RONALD BRYAN M.

ZAO
BSECE- 5
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Basic Operation of Microphones
A microphone is an object that transforms acoustical energy (sound) into
electrical energy (an audio signal).
In all microphones, sound waves (sound pressure) are translated into mechanical
vibrations in a thin, flexible diaphragm. These sound vibrations are then converted by
various methods into an electrical signal which varies in voltage amplitude and frequency
in an analog of the original sound. For this reason, a microphone is an acoustic wave to
voltage modulation transducer.

Common Types of Microphones:
Condenser microphone
Dynamic microphone
Ribbon microphone
Carbon microphone
Crystal Ceramic microphone


Dynamic microphone
In a dynamic microphone a small movable induction coil, positioned in the
magnetic field of a permanent magnet, is attached to the diaphragm. A dynamic
microphone takes advantage of electromagnet effects. When a magnet moves past a wire
(or coil of wire), the magnet induces current to flow in the wire. In a dynamic
microphone, the diaphragm moves either a magnet or a coil when sound waves hit the
diaphragm, and the movement creates a small current.
Operation:
The sound enters through the windscreen of the microphone, the sound wave
vibrations move the diaphragm, When the diaphragm vibrates, the coil moves in the
magnetic field, producing a varying current in the coil. The principle is exactly the same
as in a loudspeaker, only reversed. Dynamic microphones are robust, relatively
inexpensive, and resistant to moisture, and for this reason they are widely used on-stage
by singers. They tend to have a poor low-frequency response, which is advantageous for
reducing handling noise as a vocal mic, but tends to exclude them from other uses.


Condenser microphone

A microphone in which an electrically charged diaphragm moves with sound
waves while a charged back plate stays stationary. Because the diaphragms of condenser
mics can be made very light in weight, the frequency response can be very good with a
condenser mic. Neumann mics, considered by many to be the ultimate mics for recording
voice and acoustic instruments are condenser mics. Condenser is an old term for
capacitor. ...

Operation:
In a capacitor microphone, also known as a condenser microphone, the diaphragm
acts as one plate of a capacitor, and the vibrations produce changes in the distance
between the plates. Since the plates are biased with a fixed charge (Q), the voltage
maintained across the capacitor plates changes with the vibrations in the air, according to
the capacitance equation:

where Q = charge in coulombs, C = capacitance in farads and V = potential difference in
volts. The capacitance of the plates is inversely proportional to the distance between them
for a parallel-plate capacitor. (See capacitance for details.):

Capacitor microphones can be expensive and require a power supply, commonly
provided from mic inputs as phantom power, but give a high-quality sound signal and are
now the preferred choice in laboratory and studio recording application.

Ribbon microphone
In ribbon microphones a thin metallic ribbon, usually corrugated metal ribbon is
suspended in a magnetic field. A thin metallic ribbon is attached in a magnetic
field.When sound waves strike the diaphragm and vibrate the ribbon,a small voltage is
generated in the ribbon by electromagnetic induction.
Operation:
Vibration of the ribbon in the magnetic field generates a changing current. Basic
ribbon microphones detect sound in a bidirectional (also called a figure-of-eight) pattern
because the ribbon, which is open to sound both front and back, responds to the pressure

gradient rather than the sound pressure. Though the symmetrical front and rear pickup
can be a nuisance in normal stereo recording, the high side rejection can be used to
advantage by positioning a ribbon mic horizontally, for example above cymbals, so that
the rear lobe picks up only sound from the ceiling. Other directional patterns are
produced by enclosing one side of the ribbon in an acoustic trap or baffle, allowing sound
to reach only one side. Ribbon mics can give very high quality, and were once valued for
this reason, but a good low-frequency response can only be obtained if the ribbon is
suspended very loosely, and this makes them fragile. Protective wind screens can
however reduce the danger of damaging the ribbon, but will somewhat reduce the bass
response at large micing distances.

Carbon microphone
The simplest type of modern microphone is the CARBON microphone,used in
telephones.This microphone consists of a metallic cup filled with carbon granules.A
movable metallic diaphragm mounted in contact with the granules covers the open end of
the cup. Wires attached to the cup and diaphragm are connected to an electrical circuit so
that a current flows through the carbon granules. Sound waves vibrate the
diaphragm,varying the pressure on the carbon granules.The electrical resistance of the
carbon granules changes with the varying pressure,causing the current in the circuit to
change according to the vibrations of the diaphragm. The varying current may either
actuate a nearby telephone receiver or may be amplified and transmitted to a distant
receiver.If the current variation is suitable amplified,it may also be used to modulate a
radio transmitter. A carbon microphone, formerly used in telephone handsets, is a capsule
containing carbon granules pressed between two metal platesThe oldest and simplest
microphone uses carbon dust. This is the technology used in the first telephones and is
still used in some telephones today. The carbon dust has a thin metal or plastic diaphragm
on one side. As sound waves hit the diaphragm, they compress the carbon dust, which
changes its resistance. By running a current through the carbon, the changing resistance
changes the amount of current that flows
Operation:
A voltage is applied across the metal plates, causing a current to flow through the
carbon. One of the plates, the diaphragm, vibrates in sympathy with incident sound
waves, applying a varying pressure to the carbon. The changing pressure deforms the
granules, causing the contact area between each pair of adjacent granules to change, and
this causes the electrical resistance of the mass of granules to change (lose contact). Since
the voltage across a conductor is proportional to its resistance, the voltage across the
capsule varies according to the sound pressure.






Crystal Ceramic microphone
The CRYSTAL microphone,utilizes piezoelectric crystals,in which a voltage
develops between two faces of the crystal when pressure is applied to the crystal.In this
microphone sound waves vibrate a diaphragm,which in turn varies the pressure on a
piezoelectric crystal.This generates a small voltage,which is then amplified. It was long
known that certain crystals, notably tourmaline, would attract light objects when strongly

heated. This was the pyroelectric effect, the production of electrical polarization upon
heating. While studying this effect, the brothers Pierre Curie (1859-1906) and P.-J. Curie
(1855-1941) discovered the direct piezoelectric effect, or the production of electrical
polarization when a crystal was strained, in 1880. In 1881 they announced the converse
effect, the production of strain when an electric field was applied to a crystal. Much of
the pyroelectricity previously observed was simply the piezoelectric effect due to strains
caused by thermal expansion, but there is also a primary pyroelectric effect.
Operation:
A crystal or piezo microphone uses the phenomenon of piezoelectricity, the
tendency of some materials to produce a voltage when subjected to pressure, to convert
vibrations into an electrical signal. This type of microphone is often used to mic acoustic
instruments for live performance, or to record sounds in unusual environments
(underwater, for instance.) An example of this is Rochelle Salt, Potassium Sodium
Tartrate, which is a piezo crystal and works both ways and is in common use as a slimline
loudspeaker component.