Talk:Microphone/Archive 2

Piezo mics
I removed some bloated information about guitars from the Piezo - Usage section. Blue Dinosaur Jr 16:58, 21 March 2007 (UTC)

capsule?
What does capsule mean here? --211.171.132.50 12:24, 12 March 2007 (UTC)


 * It's a synonym of "transducer". mdf 14:49, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

mic vs. mike vs. microphone
The words 'mic' and 'mike' are used interchangeably through the article. While they are valid casual synonyms, I don't think they belong in the encyclopedic tone, so I'd recommend that all instances be changed to 'microphone'. Does this make sense, and does anyone disagree that 'mic' and 'mike' should be removed? ~Matthew

I think you're right Matt. Even though we call it a Mike(hate that sounds too much like my name) we never ever spell it as Mike but it's always spelt as MIC or Mic. So Mike doesn't belong here. Mic does belong here though. Upon looking at this article in more detail I think the word "Mike" is used too much. It's never spelt as Mike we can barely just get away with mic. --81.154.35.21 00:32, 4 March 2007 (UTC)


 * I've changed all uses of "mike" to "mic" for now, for in-article consistency. Most literature uses "mic" as the short form, and if the short form is permitted, we should follow suit.  mdf 14:57, 10 May 2007 (UTC)


 * I'm not questioning that you've seen the word "mic" in print, but just wondering what you mean by "most literature". "Mike" has been attested since 1924, whereas Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition does not even have an entry for "mic".  I never saw "mic" in print until at least the 90s, and then it was in music rags that were just as likely to spell "light" "lite".


 * And rethinking, I've just made the entire article use "microphone" as per Matthew, above. mdf 15:10, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

Matthew, I couldn't agree more! --bobsmith319 14:14, 3 September 2007 (UTC)

Referance for material I added http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/lyrics/Joe's_Garage.html#SyBorg

Shotgun microphones
It should also be mentioned that shotgun mics. are often used in law enforcement/intelligence surveilance operations.

Basesurge (talk) 02:13, 2 January 2008 (UTC)


 * I think it's covered in the "Application-specific microphone designs" section under parabolic mics. - LuckyLouie (talk) 02:17, 2 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Shotgun microphones offer no forward gain, so would be relatively useless surveillance devices. Not exactly sure about parabolic microphones either, since my experience with them doesn't leave me impressed with their ability to pull in normal human conversation either at long range or covertly.  Now if the FBI or the FSB was monitoring birds...  In any case, I note these sections of the article are unreferenced in its entirety.  So I'd like to see some reliable sources to the effect law enforcement or intelligence people really use any of these devices.  There are too many movies and books that, well, "extend the truth".  mdf (talk) 20:26, 7 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Agreed that shotgun mics aren't used much in surveillance. They are too big for most covert purposes. However, I disagree on your point that shotguns "offer no forward gain"... Because sounds to the rear and to the sides are attenuated by destructive interference from sound waves entering the shotgun's own ports then the preamp gain can be increased until the mic effectively has more forward gain. Steep phase response and impulse smear problems are what I'd blame for the shotgun's poor ability to pull speech in from a distance. Binksternet (talk) 20:51, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Error in description of operation?
I believe that the description of the operation of carbon granule microphones is incorrect. The current wording is "The changes in resistance cause a corresponding change in the voltage across the two plates, and hence in the current flowing through the microphone". I believe that the voltage across the two plates is constant - a change in current alone arises from the change in resistance due to Ohm's law. If it is true that the voltage changes, this would most likely be due to the presence of a resistance in series with the microphone - the series combination being connected to a constant voltage source and acting as a potentiometer. This may well be true but should, in that case, be stated. The description as written does not make sense. Unless I am mistaken and someone sets me straight within a week or so, I will edit the article. Fishiface (talk) 13:58, 5 January 2009 (UTC)

microphone history
this article provides very little and partially wrong information about mic history. u r wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BIG TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "The main basic designs still popular are of American, British or Russian origin" is not true. The condensor microphone was invented by Georg Neumann, Berlin, Germany, in 1926. The electret condensor microphone was invented in 1962 by the german Prof. Gerhard Sessler and the american James E. West who worked at that time for the Bell labs. See also http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/westsessler.html Inventor of the Week Archive --84.58.220.190 10:05, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Then fix it. Doing nothing about wrong information doesn't help wikipedia or anyone else for that matter, neither does complaining about it. Fix the reference and then cite your fix next to it to improve wikipedia's quality. Tm1000 22:38, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

Georg Neumann invented many things, but the condenser microphone is not one of them. That credit goes to Wente, Bell Labs, 1917. The first commercial *directional* condenser microphone was manufactured by Neumann, but the design is from von Braunmühl and Weber of the (then) German national radio organization. Altaphon (talk) 01:06, 20 June 2009 (UTC)

headset microphones
I use the device in this picture to talk to my computer. Does anyone have any thoughts if the most proper name for this device is a headset microphone? I would like to have some discussion to affirm anything before posting anything "wrong" Thank you. Nastajus 03:48, 23 December 2006 (UTC)


 * That's an electret condenser mike, which is already covered in the article. The fact that it's part of a headset is no big deal and not worth mentioning in the article. +ILike2BeAnonymous 06:26, 23 December 2006 (UTC)
 * ILike2BeAnonymous, or anyone, help me out here with a question. I used to work at RadioShack for several years recently. We used to sell headsets all the time, and I believe most of them had an electret condenser mike's under the foam. They all had a 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) connector jack, and an extremely small minority of them had battery power support, all ranging in a the low end price range. I guess what I'm looking for is a wide-ranging statement, like "electret are all covered in foam padding", so that's an image the mass public can identify with. And, they never taught us what the innards looked like.


 * Also, I'm thinking an image of a full-in-use version would be appropriate, like one of the products in this search. It would easily be recognized by masses of public at large. I think it would be awesome with the caption "standard headset containing an electret condenser mike under the foam". Or something like that. What do you think? I'm not this technical, I'm trying to dumb it down so everybody can instantly understand it's fully intended context. Nastajus 01:16, 15 January 2007 (UTC)


 * I think the information on Electret mics is about as broad as it can be. I doubt that all headset mics are Electrets, so adding information to that effect might be misleading.  Blue Dinosaur Jr 17:04, 21 March 2007 (UTC)


 * While there are professional headsets that still use dynamic mics, the vast majority (it would be safe to say 99%) are electret. Electret capsules are seldom (<1%) larger than 10mm diameter x 10 mm deep, other mics are nearly always (99.9%) larger. Altaphon (talk) 03:07, 20 June 2009 (UTC)

mike vs mic
The OED cites instances of mike for microphone going back to 1926 (Merriam-Webster goes back to 1924). Earliest use of mic in this sense is 1961 in either reference. I'll construct the citation in the next couple of days. Webbbbbbber (talk) 03:46, 22 April 2009 (UTC)


 * Is it so critical for the reader to know which one is older? Both have been accepted for decades. Just sayin'... Binksternet (talk) 04:02, 22 April 2009 (UTC)


 * It establishes precedent, which seems to be important since some editors think that one or the other is "incorrect".


 * Since no one else is weighing in on this discussion, I'm requesting a third opinion. Webbbbbbber (talk) 21:11, 26 April 2009 (UTC)


 * Not clear what the issue is; it's OK to disagree over how important it is; is there an issue about what to say in the article? Seems to me that if it's sourced and relevant, then it's OK to say it, even if some think it's unimportant.  Most of what's in wikipedia is unimportant, but there's no policy or guideline about that that I'm aware of. Dicklyon (talk) 21:15, 26 April 2009 (UTC)


 * Oh, I see, now that I've looked at the article history. I'd say that if you want to say one is older than the other, you should have a source that says that; and there's no reason to put such trivia in the lead sentence.  A brief section on the history or etymology later in the article is usually acceptable.  For here, saying also known as mike or mic is all you need in the lead; if you want to say when one or the other term came into use, say it later. Dicklyon (talk) 21:18, 26 April 2009 (UTC)


 * I don't mind the terminology history being brought into the article down lower; I just don't think it appropriate for the lead sentence. Binksternet (talk) 21:19, 26 April 2009 (UTC)


 * OK, sounds good to me--I'll do that later. Webbbbbbber (talk) 04:08, 27 April 2009 (UTC)


 * I think the current wording is OK. I think the most common usage is "mic" when used as a noun and "mike" when used as a verb (because the gerund form "micing" just doesn't look right.) DLJosephson (talk) 20:19, 30 November 2009 (UTC)


 * That reasoning looks like WP:Original research to me. "Miking" and "micing" both are relatively new constructs; neither spelling is established enough to be "right." Binksternet (talk) 15:07, 1 December 2009 (UTC)

Theory of operation
Need some discussion of microphone theory of operation between intro and Variates section. Explain for example the difference between pressure and pressure gradient microphones, different means for converting mechanical energy or movement into an electrical signal. --Kvng (talk) 00:56, 1 June 2010 (UTC)

The First Recorded Sound Ever in History
A curious question: what was the first sound ever recorded in history? 76.90.93.106 (talk) 05:38, 2 June 2010 (UTC)
 * There was no means for playback but this was probably the first recording. --Kvng (talk) 00:32, 21 June 2010 (UTC)

No mention of PZM or boundary microphones
I came here looking for an explanation of these kinds of mikes as I'm no expert but sadly there is nothing so far. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.48.96.15 (talk) 16:51, 23 May 2009 (UTC)

Added a section on boundary mics.Altaphon (talk) 01:55, 20 June 2009 (UTC)

Boundary or "PZM"
Boundary microphones use the acoustic surface effect which is part of the whispering Gallery effect. This is distinct from the Rayleigh wave which is a wave induced in a surface. The acoustic surface wave is formed by the proximity of a surface causing the sound velocity to tend towards being isothermal rather than adiabatic. One example of this is the velocity of sound in a tube which is lower than in free air. The adiabatic bulk modulus of air is lower than the isothermal bulk modulus.

An acoustic surface wave is limited to around 1 or 2 centmetres away from the surface and is often unnoticed. This isothermal effect causes a local refraction towards the surface which causes the sound to follow that surface rather than to reflect away. A microphone placed in the acoustic surface wave region, whether mounted in a boundary effect device or simply laid flat on a surface, will have an enhanced directivity in the direction of that surface.

The acoustic wave effect is also part of the whispering gallery effect, which is also enhanced by multiple reflections within a concave surface.

88.110.149.142 (talk) 12:59, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

(retired BBC TV sound engineer)


 * The contribution is appreciated. Consider being bold and adding it to the article. It would be helpful if you included a reference. Once in the article, I would be tempted to rework it a bit to make it more accessible for non-technical readers. --Kvng (talk) 14:00, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

Reordering of Microphone polar patterns subsections
I have various material to add to this section, but first I would like to reorder the subheadings in a more logical order:

Unidirectional
There is no such microphone and this description should be integrated with "Omnidirectional" witjh reference to the following subsections.

Bidirectional
This should preceed "Cardioid" as it has a wide response pattern and is crucual to the description of a cardioid. I have a description of bidirectioanl capacitor micrphones which I want to revise as well, but more of that elsewhere.

Cardioid
Tidy up by making this singular like the other subtitles. I also have az more accurate explantion of the proximity bass boost

Shotgun
This lacks an explanation of how they work. A revision is in preparation.

Boundary or "PZM"
Probably in the right order because almost any of the above microphones can be used as a boundary mic. This is a much misunderstood effect and I have an update for this as well on this page under: "No mention of PZM or boundary microphones"

88.110.149.142 (talk) 13:45, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

(Retired BBC TV sound engineer)


 * All looks reasonable to me. I suggest you get yourself a Wikipedia account and start making these changes to the article. --Kvng (talk) 14:05, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

Nomination of Microphone stand for deletion
The article Microphone stand is being discussed concerning whether it is suitable for inclusion as an article according to Wikipedia's policies and guidelines or whether it should be deleted.

The article will be discussed at Articles for deletion/Microphone stand until a consensus is reached, and anyone is welcome to contribute to the discussion. The nomination will explain the policies and guidelines which are of concern. The discussion focuses on good quality evidence, and our policies and guidelines.

Users may edit the article during the discussion, including to improve the article to address concerns raised in the discussion. However, do not remove the article-for-deletion template from the top of the article. Jeepday (talk) 18:20, 25 December 2010 (UTC)

Cardiod
No citation is required here. This is becoming a Wikipedia irritant: vector and scalar transducers are correctly if perhaps cursorily described. The reason for the inversion of output polarity could be better explained using a diagram — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.246.40.9 (talk) 02:59, 19 June 2011 (UTC)

Seems wrong: Frequency response change in mic with distance to source
"Directional microphones' frequency response varies greatly with distance from the sound source, and with the geometry of the sound source." Please provide data to support this claim.

This seems completely illogical to me. How can the distance of the sound or the sound source's geometry affect the characteristics of the mic? Measured spectrum varies with distance, but that has nothing to do with the mic; it's the air that does it.

It would be useful to know the relation between distance and spectrum, but I'm not sure it should be included in this article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Micseeker (talk • contribs) 12:18, 20 July 2010 (UTC)


 * It may seem wrong, but it is completely right, because directional microphones respond to pressure gradient, not only to pressure. Pressure gradient is constant with distance only when the wavefront consists of parallel waves, which is not the case when you are close to the source. Spherical waves cause the gradient to increase more rapidly as you approach the source, than the pressure does. In laymans terms it's called "proximity effect." I will try to clarify this in the article. Altaphon (talk) 00:08, 9 March 2011 (UTC)


 * Indeed: the effect is so marked that commentator's type ribbon microphones have a bar on the upper edge of the microphone body. The commentator is required to rest the bar on his face just above his/her upper lip.  This ensures that the microphone's ribbon element is the correct distance from the commentator's mouth.  The microphone contains a filter circuit that ensures that the frequency response is flat for a sound source of that distance from the ribbon. 109.153.235.85 (talk) 14:33, 22 September 2011 (UTC)

Edit request on 26 April 2012
I have a fair bit of information on the early history of the microphone from numerous sources. This information should be used to EXPAND the history section. I believe that information on the inpisration and invention of the microphone and the microphones that impacted largely on history us very important would be a great thing to have on this page.

Gather10 (talk) 11:57, 26 April 2012 (UTC)
 * Not done. What, specifically, do you want to add to the article? And if you've edited even a few other articles, any registered user account can edit this article, too. Be sure to include citations, and remember teh restrictions on copyright. Be Bold is what we used to say. --Wtshymanski (talk) 13:22, 26 April 2012 (UTC)

Apple?
I was amused to read that "the cardioid is shaped like an apple". C'mon! The cardioid is shaped like a HEART! See http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cardioid?s=ts for the etymology. I see that http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardioid has the same reference to an apple in addition to the heart. John Link (talk) 19:58, 23 May 2012 (UTC)

Off-WP edit request to add WP:EL
I've been asked to fulfill an edit request to add an WP:EL to this page by an editor who is obviosuly not familiar with the edit request process for semi-protected pages. To avoid having to repeat myself, I am just pointing you to the notice I put up at AN; I'd like some of the regulars on this article to chime in. Thanks. Nczempin (talk) 14:43, 7 November 2012 (UTC)

Edit request on 27 April 2012
This is what I have to add to the history:

NTRODUCTION

Microphone: an instrument capable of transforming sound waves into changes in electric currents or voltage, used in recording or transmitting sound. . This poster was created to track the history of the microphone and how it devloped into the diverse, and incredible instrument it is Today

INSPIRATION and INVENTION

It can be observed that the main movivation and inspiration behind the invention of sound technology was to increase the loudness or direction of sound. The earliest known audio technology dates back to 600BC with the invention of masks with specially designed mouth openings that acoustically augmented the voice. (1) In 1665 Robert Hooke was the first to experiement with mediums other than air with the invention of the “Lovers Telephone” that included a distented wire with 2 cups attatched at either end. (3) The first famous experiement done with electricity was conducted in 1746 by Jean-Antoine Nollet who gathered 200 monks in a circle and zapped them with a charge from a Leyden Battery observing the phenomenal speed of electircal charge as they reacted simultaneously. During the mid 18th century a number of inventors came up with various devices that led to the invention of the first practical telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 (13). 2 Great inventors, Emile Berliner and Thomas Edison were inspired to improve this and both went on to build and design the first Carbon Microphone (then called transmitter) in mid 1877, within a month of eachother.

MODERN DEVELOPMENT

1874 - Ernst W. Siemens was the first to describe the "dynamic" or moving-coil transducer, leading to the development of loudspeakers, but it was never developed as a microphone. Edisons genius did not hinder as he continued to refine the design, and using his latest carbon microphone in1910, the first ever radio broadcast took pace, which was a performance at Metropolitan Opera House. It was E.C Wente of Bell Labs that developed the next breakthrough in 1916 with the condenser microphone(11) It wasn’t until 1923 That the first practical moving coil microphone was built. AKA the magnetophone, the The Marconi Skykes developed by Captain H J Round was the standard for BBC studios London  (17) (18) This was improved  in 1930 by Blumlein and Holman who released the HB1A and was the best standard of the day, along with the Neumann CMV3/3A condenser. It was at this time that the ribbon microphone was introduced, another electromagnetic type, beleived to have been developed by Harry Olson, who reversed engineered a ribbon speaker(12). Over the years these microphones were develpoed by serval companies, most notably RCA that made large advancements not only with sound quality, but with polar patterns (Directionality). These microphones produced a great sound quality and are still in demand to this day In 1960’s With T.V and Movie technology booming there was demand for high fidelity and more directionality and Electro Voice responed with their accamedy award winning shotgun microphone in 1963. (20) During the 2nd half of 19th century developments boomed with the famous Shure bringing out the SM58 and SM57. Digital was pioneered by Milab in 1999 with the DM-1001. Today the microphone universe is extremely diverse with high quality portable digital recorders and cheap vintage knock offs. The latest research developments include the use of fibre optics, lasters and interferometers.

Gather10 (talk) 06:15, 27 April 2012 (UTC)


 * Not done. The text you wish to add is not cited to a published, reliable source, even though you have numbered references. Many of your assertions are plain wrong, for instance, the notion that the microphone was invented to increase the loudness of sound. No, it was invented to turn sound into an electric signal for telephones. As such, it did nothing toward making sound louder. Binksternet (talk) 07:03, 27 April 2012 (UTC)
 * Plus, it was obviously copied from elsewhere "This poster...", for a very possible copyvio. --Nczempin (talk) 14:46, 7 November 2012 (UTC)

Moving coil microphone
The Dynamic microphone section has a redlink to Moving coil microphone. It doesn't look like there's ever been such an article. My understanding is that dynamic and moving coil are one and the same. Is there a future for a Moving coil microphone article or should we remove this redlink? --Kvng (talk) 14:59, 13 January 2012 (UTC)

The use of the term "induction coil" in the description of this microphone is incorrect here. An induction coil refers to a specific device used to generate high voltage using the "flyback" effect. How about simply changing it to "coil," which is exactly what it is. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.55.200.20 (talk) 14:38, 13 February 2013 (UTC)

Edit request 13 July 2012
Hi there, could someone with editing privileges for this article please correct the five misspellings of cardioid? It appears as "cardoid" (not a word) five times in section 15.4 Thanks! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.183.114.85 (talk) 02:25, 14 July 2012 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done thanks Nczempin (talk) 07:47, 14 July 2012 (UTC)

I am writing a detailed reference history at the moment — Preceding unsigned comment added by 60.242.133.232 (talk) 11:08, 12 April 2013 (UTC)

Edit request on 12 April 2013
I believe a whole new article could be created on the amount of information there is on the history of the microphone!

60.242.133.232 (talk) 11:20, 12 April 2013 (UTC)


 * That's probably true. The proper place for such a request is Requested articles. Best wishes – Binksternet (talk) 13:52, 12 April 2013 (UTC)

Edit request on 17 April 2013
Dear moderator,

For your consideration, here is the revised, edited and reliably referenced addition to the history section

INVENTION

As speech and communication became integral to society, there was a need to increase the loudness of the spoken word. The earliest know device invented to achieve this dates back to 600BC with the invention of masks with specially designed mouth openings that acoustically augmented the voice in amphitheatres. In 1665 Robert Hooke was the first to experiment with mediums other than air with the invention of the “Lovers Telephone” that included a distended wire with 2 cups attached at either end. The first famous experiment done with electricity was conducted in 1746 by Jean-Antoine Nollet who gathered 200 monks in a circle and zapped them with a charge from a Leyden Battery observing the phenomenal speed of electrical charge as they reacted simultaneously. In 1874, Ernst W. Siemens was the first to describe the ‘dynamic’ or ‘moving-coil’ transducer. This lead to the development of loudspeakers, but it was never developed as a microphone. During the mid 18th century a number of inventors came up with various devices that led to the invention of the first practical electrical telephone patented by Alexander Graham Bell  in 1876.

Two Great inventors, Emile Berliner and Thomas Edison were inspired to improve this and both went on to design and build  the first Carbon Microphone (then called transmitter) in mid 1877, within a month of each other. After a long legal dispute, Edison claimed the patent.

MODERN DEVELOPMENT

Edisons genius did not hinder as he continued to refine the design, and using his latest carbon microphone the first ever radio broadcast, a performance at Metropolitan Opera House, took place in 1910. In 1916, C Wente of Bell Labs developed the next breakthrough with the first condenser microphone. It wasn’t until 1923 that the first practical moving coil microphone was built. ‘The Marconi Skykes’, also known as the ‘magnetophone’, developed by Captain H J Round, was the standard for BBC studios London. This was improved in 1930 by Blumlein and Holman who released the HB1A and was the best standard of the day.

In the same year, the ribbon microphone was introduced, another electromagnetic type, beleived to have been developed by Harry Olson, who basically reversed engineered a ribbon speaker. Over the years these microphones were develpoed by serval companies, most notably RCA that made large advancements in (Directionality). With T.V and Movie technology  booming there was demand for high fidelity and    more directionality and Electro Voice responded with their academy award winning shotgun microphone in 1963. During the 2nd half of 19th century developments boomed with the famous Shure bringing out the SM58 and SM57. Digital was pioneered by Milab in 1999 with the DM-1001. Today the microphone universe is extremely diverse with high quality portable digital recorders and cheap vintage knock offs. The latest research developments include the use of fibre optics, lasters and interferometers.

Submitted by user Gather10  — Preceding unsigned comment added by Gather10 (talk • contribs) 12:28, 17 April 2013 (UTC)

60.242.133.232 (talk) 11:55, 17 April 2013 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done. Thank you for this excellent edit request. Adrian J. Hunter(talk•contribs) 15:10, 17 April 2013 (UTC)

Fixed missing references paragraph thanks to Adrian J. Hunter's good eye

Gather10 (talk) 03:14, 19 April 2013 (UTC)Gather10

"Unique Directional Properties of Dual-Diaphragm Microphones"
This is a most useful article - not sure how or where to add a reference! --195.137.93.171 (talk) 06:20, 25 November 2011 (UTC)


 * The article referenced no longer exists.
 * I used to own Pearl TC-4v dual-diaphragm mics, with continuously variable (not just switchable) patterns. This article badly needs a discussion of their operating principles and their practical advantages. WilliamSommerwerck (talk) 13:28, 6 May 2013 (UTC)

Edit request on 5 March 2012
This is my first wikipedia edit, so I hope I have this correct. I am a Physics Prof, so I teach this stuff every year. This year I am teaching a physics of music course, so I was looking at the wikipedia article on microphones. The discussion the condenser (condensor) microphone is incorrect throughout describing the charge as constant when in fact, the voltage is constant. This is an important distinction. If we need a reference, I've got a College Physics text on my desk that will do. Physics 2e, Giambattista, Richarson and Richardson, McGraw Hill 2010 page 620.

Here are my suggested changes: This "With a DC-biased microphone, the plates are biased with a fixed charge (Q). The voltage maintained across the capacitor plates changes with the vibrations in the air, according to the capacitance equation (C = Q⁄V), where Q = charge in coulombs, C = capacitance in farads and V = potential difference in volts. "

should be changed to This "With a DC-biased microphone, the plates are biased with a fixed voltage (V). The charge across the capacitor plates changes with the vibrations in the air, according to the capacitance equation (C = Q⁄V), where Q = charge in coulombs, C = capacitance in farads and V = potential difference in volts."

this "A nearly constant charge is maintained on the capacitor. As the capacitance changes, the charge across the capacitor does change very slightly, but at audible frequencies it is sensibly constant. "

Should be changed to this "A nearly constant voltage is maintained on the capacitor. As the capacitance changes, the charge on the capacitor changes and produces a current, I, proportional to the changing charge."

and this "Within the time-frame of the capacitance change (as much as 50 ms at 20 Hz audio signal), the charge is practically constant and the voltage across the capacitor changes instantaneously to reflect the change in capacitance. The voltage across the capacitor varies above and below the bias voltage. The voltage difference between the bias and the capacitor is seen across the series resistor. The voltage across the resistor is amplified for performance or recording."

Should be changed to this "Within the time-frame of the capacitance change (as much as 50 ms at 20 Hz audio signal), the charge on the capacitor changes instantaneously to reflect the change in capacitance.  The changing charge creates a current that is detected as a voltage across the resistor that is in series with the capacitor, since V=IR."

No, the charge does not change instantly - the voltage does! The charge can only change at a very slow rate, determined by the R-C time constant of the circuit, which in this case is intentionally made to be below 20Hz. If you change the size of a capacitor (by varying the plate spacing via acoustic forces) without changing the amount of charge, then the voltage must change in accordance with Q=C*V. This is the principle behind the electrophorus, and I have constructed E-field sensors with no bleed resistors at all, and they work just fine. You can easily construct a workable condenser mic demo with a couple of pie plates or sheets of aluminum foil, a 9V battery, and a JFET follower circuit - no bias resistor required! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.55.200.20 (talk) 15:02, 13 February 2013 (UTC)

Cjahncke (talk) 18:51, 5 March 2012 (UTC)


 * Yes check.svg Done, thanks. Adrian J. Hunter(talk•contribs) 13:54, 6 March 2012 (UTC)

The charge on a capacitor is caused by the electrons which were driven to the plate by whatever voltage was used to charge the capacitor. How can changing the capacitance create electrons?! Reading from [ http://www.amazon.com/AIP-Handbook-Condenser-Microphones-Measurements/dp/1563962845#reader_1563962845 AIP Handbook of Condenser Microphones: Theory…(Hardcover)by George S.K. Wong, Tony F.W. Embleton (search for "fixed charge")]: "...apply a fixed charge on the plates of the membrane-backplate capacitor. Then motion of the membrane changes the voltage between the plates. The charge is maintained by a high voltage...". Let's discuss this change first and provide a inline citation to support the content. Thanks, Celestra (talk) 15:21, 6 March 2012 (UTC)


 * I'll answer your first question. Might be more clear to say Q=CV. V is constant. When C changes, Q must change - charge flows into or out of the microphone creating a current which represents the audio.
 * Looks like we have different refs saying different things. Is it constant voltage or constant charge. Constant voltage would be the more straightforward implementation (how to you measure charge?) --Kvng (talk) 15:04, 9 March 2012 (UTC)
 * It was a rhetorical question, actually. When C changes, the voltage at the capacitor changes. The difference in voltage between the capacitor and the constant voltage source causes current to flow, which in turn changes the charge on the capacitor (and that tiny current is passed through a large resistor to develop the signal). Celestra (talk) 00:30, 12 March 2012 (UTC)

The article is correct as it currently reads (5/6/2013). Almost all electrostatic transducers (including speakers) are constant-charge, not constant voltage. Constant charge is obtained by biasing the diaphragm through a resistance of sufficient size that the RC time constant is much longer than a single cycle at the lowest frequencies to be transduced. WilliamSommerwerck (talk) 13:37, 6 May 2013 (UTC)

Edit request on 27 July 2013
I suggest that the link to Microphone Practice http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphone_practice be added to the See Also section.

Froddington (talk) 09:08, 27 July 2013 (UTC)


 * ✅. Good idea! Thanks for the note. Binksternet (talk) 14:40, 27 July 2013 (UTC)

Shure Microphones
The references to Shure microphones are valid references not marketing material added by the evil Shure brothers.

I doubt that there are any microphones more ubiquitous than the Shure SM-57 and SM-58. Go to any sound system large or small and you will find at least one if not a dozen or two. Go to any recording studio, even home project studio, and you are likely to find at least one.

I can't think of any other microphone model that even comes close to the SM-57 and SM-58 in terms of being ubiquitous.

Robert.Harker (talk) 20:24, 31 August 2013 (UTC)


 * Agreed. There's no need for Shure to puff up their enviable position as makers of the most popular vocal microphones in the world. Rather than removing Shure-hosted documents used as references, an interested editor could find new references and mention other makes and models of notable microphones. Binksternet (talk) 21:14, 31 August 2013 (UTC)

Plug-in-power for electret microphones
I'm surprised by this phrase, describing a 3-wire TRS Jack plug arrangement for computer microphones
 * "the ring, instead of carrying the signal for a second channel, carries power via a resistor from (normally) a 5 V supply in the computer."

Can anyone confirm this, preferably with a citation, including make and model of computer or interface?

As far as I know, computers use the same contact to carry DC-out as Audio-in, in the well-established 'Plug-in-power' technology for electret microphones which has been used in pretty much everything since the days of cassette tape recorders.

--195.137.93.171 (talk) 20:15, 14 November 2013 (UTC)
 * OK, using Google finds it's a Creative SoundBlaster SB16 vintage 1992 thing - does it still happen ?


 * Intel had a standard AC'97, but it doesn't seem to go as far as defining how mics are powered.
 * "28 Vrefout O Reference Voltage out 5mA drive (intended for mic bias)"
 * The QFP IC outputs 5v on Pin 28, but it doesn't show how it is connected.


 * Intel updated it in 2004 to Intel High Definition Audio, which can apparently detect whether a headphone or microphone is plugged-in to a socket, presumably using volts and milliamps to measure resistance. That must therefore also define mic power ?
 * This page has a diagram showing physical switches integrated in the 3.5mm socket to sense what's plugged-in. No separate voltages, suggesting DC and Audio go on the same wire.


 * Then of course there's the 4-wire 3.5mm jack used by smartphones for headphones with mono mic and transport control.
 * --195.137.93.171 (talk) 21:15, 14 November 2013 (UTC)
 * I was going to go and fix this error, but apparently someone has deleted the whole section, which is no great loss. If anyone is looking for the reference, plug-in power for mics is now covered in IEC 61938. Altaphon (talk) 06:02, 16 February 2014 (UTC)

What does this mean?
In the explanation of how condenser mikes work, the article says:


 * As the capacitance changes, the charge across the capacitor does change very slightly, but at audible frequencies it is sensibly constant.

What does "sensibly constant" mean here? I really think this is a mistake, but don't know enough about the physics to correct it. Anyone? +ILike2BeAnonymous 07:11, 25 June 2007 (UTC)
 * Capacitance values change with changes in the separation of the plates. With a constant amount of charge on a set of plates, any change in the separation will cause a change in voltage across the capacitor in accordance with the basic capacitance equation. with a DC pressure (ie, a change in atmospheric pressure (eg, hurricane coming, anyone?) that is sustained for a long time (eg, hours)), the structure of some capacitors will be changed in the long term. Because of this bias from the original conformation, mike capsule response will differ in systematic ways. This is avoided at audio frequencies at which pressure changes (ie, those due to sounds), reverse themselves so quickly that no long term bias in the structure of the capacity of a mike capsule. constant Even very loud sounds won't sufficiently bias the conformance of a mike capsule sufficiently to cause audible (or perhaps even measureable) trouble. That's what the quoted sentence was trying to get at. Reword, anyone? ww (talk) 05:55, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Condenser Microphone
The spelling should be "condensor", but "condenser" is too widely used to be pedantic.

A capacitor hasn't been called a condenser in electronic parlance for decades, but the archchaic term hangs on in microphone names. Its property is capacitance, so the correct scientific term should be used. This section should be called "Capacitor microphone" and a note made that they were formerly called Condenser microphones. Within the article "condenser" should be changed to "capacitor".
 * It would then not be a proper encyclopedic reference to current usage, would it? Altaphon (talk) 01:04, 9 March 2011 (UTC)

Third paragraph:

Quote: "Within the time-frame of the capacitance change (as much as 50 ms at 20 Hz audio signal), the charge is practically constant and the voltage across the capacitor changes instantaneously to reflect the change in capacitance. The voltage across the capacitor varies above and below the bias voltage. The voltage difference between the bias and the capacitor is seen across the series resistor. The voltage across the resistor is amplified for performance or recording." end quote

This is unclear. I suggest:

As the capacitance of the microphone capsule changes rapidly compared with the time constant of the bias resistor and capsule capacitance, the charge across the capsule is effectively constant. On the receipt of a sound signal, the voltage across the capacitor therefore changes in proportion to the varying capacitance, thus modulating the bias voltage with an audio signal. The AC component of this voltage at the capsule diaphragm is sensed by an impedance matching amplifier which matches the very high impedance of the capsule to an audio circuit.

Next para:

Quote: "The absence of a high bias voltage permits the use of a diaphragm with looser tension, which may be used to achieve wider frequency response due to higher compliance." end quote

I suggest:

The tension of the diaphragm is a minor fraction of the stiffness or mechanical impedance of the diaphragm. This is governed by the small distance between the diaphragm and the backplate. This stiffness is reduced if the distance between the diaphragm and back plate is increased but this leads to a lower capacitance anfd lower output signal. Instead, small inentations are often drilled into the backplate to reduce the acoustic stiffness of the diaphragm thus increasing the amplitude of the output signal.
 * That's not exactly right either. The article is too general to get into much detail of the compliance and resistance elements of capsule design, I think. Altaphon (talk) 01:04, 9 March 2011 (UTC)

Bidirectional

There is no suggestion how a capacitor bidirectional capacitor microphone works. It is suggested that these use a double diaphragm but this would only produce two omnidirectional microphones.
 * I have added some content on this item. Indeed the most common figure-8 mics use two diaphragms, each half producing a cardioid pattern. They are added out of phase to produce a null for sounds arriving from the sides. Altaphon (talk) 01:04, 9 March 2011 (UTC)

The figure-of-eight response is produced by using a perforated backplate. If these perforations are partial, the microphone becomes a combination of omnidirectional and bidirectional, in other words a cardioid.
 * All pressure-gradient microphones whether cardioid or bi-directional use one or more perforated backplates. The pattern results from the particular recipe of reactance and damping that the path from the rear to the inside of the diaphragm introduces. Altaphon (talk) 01:04, 9 March 2011 (UTC)

keoka 19:16, 31 October 2010 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Keoka (talk • contribs) A valve microphone is a condenser microphone within which the amplifier section uses a valve circuit to amplify the current, as opposed to a transistor circuit.[1] Microphones have been in use since the early telephone technology of the mid 1800's but achieved higher sound quality in the 1920s with the first double-button carbon mics made by Western Electric. The 387 model, with it's 0.0017 inch thick gold-sputtered diaphragm, was the best of these early designs. It was followed by the improved model 600 in the early thirties, and the double-button became recognised worldwide as a standard in broadcasting.[2] Vacuum tube or electronic valve amplifiers were first used to resolve microphone impedance and output problems in 1915 and lead to the invention of the first modern condenser microphones by Bell Labs in 1917 and this type of microphone went through many stages of improvement. Because of the invention of valve amplifiers, before transistor amps, the production of simple moving coil mics like the Western designed 630A “8 Ball” became possible. This dynamic mic went on to become one of the mainstays of American microphone production. In this period valves where also then incorporated internally into microphones and valve microphones were hence commercially available. In the late 1920s, Dr. Harry F. Olson of RCA began development of the ribbon microphone, eventually using permanent magnets. In 1931, nine months after the introduction of Western’s 618 dynamic, R.C.A. marketed a bi-directional ribbon microphone, the 44-A. The smooth, less sibilant sound of the ribbon and its elegant styling made it the standard for broadcasters into the 1940's. The design was updated with improved magnetic material in the mid thirties with the 44-B/-BX, which maintained it's production until the mid ﬁfties. Ribbon microphones are still in demand today having a most recognisable shape, which is visible in such modern microphones such as the Cloud 44A active ribbon microphone.[3] Giant steps were made in June 1948 when the Neumann U47 distributed by Telefunken was introduced. The U47 was the ﬁrst condenser microphone switchable between cardioid and omni-directional pick-up patterns. It incorporated the highly successful 12-micron-thick M7 capsule and VF-14 tube ampliﬁer, which was a metal-clad pre-World War II pentode changed to work as a triode. These mics had evolved from the 1928 CMV3 "bottle" mic, followed by the CMV3A which had interchangeable condenser heads. This mic was notoriously made of use of by Hitler and the Nazi rallies and were the state of the art in microphone technology at that time.[4] "Bottle" mics are still popular and versions were made by Blue[5] and SB Audio Ltd[6] in the early 21st century. In 1958 Neumann took over the sale of their own mics from Telefunken and made many small changes to the U47 design, but this mic perhaps more than any other embodies the valve or tube sound. The design was perishable so very few remain, therefore it has become the most sought after of studio microphones, many clones and similar versions are now popular such as Telefunken's own re-issued U47 or the NR47 from the UK.[7] There are many reasons why valve microphones have become so important in today's recording and home studios, partly they are fashionable due to their early use by influential composers and musicians such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones etc. but also because the sound quality they reproduce has pleasing sonic qualities even though more technically perfect reproduction is possible by transistor microphones which have less self-noise.[8] References[edit]

Jump up ^ Institute BV Amsterdam, SAE. "Microphones". Practical Creative Media Education. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ Webb, Jim. "Vintage Classic Microphones". Academy Award Winner. Silvia Classics. Retrieved 2009. Jump up ^ "Microphones, NR47 and Retro MKII mics, our own brand of classic microphones". Sbaudioltd.com. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ Tambling, Bruce. "Intro to Microphones". Microphone History. Foothill Music Tech College. Retrieved 17 October 2013. Jump up ^ "Blue Microphones". Bluemic.com. 2013-10-15. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ "Microphones, NR47 and Retro MKII mics, our own brand of classic microphones". Sbaudioltd.com. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ "SB Audio Ltd, musical equipment sales and production, mastering, mixing". Sbaudioltd.com. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ Friedman, Dan (8/31/201). Sound Advice: Voiceover from an Audio Engineer's Perspective. USA: Author House. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-4520-3790-5. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Audionutcase (talk • contribs) 17:29, 8 March 2014 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 8 March 2014
Audionutcase (talk) 17:38, 8 March 2014 (UTC) Hi, I have been told my article is not important enough to be an article on it's own, but that I should add it as another section under "Microphone". So, I am requesting that my article should be called "Valve Microphones" and that it should be placed under "Condenser Microphones" which is within the microphone article. Here is my text or you could find it from my submission which was rejected. Kind regards, Audionutcase :

Valve Microphones :

A valve microphone is a condenser microphone within which the amplifier section uses a valve circuit to amplify the current, as opposed to a transistor circuit.[1] Microphones have been in use since the early telephone technology of the mid 1800's but achieved higher sound quality in the 1920s with the first double-button carbon mics made by Western Electric. The 387 model, with it's 0.0017 inch thick gold-sputtered diaphragm, was the best of these early designs. It was followed by the improved model 600 in the early thirties, and the double-button became recognised worldwide as a standard in broadcasting.[2] Vacuum tube or electronic valve amplifiers were first used to resolve microphone impedance and output problems in 1915 and lead to the invention of the first modern condenser microphones by Bell Labs in 1917 and this type of microphone went through many stages of improvement. Because of the invention of valve amplifiers, before transistor amps, the production of simple moving coil mics like the Western designed 630A “8 Ball” became possible. This dynamic mic went on to become one of the mainstays of American microphone production. In this period valves where also then incorporated internally into microphones and valve microphones were hence commercially available. In the late 1920s, Dr. Harry F. Olson of RCA began development of the ribbon microphone, eventually using permanent magnets. In 1931, nine months after the introduction of Western’s 618 dynamic, R.C.A. marketed a bi-directional ribbon microphone, the 44-A. The smooth, less sibilant sound of the ribbon and its elegant styling made it the standard for broadcasters into the 1940's. The design was updated with improved magnetic material in the mid thirties with the 44-B/-BX, which maintained it's production until the mid ﬁfties. Ribbon microphones are still in demand today having a most recognisable shape, which is visible in such modern microphones such as the Cloud 44A active ribbon microphone.[3] Giant steps were made in June 1948 when the Neumann U47 distributed by Telefunken was introduced. The U47 was the ﬁrst condenser microphone switchable between cardioid and omni-directional pick-up patterns. It incorporated the highly successful 12-micron-thick M7 capsule and VF-14 tube ampliﬁer, which was a metal-clad pre-World War II pentode changed to work as a triode. These mics had evolved from the 1928 CMV3 "bottle" mic, followed by the CMV3A which had interchangeable condenser heads. This mic was notoriously made of use of by Hitler and the Nazi rallies and were the state of the art in microphone technology at that time.[4] "Bottle" mics are still popular and versions were made by Blue[5] and SB Audio Ltd[6] in the early 21st century. In 1958 Neumann took over the sale of their own mics from Telefunken and made many small changes to the U47 design, but this mic perhaps more than any other embodies the valve or tube sound. The design was perishable so very few remain, therefore it has become the most sought after of studio microphones, many clones and similar versions are now popular such as Telefunken's own re-issued U47 or the NR47 from the UK.[7] There are many reasons why valve microphones have become so important in today's recording and home studios, partly they are fashionable due to their early use by influential composers and musicians such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones etc. but also because the sound quality they reproduce has pleasing sonic qualities even though more technically perfect reproduction is possible by transistor microphones which have less self-noise.[8] References[edit]

Jump up ^ Institute BV Amsterdam, SAE. "Microphones". Practical Creative Media Education. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ Webb, Jim. "Vintage Classic Microphones". Academy Award Winner. Silvia Classics. Retrieved 2009. Jump up ^ "Microphones, NR47 and Retro MKII mics, our own brand of classic microphones". Sbaudioltd.com. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ Tambling, Bruce. "Intro to Microphones". Microphone History. Foothill Music Tech College. Retrieved 17 October 2013. Jump up ^ "Blue Microphones". Bluemic.com. 2013-10-15. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ "Microphones, NR47 and Retro MKII mics, our own brand of classic microphones". Sbaudioltd.com. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ "SB Audio Ltd, musical equipment sales and production, mastering, mixing". Sbaudioltd.com. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ Friedman, Dan (8/31/201). Sound Advice: Voiceover from an Audio Engineer's Perspective. USA: Author House. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-4520-3790-5.
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done for now: Please use proper wikitext instead of "faking it" by typing in the [1]'s and such manually. See Help:Referencing for beginners. If you copied this here from your draft, please recopy it from the edit window and it should bring along the actual code. Jackmcbarn (talk) 16:55, 9 March 2014 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 14 March 2014
Please add this paragraph and references under the sentence "Valve Microphones......." which needs extending, and please link the words "valve microphone" to the article as I have tried to do below. Thank you very much. : A valve microphone is a condenser microphone within which the amplifier section uses a valve circuit to amplify the current, as opposed to a transistor circuit.[1]

Giant steps were made in June 1948 when the Neumann U47 distributed by Telefunken was introduced. The U47 was the ﬁrst condenser microphone switchable between cardioid and omni-directional pick-up patterns. It incorporated the highly successful 12-micron-thick M7 capsule and VF-14 tube ampliﬁer, which was a metal-clad pre-World War II pentode changed to work as a triode. These mics had evolved from the 1928 CMV3 "bottle" mic, followed by the CMV3A which had interchangeable condenser heads. This mic was notoriously made of use of by Hitler and the Nazi rallies and were the state of the art in microphone technology at that time.[4] "Bottle" mics are still popular and versions were made by Blue[5] and SB Audio Ltd[6] in the early 21st century. In 1958 Neumann took over the sale of their own mics from Telefunken and made many small changes to the U47 design, but this mic perhaps more than any other embodies the valve or tube sound. The design was perishable so very few remain, therefore it has become the most sought after of studio microphones, many clones and similar versions are now popular such as Telefunken's own re-issued U47 or the NR47 from the UK.[7] There are many reasons why valve microphones have become so important in today's recording and home studios, partly they are fashionable due to their early use by influential composers and musicians such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones etc. but also because the sound quality they reproduce has pleasing sonic qualities even though more technically perfect reproduction is possible by transistor microphones which have less self-noise.[8] References[edit]

Jump up ^ Institute BV Amsterdam, SAE. "Microphones". Practical Creative Media Education. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ Webb, Jim. "Vintage Classic Microphones". Academy Award Winner. Silvia Classics. Retrieved 2009. Jump up ^ "Microphones, NR47 and Retro MKII mics, our own brand of classic microphones". Sbaudioltd.com. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ Tambling, Bruce. "Intro to Microphones". Microphone History. Foothill Music Tech College. Retrieved 17 October 2013. Jump up ^ "Blue Microphones". Bluemic.com. 2013-10-15. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ "Microphones, NR47 and Retro MKII mics, our own brand of classic microphones". Sbaudioltd.com. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ "SB Audio Ltd, musical equipment sales and production, mastering, mixing". Sbaudioltd.com. Retrieved 2014-03-07. Jump up ^ Friedman, Dan (8/31/201). Sound Advice: Voiceover from an Audio Engineer's Perspective. USA: Author House. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-4520-3790-5.

Audionutcase (talk) 09:57, 14 March 2014 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done for now: Please use proper wikitext instead of "faking it" by typing in the [1]'s and such manually. See Help:Referencing for beginners. If you copied this here from your draft, please recopy it from the edit window and it should bring along the actual code. — &#123;&#123;U&#124;Technical 13&#125;&#125; (t • e • c) 11:52, 14 March 2014 (UTC)
 * you have enough edits and your account is old enough that you should be able to edit semi-protected articles. davidwr/  (talk)/(contribs)  01:43, 15 March 2014 (UTC)

Two differing symbols for microphones
There are two slightly different symbols for microphones in electric diagrams used in the article. VxJasonxV (talk) 06:44, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

They are both correct. The half circle image can be seen in this 1973 book about electronics. The full circle one can be seen in this 2005 book on electronics. These two and some more selections can be seen in this 2014 book about electronics. Binksternet (talk) 16:22, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

polar patterns
Current version, and not correct in my opinion: "The polar patterns illustrated above represent the locus of points that produce the same signal level output in the microphone if a given sound pressure level is generated from that point." I think this should be corrected. In my opinion: polar patterns show the microphone signal level that is generated by sound waves incident from the respective direction, generated by far-field sound sources at constant sound pressure level for all directions. Values are normalized to the generated signal level at the main axis (ang=0°). Or similar. Possibly someone has a nice, shorter formulation, and citation.

The difference is that polar patterns with "my" formulation represent relative signal levels (thus the dB scale), while with the current text, they would represent relative distances from the microphone's position. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.229.97.108 (talk) 11:05, 10 June 2010 (UTC)

I also think the current version "The polar patterns illustrated above represent the locus of points that produce the same signal level output in the microphone if a given sound pressure level (SPL) is generated from that point." is wrong. It should be something like this "The polar pattern represent the microphone signal amplitude given a sound source with constant frequency, constant SPL and constant distance varying an angel which is located in a plane cutting the source and the microphone. The ideal conditions for this measurements are free field conditions and a point source." I am not an English native speaker so don't be mad if the suggestions are not perfect.TEKNOne (talk) 15:36, 24 October 2014 (UTC)

For the suggested part “Values are normalized to the generated signal level at the main axis (ang=0°). ” I would add a mostly, because not all plots are normalized.TEKNOne (talk) 15:36, 24 October 2014 (UTC)

Also this part from the current version is wrong " How the physical body of the microphone is oriented relative to the diagrams depends on the microphone design.". There is no dependency between the orientation of the diagrams and the design, but most plots are created perpendicular to the membrane. My version "In most polar diagrams the plane in which the varying angle is located, cuts the membrane of the microphone in two equal parts and is oriented perpendicular to the membrane."TEKNOne (talk) 15:36, 24 October 2014 (UTC)

In the polar pattern diagram section, hypercardioid should be placed between supercardioid and figure-8. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.52.251.190 (talk) 16:31, 13 January 2012 (UTC)

Phantom powering
On a quick run through of this article, I cannot see any detailing of phantom powering or "T" powering of microphones. PIP power is covered but this is primarily used with medium impedance microphones with a built in FET amplifier, which are usually driven from a low voltage and current.

Many high quality microphones are phantom powered with up to 50 volts applied down the same cable as the incoming sound signal. Another system which has been discontinued is 12 volt serial "T" powering used by Sennheiser but many "T" powered microphones are still in use and this should be covered.

The primary function of a mic windshield is to reduce local turbulence. The simple principle is the effective radius of curvature where air movements meets the microphone assembly. The small radius of a built in mic grille will set up local and closer turbulence at a much lower windspeed than the larger radius of an external windshield. If a windshield is effective, then an additional inner windshield serves only as a frequency filter and may set up internal resonances within the windshiled assembly. My experience is having worked for the former BBC Film Unit as a Sound Recordist for nearly three decades covering all aspects of film sound recording, indoors and on location.

keoka 19:24, 2 November 2014 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Keoka (talk • contribs)
 * Added a section on powering methods, with references to the German T-power and main phantom power entries. More detail later. Altaphon (talk) 17:53, 25 March 2015 (UTC)

External links modified
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Merge proposal
It is proposed that Contact microphone be merged into this article, specifically into section #Piezoelectric microphone. Contact microphone has been unsourced since creation in 2006 and serves no purpose as a separate article. Flat Out  '' talk to me 06:32, 1 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Did you mean #Piezoelectric microphone as the proposed merge destination? Are there any contact microphones that don't use a piezoelectric transducer? Would a piezoelectric pickup be considered a contact microphone? ~Kvng (talk) 18:46, 1 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Yes I did mean #Piezoelectric microphone. I have know knowledge on microphones, however Contact microphone says in the lead "A contact microphone, also known as a pickup or a piezo," and later it says "The most commonly available contact microphone element is made of a thin piezoelectric ceramic."
 * Seeing as Contact microphone has no sources and seems to duplicate content at #Piezoelectric microphone I was wondering if this is the best fit. Flat Out  '' talk to me 23:29, 7 May 2015 (UTC)


 * I don't think we should proceed with the merge until we have a better understanding of how contact microphones relate to piezoelectric microphones and piezoelectric pickups. My own understanding is that
 * a piezoelectric pickup is a type of contact microphone and
 * most contact microphones are also piezoelectric microphones and
 * there are piezoelectric microphones that are not contact microphones. ~Kvng (talk) 16:49, 9 May 2015 (UTC)


 * I would agree with Kvng. The contact mic page needs to be improved but not merged here. There are also common contact microphones that aren't piezoelectric, such as the C-ducer. But contact microphones aren't really microphones (which sense sound in air) but accelerometers. If anything it could be merged with Pickup_(music_technology) Altaphon (talk) 20:57, 11 February 2016 (UTC)

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Two sections on carbon microphones
I noticed that this article has two distinct sections on carbon microphones. One is in the history section and the other is in the variety section. Is this appropriate?

130.63.209.127 (talk) 17:30, 1 June 2016 (UTC)


 * I made some improvements to the History section to address this. Note that there is also a separate Carbon microphone article. ~Kvng (talk)

Should Cardioid, Hypercardioid, Supercardioid, Subcardioid and Shotgun be subsections of Unidirectional?
From the description it could sound like they're a subset of unidirectional microphones? Interstates (talk) 10:17, 25 April 2017 (UTC)


 * No, we're here to explain, not to be a taxonomy. It's more readable to present a simpler flat list, rather than hierarchies. Yes, the types listed are unidirectional patterns, but it would be more confusing, not less, to start presenting cardioids and shotguns as some closely-related group. Andy Dingley (talk) 16:49, 25 April 2017 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion: Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 03:06, 21 October 2018 (UTC)
 * NTi-Audio-Outdoor-Measurement-Microphone-Application.jpg

More comments on history
First, this article deserves a decent history section. People coming to tech articles out of curiosity often want to know about the history. What's there now is really minimal.

Second, shouldn't the history of the microphone start with Bell and Asa Gray? You can't have a telephone without a microphone. I realize this is an interpretation and hence IR, which is why I'm not making the change myself. But surely there is some citeable source that recognizes this?


 * What does Asa Gray have to do with the microphone? I assume you mean Elisha Gray. I have added a mention. I'm steering clear of Elisha Gray and Alexander Bell telephone controversy but it is a couple clicks away and provides necessary support. ~Kvng (talk) 16:15, 25 February 2019 (UTC)