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Microphones Ssi Autosaved

A microphone is a transducer that converts sound into an electrical signal. There are two main types of microphones: dynamic and condenser. Dynamic microphones use electromagnetic induction to convert variations in air pressure into a voltage using a moving coil around a permanent magnet. Condenser microphones use changes in capacitance to record sound, where a diaphragm vibrates in response to sound, causing fluctuations in the distance and capacitance between the diaphragm and a back plate. More expensive microphones produce clearer signals by using higher quality components that generate less electrical noise.

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65 views3 pages

Microphones Ssi Autosaved

A microphone is a transducer that converts sound into an electrical signal. There are two main types of microphones: dynamic and condenser. Dynamic microphones use electromagnetic induction to convert variations in air pressure into a voltage using a moving coil around a permanent magnet. Condenser microphones use changes in capacitance to record sound, where a diaphragm vibrates in response to sound, causing fluctuations in the distance and capacitance between the diaphragm and a back plate. More expensive microphones produce clearer signals by using higher quality components that generate less electrical noise.

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api-355552263
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MICROPHONES

A transducer is a device that is used to convert energy from one form into
another. A microphone is a type of transducer that converts sound (kinetic
energy of particles moving through a medium), into an induced voltage
(electrical energy). This voltage can then be converted into a digital
signal, using an analogue-digital convertor, that can then be sent to a
computer, and accessed through a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).
However, the way in which sound is converted into a useable signal differs
with each microphone type. The two most common microphone types are
the dynamic microphone, and the condenser microphone. First we will
look at the dynamic microphone

Dynamic Microphones

How do dynamic microphones work?

This type of microphone uses electromagnetic induction to convert


variances in air pressure (sound) into an induced voltage that can be used
to record and amplify a sound source. Dynamic microphones consist of
three fundamental parts, a moving coil/wire, a diaphragm and a
permanent magnet. The diaphragm is attached to the wire which is coiled
around the permanent magnet so that whenever sound is incident on the
diaphragm, it causes the coil to move with it, around the permanent
magnet. The coil moving through the magnetic field of the permanent
magnet is what generates the voltage. The ends of the wire/coil become
our output signal wires and by soldering one to each of the terminals on a
TS jack connector, you can make a fully functional microphone that can be
plugged into an amplifier and put through a speaker, to amplify the
original sound source, or sent through an audio interface (analogue-digital
converter) and recorded into a digital audio workstation.

What makes some dynamic microphones better than others?

When manufacturers design microphones they are always looking to


achieve the best signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) possible. The SNR of a
microphone is the level of the desired sound in comparison to the level of
any unwanted background noise the microphone has also picked up, such
as electrical noise from components, and external noise (wind, mic stand
movement etc). The manufacturers job is to maximise the strength of
the signal obtained by the transducer, and to minimise the electrical noise
from all the components within the microphone. Typically, more expensive
microphones use better quality components with less electrical noise, thus
producing a clearer signal. You can also reduce internal electrical noise by
using less components and making it so that the electrical signal travels
the shortest distance possible as noise is also picked up in wires and other
conductors. But how can we also maximise signal strength?

We get our signal from our induced emf (voltage),


and so our signal is strongest when we have the
largest possible emf. The Faraday-Lenz law gives
us an equation we can use for emf.

N = Number of coils
t = Change in time
= Change in magnetic flux

From this equation we can see that the more coils we have in our
microphone, the larger the magnitude of induced emf will be. This law also
tells us that induced emf is proportional to the change in magnetic flux
per second, and so we need to maximise this in order to achieve the
strongest signal. We can do this by using a stronger magnet, and by
configuring out magnet in such a way that when
the coil is in motion, it cuts across the magnetic
field lines at an angle of 90 degrees, as this is
what gives the largest value of sin.

Condenser Microphones
Condenser Microphones, also known as capacitor microphones, use
changes in capacitance to record sound. Capacitance is the amount of
charge that can be stored by a capacitor. Capacitors consist of two
conductive plates very close together, separated by a dielectric (an
insulator). In a condenser microphone these
two plates are the diaphragm and the
charged back plate. When sound is incident
on the diaphragm, it vibrates, causing the
distance between the two plates to fluctuate.
We can show the importance of this with an
equation:

This equation tells us that the distance between the plates is inversely
proportional to the capacitance, and so any sound that causes the
diaphragm to vibrate would be causing very subtle fluctuations in
capacitance. But how can we get sound from this? Another equation (
Q
C= tells us that voltage is inversely proportional to capacitance, and
V
so when the capacitance increases, the voltage decreases and vice versa.
These changes in voltage can be used to record sound in just the same
way as a dynamic microphone.
Plate area and the permittivity of the dielectric material remain constant
in condenser microphones meaning that the only factor affecting
capacitance will be the distance between the two plates which will
fluctuate rapidly as disturbances in the air are incident on the diaphragm.

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