MICROPHONES

It is a device that sense waves and converts them into electric signal which aids in recording of
sound.
It may also be referred to as transducers thus it converts energy into another polar patterns.

According to research from CEMCA. Org .in, we classify microphone based on its
contruction and polar patterns thus its directionality properties.
Below are the main types based on polar patterns thus its pick up points or directionality
properties;
1. Omni-directional
2. Unidirectional
3. Bidirectional

Below are the types based on its construction or transducer used;

1. Condensers microphones
2. Dynamic microphones
3. Ribbon microphones
4. Carbon microphones
5. Piezoelectric microphones
6. Fiber microphones
7. Laser microphones
8. MEMS (Micro Electrical Mechanical System)

MICROPHONES BASED ON ITS POLAR PATTERNS

A microphone’s polar pattern indicates how sensitive it is to sound arriving at different angles
about its central axis. Generally, the pick up pattern or polar pattern of microphones fall in the
following categories which is;
1. Omni-directional
2. Unidirectional
3. Bidirectional
All these types are termed as directional microphones.
 OMNIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES
As the name goes, it is considered to be a perfect sphere in three dimension. They capture
sound equally from all directions. This type of mics has a more natural sound because of their
non-directional design that cancels or eliminates any rejections. It is perfect for capturing room
studio sound. They can also be used for capturing multiple instruments, as long as noise level is
low because its functionality. It has a downside of not been able to reject background noise
since it carries equal sound from all directions.

BIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES
They are types that receive sound equally from both the front and back of the element.
Mostly, ribbon microphones are of this pattern. As principle goes, they do not respond to
sound pressure but only changes pressure between front and back, since sound arriving
from the side reaches front and back equally. There is no difference in pressure and
sensitivity to sound.

UNIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES
This type of microphone is sensitive to sound from only one direction. The most common
unidirectional microphone is the cardioid microphones. It is more sensitive to sound from
the front and less sensitive from the back. For sound waves coming from the back, the
negative signal cancels the positive signal from the omnidirectional element type, whereas
for sound coming from the front, the two signals add up to each other making it more
sensitive from the front.

CARDIOIDS MICROPHONES
They are microphones that are more sensitive from the front and sound is captured in one
direction.
 TPYES OF CARDIOIDS

 SUPER CARDIOID MICROPHONE

 HYPER CARDIOID MICROPHONE
 SUBCARDIOD MICROPHONE
SUPER CARDIOID MICROPHONE: It has a tighter area of front sensitivity and a smaller rear
sensitivity thus sounds captured by the sides.

HYPER CARDIOID MICROPHONE: It is similar to the super cardioid microphone but its
frontal sensitivity is higher with less rear pick up.

SHOTGUN MICROPHONE
Shotgun microphone forms part of the cardioid microphone family. They are mostly highly
directional. They have small lobes of sensitivity to the left and right called the interference
tube. It uses super cardioid transducers. It has less sensitivity to the sides and rear than
other directional microphones. Due to its narrowness of its sensitivity area, shotgun
microphones are best and commonly used on television and film sets, in stadiums and for
field recordings of wildlife. This microphone contains tiny slots at the sides called
interference tube which cuts out sound and making it more directional.

Shotgun microphone comes in two forms which is the short type and the long type.

 Short shotgun microphone: This type has the capability to reduce interference of
sound in the environment and allows the main sound to be heard clearer and
focused. They can be used in outdoor shots where the actor is moving around
because it maintains its solid sound for pretty good distances but the longer one will
make the sound muddy with respect to distance

 Long shotgun microphones: This type of mic is similar to the short type but has low
sensitivity by the interference tube than the short type therefore making it
specialized. This can be used for indoor shots where actor stays at one position, and
therefore background noise such as louder air conditions, refrigerators need to be
reduced.
LAVALIER MICROPHONES : This type of microphone is used in conjunction with wireless system
controls which signals audio changes. They enable free and easy movement but has a
disadvantage of radio frequencies interference which distracts sounds in shots,

MICROPHONES BASED ON CONTRUCTION (CAPACITOR, ELECTROSTATIC MICROPHONES)

CONDENSOR MICROPHONES: It is made up of two parallel thin plates, positively and
negatively charged respectively. It contains thin diaphragm of one to ten micrometers of
thickness which sits close to a metal black plate. The sound pressure pushes and vibrates the
diaphragm which creates electrical charge to produce audio signal output. It requires use of
external supply, internal batteries or phantom power supply by a mixture.

SMALL DIAPHRAGM MICROPHONES

They are also called pencil mics. This microphone is an ultra -responsive type used to capture
quality sound in a distance. They are used to mic up instrument with sharp transients such as
drum hi-hat and cymbals.
MEDIUM DIAPHRAGM MICRIPHONES
They are more modern and often combined characteristic of both Large and Small Diaphragms.
They have slightly fuller and warm sound similar to large diaphragms whiles still retaining some
of the high responsive frequencies the small diaphragms captures. They are also called Hybrid
because of its function.

LARGE DIAPHRAGMS MICROPHONES

It is capable of capturing sound in great details in wide range thus, recording its surroundings
(can sense air vibration). This microphone is best used for studio works for capturing high
fidelity recordings. This mic always requires external power.

DYNAMIC MICROPHONES (MOVING COIL MICROPHONES)

They reliable and versatile. The audio signal generated is by a moving coil with magnetic field
which makes the mic less sensitive to sound pressure and high frequencies. It captures sound in
one direction and needs close contact for high frequency. They are mostly used to mic udrums,
guitar and vocal works.
 RIBBON MICROPHONES
This microphone does not use diaphragm but rather a thin metal ribbon allowing them to pick
up the velocity of air. Its design makes it more sensitive to higher frequencies but still remains it
warm voicing as the large diaphragm does. They be used for live multi-instrumenting recording.
This microphone do not need external power such as phantom power resulting in damaging it.