4. Microphone Types Flashcards
Describe a condensor microphone.
Wide, extended frequency response. Detailed clear sound with good high frequency pick up. Sensitive with good transient response. Requires battery or phantom power. More fragile.
Describe a dynamic microphone.
Rougher frequency response. Good for loud volumes. Poor transient response. More robust and less perform handling noise.
How many volts is phantom power?
48V.
What is a ribbon microphone?
Works the same as a dynamic except aluminium ribbon is used as the diaphragm and the wire coil.
Describe a Pressure Zone Microphone? (PZM)
Similar conversion method to condensors. They are used as ambient mic’s and can easily be stuck to walls/floors. Usually found on the table t conferences when audio is being recorded.
What is an omni directional pickup pattern?
From every direction. Will pick up room reverb. Poor isolation.
What is the cardioid family pickup pattern?
Rejects room reverb and background noise.
What are the four types of cardioid pickup patterns?
Cardioid, super cardioid, hypercardioid and figure of eight.
How do you remove plosive sounds from singers?
Pop shield in front of the microphone.
How would you record an electric guitar?
Dynamic mic close to the speaker in the amp, slightly off axis.
How does a dynamic microphone convert sound into an electrical signal?
The sound vibrations cause a lightweight diaphragm to vibrate. This is attached to a coil of wire between two magnets. This movement of wire results in a current being induced. This is then carried to the microphone output via copper wires.
How does a condenser microphone convert sound into an electrical signal?
Similar to dynamic. The pressure fluctuations caused by the sound source result in the diaphragm moving back and forth. This movement changes the capacitance between it and a charged back plate. This voltage change is then carried through an amplifier (48V) to the microphone output.
How does a ribbon microphone convert sound into an electrical signal?
Similar to dynamic but aluminium ribbon is used as both the diaphragm and the wire coil. The small movements of the ribbon induce a current. This is normally very weak, so an amplifier is built into the microphone to boost the signal to a workable level.
What does transient mean?
The initial high energy peak at the beginning of a waveform such as one caused by the percussive action of a pick or hammer hitting the string.
What is a transient response?
Response to signals whose amplitudes rise very quickly, such as drum beats and waveforms from percussive instruments.
