Microphones and Voice Amplification

Microphones are the instruments that convert sound waves to electric currents. Unlike the pick ups which convert magnetic changes to electric currents microphones do the same things but they do so by picking up sound waves. There are many details about how microphones work. In general however, microphones are not always expected to pick up sound universally and from all directions. The way that a microphone picks up sound from various directions is known as its pickup pattern . Microphones are used in many applications such as telephones, tape recorders, hearing aids, motion picture production and in radio, television broadcasting and of course music. Microphones are facing competition in a new, rapidly evolving and highly competitive sector of the audio communication and production market. Good microphones are expensive and thrie price depends on how sensitive the microphone is. Microphones are one of the most important parts of the recording signal chain, and, when applied properly, can provide as much personality as different types of guitars do. For this reason, it is important to know the different qualities of various mics because each has their own specifications. In general the type of the microphone is based on proximity and sensitivity. The first type of microphone is the cdondenser microphones. Condenser microphones have flat frequency response down to the lowest audible frequencies, permitting full, impressive low frequency sound reproduction. Microphones pick up sounds in different ways, from different directions, and are designed to be used in a variety of ways. You may need one type of mic for close voice recording, and another for lectures. Microphones play an crucial roll in the sound quality of audio recording. Using a cheap microphone on even the most advanced audio recorders will result in terrible sound. The second type of microphones is the dynamic ones. Dynamic mics are very common in live applications. In the studio, dynamics are often used to record electric guitars, drums and more. Dynamic microphones use a sort of a reversed speaker method to obtain sound. A small diaphragm is attached to a coil of hair-thin wire suspended in a magnetic field. Dynamic microphones done need to be powered like condenser microphones. Condenser microphones on the other hand require to be plugged in to power and it is usually refered to as phantom power. Most of them come with an internal battery. Condenser microphones are usually more fragile than dynamic microphones and require a 48 V phantom power supply. Some of them can use battery packs, but some rely on an external power source. In general if microphones did not exist the world would be a whole different place. Music Blog