Microphones

Basics
Week 1 - Assignment
About Me
Hey, I am Vijay from Patna, India.
Im currently studying computer
science and am a self-learnt
guitarist.
This presentation is a basic
overlook over Microphones.
What is a
microphone?
A microphone (also known as
mic or mike) is a sound
pressure to audio signal input
transducer or sensor that
converts sound in air into an
electrical signal (voltage
variation).
There are
different varieties
of microphones,
namely :-
Condenser microphones
Dynamic microphones
Ribbon microphones
Carbon microphones
Piezoelectric microphones
Fiber optic microphones
Laser microphones
Liquid microphones
MEMS microphones
Also, speakers can also be turned into microphones,
using a process known as reversing.
SM58 vs.
AKG 414
In this presentation,
we are going to
studying difference
in the properties of
microphones using
the above example.
SM58
SM58 is a cardioid
dynamic microphone. It is
a front addressed
microphone which majorly
only picks up from the
source in front of it. It is
much ragged and hence is
preferred in live situations
as per rough usage.
AKG 414
AKG 414 is a side addressed
condenser microphone. It is
much more sensitive than
dynamic microphones and
hence is preferred for studio
usage. Unlike SM58, AKG 414
requires phantom power
(external power source, +48
Volts) in order to function. It is
more like a what you hear is
what you get type of
microphone.
Frequency Response curve
In simple terms, it depicts the frequencies that a microphone is designed
to pick up (or reject) above others.
These are frequency response curves for SM58 (top) and AKG 414
(below) respectively:-
Polar Patterns
Polar patterns describes the area around the
microphone which picks up well and which areas does it
reject.
The various types of polar patterns are cardioid
(which is also unidirectional) and omnidirectional (all
directions) as well as various flavors of cardioid.
Expensive mics like AK 414 present options for
different polar patterns to be selected from.
Note: Polar patterns are independent of type of
microphone. But, polar patterns and frequency response
are kind of interrelated, change in one affects the other.
Microphone Placement
Microphone placement, as
simple as it may seem, is very
important.
The most important skill
to develop for microphone
placement is: listening. Where
and how does it sound.
As per orientation of mic,
as a general rule always point
the logo of the manufacturer
towards the source of the
sound. They put a lot of effort
in it, least they expect you to
do is see it.
Thank You.