What Is A MEMS Microphone? (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems)

What Is A MEMS Microphone? (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems)

As technologies advance, they often become smaller. This is partly the case with microphones and is certainly the case with the invention of the MEMS microphone. What is a MEMS microphone? A MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) mic is a pressure-sensitive diaphragm etched into a silicon wafer via MEMS processing. MEMS mics are largely based on electret…

A Complete Guide To Directional Microphones (With Pictures)

A Complete Guide To Directional Microphones (With Pictures)

To get the most out of our microphones, we need to know their directionality. Understanding how microphones respond to sound at varying angles and the directions in which microphones point will be invaluable in our work as musicians and audio engineers/technicians. What is a directional microphone? A directional mic is a microphone that is most…

Pressure Microphones Vs. Pressure-Gradient Microphones

Pressure Microphones Vs. Pressure-Gradient Microphones

Microphones of all types are designed to convert sound pressure variations into electrical signals. There are pressure and pressure-gradient microphones that react slightly differently to pressure in order to do so. What is a pressure microphone? A pressure microphone is a mic that has one side of its diaphragm open to external sound waves, and the other side closed in…

What Are Centre And Edge-Terminated Microphone Capsules?

What Are Centre And Edge-Terminated Microphone Capsules?

There are many types of microphones and nearly countless methods to differentiate one mic from another. One such differentiating factor with condenser mic capsules is the way in which they are terminated. They are either centre-terminated or edge-terminated. What is a centre-terminated condenser capsule? A centre-terminated condenser mic capsule has its electrical leads terminating from…

What Is A Solid-State Microphone? (With Mic Examples)

What Is A Solid-State Microphone? (With Mic Examples)

Solid-state electronics are everywhere in our day-to-day lives. Chances are you’re reading this on a solid-state device. If you’re using the microphone within that device (cell phone, laptop, tablet, etc.), you’re using a solid-state microphone as well! What Is A Solid-State Microphone? A solid-state microphone is an active mic (one that requires electrical power to…

What Is Microphone Transient Response & Why Is It Important?

What Is Microphone Transient Response & Why Is It Important?

There are many specifications that help us to understand the nature and performance of a microphone. Transient response is one such specification that is difficult to measure and does not show up on data sheets but is, nonetheless, important to understand if we are to comprehend the true nature of a microphone. What is microphone…

What Are Coloured And Flat Microphone Frequency Responses?

What Are Coloured And Flat Microphone Frequency Responses?

When judging a microphone’s frequency response, we often use the terms “flat” or “coloured.” These general adjectives give us a broad understanding of how a microphone’s outputted audio signal will sound relative to the sound source it is capturing. What is a flat frequency response? A purely flat microphone frequency response means the microphone will…

What Are Top, End & Side-Address Microphones? (+ Examples)

What Are Top, End & Side-Address Microphones? (+ Examples)

Knowing where your microphones are pointing is an essential part of mastering the art of microphone positioning. The address type of a microphone is a great indicator of a mic’s directionality and helps us know how to best position our microphones. So what are top-address and side-address microphones? Top-address microphones have the centre-axis of their…

What Is Phantom Power And How Does It Work With Microphones?

What Is Phantom Power And How Does It Work With Microphones?

Phantom power is often required for proper microphone function. What is so “phantom” about this powering method, and why is it so popular with microphones? We’ll find out in this article! What is phantom power? Phantom power is a DC voltage (typically +48 V) that provides power to the active components within certain active microphones….