c


 
A Microphone is a sensor that converts acoustic energy into an electrical signal.

There are two main types of microphones:

àm Àynamic
àm ×apacitor or ×ondenser

À
c



 

A dynamic microphone takes the acoustic energy produced by a person or object to move
the diaphragm built into it. The kinetic energy used to vibrate the diaphragm is then used to
move a coil of wire through a magnetic field or vice versa. This produces a varying current in
which the electrical signal is made. (this is shown in the diagram below)

The more pressure that is applied to the diaphragm the faster the coil moves generating a
greater current. This means that it creates a   

  .



Àynamic microphones are heavier and more robust than that of capacitor microphones this
makes them much more suited to live performances/events.
They can handle a very high   
 due to the fact that the diaphragm
needs more inertia to vibrate that that of a capacitor microphone this is because of the
material the diaphragm is made of. This makes it more accustom to be used on Kick Àrums,
Snares and Toms and also amplified Guitars which all produce a high SPL.



 c : Àynamic Microphone with a frequency response of 50 ʹ 15,000 Hz and a
resistance of 300 ohms. ×ardioid Pick-Up pattern (explained in detail later).

À
!c"# Àynamic Microphone. It can withstand a SPL of over 140dB. Hyper-×ardioid

Pick-Up Pattern (Explained in detail later).


 c



 

For capacitor microphones to work they need to be supplied with  $

%& which is normally found on mixing desks. This is needed to supply the
capacitor plates with a voltage. So as sound pressure hits the diaphragm, which in a
capacitor microphones case is often made from thin metals such as gold leaf, and
makes it vibrate. This produces changes in the distance of the plates which creates
 an electrical signal which is then transmitted to an amplifier. (This is shown in the
diagram on the following page)

A proportional change I made between the amount of sound pressure and the distance made
between the capacitor plates, again causing a   

  '



×apacitor microphones are a considerable a lot more fragile and more prone to breaking
than dynamic microphones. This is due to a lesser tolerance to a high SPL due to the thinner
metal used in the diaphragm. However this does mean that microphone is more sensitive to
sound on account of needing less inertia to move the thin diaphragm; this makes the sound
a lot brighter.

They can pick up a wider range of frequencies than that of Àynamic microphones this means
softer sounds will be picked up easier

×apacitor microphones work best on softer instruments such as Vocals, Acoustic guitar,
Flute, Most other Stringed instruments, piano and Over heads on a drum kit.



()*À)+ c  ,-.
/01  (*# a ×apacitor microphone, frequency range of 20 ʹ 20,000

Hz, allows a maximum SPL of 150dB, cardioid pick-up pattern (explained in detail later).

+c ++ 2c 31& # a ×apacitor microphone, frequency range of 20 ʹ 20,000 Hz,
resistance of 50ohms, cardioid pick-up pattern (explained in detail later).


4. 

A pick-up pattern or polar response diagram shows the area around the microphone in
which it ͚hears͛ or ͚sees͛ sound best.

  : A cardioid pick-up pattern hears sound best in a soft heart shape (as shown below)
it is best used
Ñ.  : A hyper-cardioid up pattern hears sound best in a much narrower heart
shape than that of (as shown below) it is best used in

  5 # a Figure of 8 pick-up pattern hears sound best in a figure of 8 or ribbon shape
(as shown below) it is best used in

! . 
 # an Omni-directional up pattern hears sounds best in a even circle all
around the microphone (as shown below) it is b est used in