DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH

Name : B.Mamatha.
Designation : Lecturer.
Branch : Electronics & Communication Engg.
Institute : Smt.B.SeethaPolytechnic.
Year / Sem : 1st year.
Subject : Electronic components and Devices.
Subject Code : EC-105.
Topic : Microphones and Loudspeakers.
Duration : 50 min.
Sub Topic : working of ribbon microphone
Teaching aid s : Diagrams, photographs and
animations.

EC105.86 1
OBJECTIVES

After completion of this period, you would able to understand

• Principle of ribbon microphone .

• Construction of ribbon microphone.

• Working of ribbon microphone

• Applications of ribbon microphone.

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Principle of Ribbon microphone

• It is a velocity operated microphone or pressure gradient

microphone.

• It responds to difference in pressure at two closely

spaced points, when diaphragm is exposed to sound

waves on both sides.

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Construction

• It has a light corrugated metallic ribbon suspended

between the magnetic pole pieces north and south.

• This can be freely exposed to sound pressure on both sides.

• Here the metallic ribbon is made of duraluminium which acts

as both diaphragm and a coil.

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RIBBON MICROPHONE CONSTRUCTIONAL VIEW

Fig .1

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 RIBBON MICROPHONE

N S
CORRUGATED
MAGNETS
RIBBON

Fig . 2

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EC105.86 7
• When there is a variation of air pressure on both sides of
ribbon.

• The Ribbon vibrates and cuts the magnetic field.

• Hence the e.m.f is induced in the coil which is directly

proportional to the sound velocity.

• Induced e.m.f direction is perpendicular to the ribbon.

8
EC105.86
RIBBON MICROPHONE OPERATION DIAGRAM
OUTPUT ELECTRICAL
SIGNAL
RIBBON

MAGNET

SOUND WAVES Fig .3

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Characteristics

• Sensitivity : about 30 µ Volts.

• Signal to noise ratio : 10db.

• Frequency response : 50Hz-10KHz.

• Directivity : Bi-directional.

• Output impedance : Low,25 ohms.

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Advantages

• No external bias supply is required.

• Used by singers for introducing bass quality in to voice.

• Avoids noise from sides.

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Disadvantages

• These microphones possess high noise when used in

out doors.

• Speaker or singer must remain in fixed position.

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Applications

• Used in public address systems.

• Used in broad casting.

• Used in studio works.

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DIFFERENT RIBBON MICROPHONES THAT ARE USED

FOR STUDIO WORK FOR FM BROADCASTING

Visual-1

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DIFFERENT TYPES OF RIBBON MICROPHONES

Visual-2

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SUMMARY

• The Ribbon microphone is velocity operated microphone

or pressure gradient microphone.

• If any variation in pressure, the ribbon vibrates and cuts

the magnetic field this induces e.m.f in the microphone.

• No external bias supply is required.

• Used in Public address systems and broad casting.

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QUIZ

Q) Ribbon micro phone is _____ operated

microphone
a) Pressure operated

b) Velocity operated

c) Acceleration operated

d) None of the above

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A) Ribbon microphone consists of ribbon
which acts as

a) Diaphragm

c) Coil

e) Both a & b

g) None

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A) The Directivity of the ribbon microphone is

a) Omni- directional

b) Bi- directional

c) Cardiod

d) None of the above

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A) External bias is required for ribbon
microphone.

a) True

b) False

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Frequently Asked Questions…

1) Explain construction, working and applications of

Ribbon microphone ?

EC105.86 21