Microphone Principles and Design

Pressure transducersDynamic microphones work on the basis on
Only the front face of a pressure transducer ismagnetism. As the coil, that is mounted to the
exposed to the sound field. The diaphragm respondsdiagram moves in and out in relation to the SPL and
equally to all sound pressure fluctuations hitting thecuts through the magnetic field. A current is induced
surface, doesn't matter form which direction thein the coil, and that is a voltage representation of the
sound. Pressure transducers have no directionalsound.
characteristic, and are Omni directional.Variable Capacitance Transducer
Pressure gradient transducersThere are two plates placed close to each other,
These microphones have a figure-8 pickup patternthere is a potential difference on the plates. As the
along the longitudinal axis. They respond to theSPL hits the diaphragm the plates start to bind in
momentary sound pressure difference between tworelation to the sound. As the plates bend it causes
points A and B, which are a slight distance apart inelectrons to jump, and you will get the voltage
the sound field.representation of the sound
Pick up PatternsMulti Pick up pattern
Omni directional1. A microphone with multiple pickup patterns typically
An Omni directional microphone, reveres to Omniuses voltage difference between two condenser
because it hears from all direction. Provide the fullestcardiod capsules. The different voltages on the plate
sound from a distance. Omni is good to capturecauses different pick up patterns. Here are the
ambience and the room sound.different voltages on the different plates.
Pressure transducerOmni = + +
BidirectionalFig 8 = + -
Bidirectional microphones only hearse from the frontCardiod = + -
and the back and nothing from the sides.Cardiod = + +
Cardioid2. A microphone with ports on their side provides an
Hears most of its sounds from the front and only aalternate way to put the sound from the back and
little from the back.the sound from the front out of phase. And change
Transducer typebetween Omni and cardiod.
Magnetic Induction Transducer