Microphones

It seems that “gold-sputtered” is a buzzword for condenser microphone diaphragms nowadays. Is this just good marketing, or is it a necessary part of condenser microphone design? Why are condenser microphone diaphragms gold-sputtered? Condenser mic diaphragms are often gold-sputtered since they need to be electrically conductive (to hold a charge across the capsule) but are…

Both microphones and loudspeakers utilize voice coils to convert sound to audio or audio to sound, respectively. To be more specific, dynamic microphones have voice coils, and most loudspeaker designs do as well. What is a microphone voice coil? A voice coil is a coil of conductive wire that is attached to a moving-coil dynamic mic’s diaphragm….

Some microphones have transformer-coupled outputs, while others are deemed transformerless. Some microphones even have transformers in the middle of their signal chains rather than at their outputs. What is a microphone transformer? A mic transformer is a passive electrical device that physically isolates two circuits while maintaining an electrical relationship between the circuits. Mic transformers…

Because sound travels through any medium, including water, it would make sense for microphones to be waterproof. So are microphones waterproof? Typical microphones are not waterproof, and many will actually be damaged by water and even by excess humidity. That being said, there are waterproof microphones on the market, and there are methods to make…

The size of a condenser microphone’s diaphragm is a key differentiator between mic types. As the title suggests, condenser mics can be separated into the categories of large-diaphragm and small-diaphragm (and miniature diaphragm if we count lavalier mics). What are the differences between large-diaphragm condensers (LDCs) and small-diaphragm condensers (SDCs)? LDCs generally have a diaphragm…

Tube condenser microphones are commonly cherished for their character, while non-tube (FET) microphones are often described as more accurate and are much more popular on the market today. For all subjective preferences, there are other major differences between the tube and the FET microphone. What are the differences between tube and FET microphones? Vacuum tubes…

When we use the term “dynamic microphone,” we typically mean “moving-coil dynamic microphone,” even though ribbon mics are also dynamic. These two microphone transducer types convert sound into audio via electromagnetic induction, though they do so differently. What are the differences between moving-coil and ribbon dynamic microphones? In moving-coil dynamic mics, the mic signal is…

The vast majority of microphones are either dynamic or condenser mics. These classifications are widely used to differentiate between transducer types, but they also give us a general sense of how the microphone will perform. What are the differences between dynamic and condenser microphones? The main difference between dynamic and condenser mics is that dynamics…

Ribbon and condenser microphones are two types of microphones that are both popular in the studio. Although these microphones are cherished by musicians, engineers, and audiophiles alike, they are different from one another in many ways. What are the differences between ribbon and condenser microphones? The main difference between ribbon and condenser mics is that…

So you want to record better audio on your smartphone? Let’s talk about how to pick the best external microphone to improve the audio of your specific smartphone! Choosing the best microphone for your smartphone is simplified in the following steps: In this article, we’ll dive deep into each of the 5 steps for choosing…

A microphone is an important transducer that converts sound waves into audio signals. However, microphones need to plug into mixers/recorders and, ultimately, a playback system to be heard and truly enjoyed by the listener. What do microphones plug into? Microphones typically plug into mic preamplifiers (which can be standalone devices or built into mixers, recorders,…