenser type of microphone uses variation of capacitance to produce a corresponding electrical signal. Electrical capacitors are made up of 2 metal plates placed very near to each one another but without any conductivity. Current can only be conducted across the plates when one plate is at a greater potential than the other.

The two plates in a capacitor are separated by an insulator, air or vacuum. The capacitor used in the condenser type of mic has one movable plate and one fixed plate. The flexible plate is very sensitive and moves inwards or outwards when subjected to pressure changes.

The two plates are a higher potential when the movable plate moves away from the fixed plate and then returns. This fluctuation of potential correlates to the pressure differences surrounding capsule. The charge in the capsule, the enclosure containing both the stationery and flexible plates, is kept constant by connecting it to a DC power source.

 T-power and Phantom power are employed to maintain the capsule at a constant potential. if you think about it, the Mic works like a speaker in reverse and to some extent you'd be correct. Whichever kind of microphone is used, sound waves generate electrical impulses which can end up in either a digital format if you're recording or amplified to alter the volume when put through a speaker.