Microphone

A microphone is a device that captures audio and converts sound waves into electrical signals. A microphone often is referred to as a "mic" or "mike." Since its invention in 1876, the microphone has greatly evolved. Today dynamic microphones, condenser microphones, and ribbon microphones are available. These are the three basic types of microphones. More specific types include handheld microphones, lavalier microphones, shotgun microphones, parabolic microphones, and built-in microphones.

Microphones have a wide variety of uses. In the music industry, they are used to record music and capture audio during live performances. In the broadcasting industry, they are used in newscasts, sports broadcasts, talk shows, game shows, and radio broadcasts. Microphones are frequently used on movie and television sets. They can be used with computers as well.

Brief History

In 1827, Sir Charles Wheatstone coined the term microphone. It was not until 1876, however, that the microphone was invented. The microphone arrived shortly after the invention of the telephone. In 1876, Emile Berliner saw a demonstration of a Bell Company telephone at the US Centennial Exposition, which inspired him to seek to improve the telephone. Berliner soon invented the microphone, which originally served as a telephone voice transmitter. The Bell Telephone Company then purchased the microphone patent from Berliner.

In 1878, David Edward Hughes invented the carbon microphone, which was the model for the carbon microphones of today. Over the next several decades, other types of microphones were invented, including the ribbon microphone, the electret microphone, the dynamic microphone, and the condenser microphone.

Overview

The three basic types of microphones are dynamic microphones, condenser microphones, and ribbon microphones. The dynamic microphone has a magnet, a metal coil, and a diaphragm, which is a thin material. Sound waves cause the diaphragm to vibrate. The coil sends the vibrations to electrical wires, and the sound waves are converted to electrical signals. Dynamic microphones do not require power to operate.

The condenser microphone has a front plate, a back plate, and a diaphragm. As with the dynamic microphone, sound waves make the diaphragm vibrate. This changes the distance between the front and back plates, which creates an electrical signal. Condenser microphones need power to operate.

The ribbon microphone has a thin, metal ribbon in a magnetic field. Sound waves cause the ribbon to vibrate, which produces voltage. The voltage is then converted to an electrical signal. Ribbon microphones require power to operate.

A microphone captures audio using one of several directional patterns, which are referred to as polar patterns. Three of the more common polar patterns are the cardioid polar pattern, the bidirectional polar pattern, and the omnidirectional polar pattern. The cardioid polar pattern captures audio from a single direction, blocking out ambient sound. The bidirectional polar pattern, also called the figure-8 pattern, captures audio from two directions. The omnidirectional polar pattern captures audio from every direction. Some microphones are able to use more than one polar pattern. Such microphones come with a switch that allows the user to select the desired polar pattern.

Many specific types of microphones exist. Handheld microphones are among the most commonly used microphones. They are held by the user and are portable. Individuals who use handheld microphones range from news reporters to comedians to singers. Lavalier microphones are similar to handheld microphones. The main differences are that they are much smaller and are clipped to clothing rather than held. These microphones are frequently used by news anchors on indoor sets and interviewers and interviewees during sit-down interviews. Shotgun microphones are larger than handheld microphones. They typically are enclosed in what is called a blimp or zeppelin, which is a cage covered in a material that resembles fur. These microphones usually sit atop a long pole that is held by the user. Shotgun microphones are widely used to capture audio on movie and television sets, primarily because they can be held in positions that keep them out of frame. Parabolic microphones are another type of large microphone. They include a large dish, resembling a satellite dish, with the actual microphone in the middle. This allows the microphone to capture audio that bounces off the dish. Furthermore, parabolic microphones are able to capture audio from many yards away. For this reason, they often are used at football games. Built-in microphones are commonly found on video cameras and in cell phones. Because they are attached to such devices, however, their quality is generally low.

Microphones are widely used in the music industry, both for recording music and for capturing audio during live performances. Different types of microphones are used for different situations in music. For example, the types of microphones used for vocals usually differ from the types used for musical instruments, such as guitars and drums. Additionally, the types used for recording vocals usually differ from the types used for live vocal performances. The types used for different instruments may vary as well.

Different situations in music usually require shifts in polar patterns, too. For example, the cardioid polar pattern is suitable for recording vocals from a single vocalist, while the omnidirectional polar pattern is useful for recording vocals from multiple vocalists. Similarly, the cardioid polar pattern is ideal for live performances at venues that require noise reduction, while the omnidirectional polar pattern is suitable for live performances at venues that do not have high noise levels.

Microphones are commonly used in the broadcasting industry, both in television and radio. They are used to capture audio during various kinds of broadcasts, including newscasts, sports broadcasts, talk shows, game shows, and radio broadcasts.

Microphones often are used with computers. They allow for the input of audio into computers, which can store and play back the sound. Such audio includes voice recordings, musical instrument recordings, and audio for videos. Microphones can be used for gaming, podcasts, online chatting, and voice recognition.

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