If you’ve ever watched an NBA basketball broadcast or seen a theatre play, you’ve likely heard (in some part of the audio mix) a floor microphone. These mics, when used correctly, add quite a bit to an audio mix without being overly noticeable (if noticeable at all) by the audience. What is a floor microphone?…
If you’ve ever seen behind-the-scenes footage of television or movie shoots, you may have seen a boom microphone at the end of a long pole being held above the actors. If you have a keen eye, you may have even seen a boom mic (accidentally) peak down into frame in your favourite TV show or…
Dialogue and/or singing is a critical part of most acting performances, so hearing the actors clearly is paramount. Effectively miking of actors is essential to capturing their voices in both filmed media and in live performances. Do actors wear microphones in film, theatre, and other performances? In modern professional productions (theatre, film, television, etc.), it’s…
Opera is a truly remarkable art form. As with any live performance heavily centred around sound, it’s common to question if microphones are used or not. Are Microphones Ever Used In Opera Performances? Traditionally mics are not used in opera (for orchestral instruments or singers). Opera singers are trained to sing in a way that…
Broadway has become legendary for its high-level production of theatrical performances. How do Broadway performances (and other professional theatre performances) sound good? It all starts with microphones! Are Microphones Used On Broadway And In Other Theatres? Yes, microphones are used on Broadway and in professional theatre as well as many amateur theatres. A Broadway show…
When travelling via plane for an audio recording gig, it’s nice to be able to bring your gear with you. Microphones are the tools you need to do your job, and so it’s important to know whether you can fly with them in carry-on or checked luggage. Are microphones allowed on airplanes? Microphones are not…
It’s not often that we think about how microphones work. Microphones are part of our day-to-day lives and are somewhat taken for granted, so I’m glad you asked about how they function! How do microphones work? Microphones work as transducers, converting sound waves (mechanical wave energy) into audio signals (electrical energy). The microphone diaphragm vibrates…
In my deeper research into how microphones work, I found that transformers and transistors are key components in many microphones. Do all microphones have transformers? Although transformers are common in microphones, they are certainly not required. Nearly all passive ribbon and tube mics have output transformers. Many dynamic and condenser mics have transformers. Active ribbon…
After about a year of building the My New Microphone blog, I realized I never took the time to write an article to define exactly what a microphone is. What is a microphone? A microphone is a transducer that converts mechanical wave energy (sound waves) into electrical energy (mic/audio signals). There are many types of…
Frequency response (along with polar response) is the most important specification of any given microphone. The characteristic sound of any given mic is explained largely by frequency response. What is microphone frequency response? Microphone frequency response is the frequency-specific output sensitivity of a microphone. It details the relative output levels of the sound/audio frequencies a mic…
Whether you’re a singer, speaker, technician, audience member, or even an at-home hobbyist, microphone feedback is never a welcomed occurrence. Therefore, preventing and eliminating microphone feedback should be of utmost importance when doing any live sound reinforcement. Here Are 12 Effective Methods For Preventing/Eliminating Microphone Feedback: Let’s discuss each of these methods in more detail…
There are many ways to describe microphones and many ways in which mics differ from one another. Whether qualitatively or quantitatively, a microphone’s important differentiators and characteristics are listed in a manufacturer-made document called a microphone specifications sheet or datasheet. What is a microphone specifications sheet, and how do we read one? A microphone “spec…
