Microphones

(Following statement is from http://inventors.about.com/od/mstartinventions/a/microphone.htm)

In 1876, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter. At the U.S. Centennial Exposition, Emile Berliner had seen a Bell Company telephone demonstrated and was inspired to find

ways to improve the newly invented telephone.

Microphones are a transducer, and their used to capture acoustic energy and transform it into electrical energy. This electrical energy is then sent to a recording device. It is then converted back to audio and it can be played

back and edited if necessary. There are many different types of microphones, and each has their own uses. All microphones have a diaphragm, which is a fine piece of material (like paper, plastic or

aluminium), which vibrates when struck by sound waves' (Modern Recording Techniques).

There are different mechanical techniques that can be used when creating a microphone. Magneto-dynamic and the variable condenser designs are the

two most commonly found in recording studios. Magneto-dynamic microphones are frequently called dynamic microphones, they work by

having a sound wave create a movement of a thin metallic diaphragm and an attached coil of wire, a magnet then produces a magnetic field which covers the coil, this then causes motion of the coil within this field and allows current to flow. The process and logic is similar to the produce

electricity at the utility company, realized in a pocket-sized scale

A Condenser Microphone

Condenser microphones work by having, the diagram mounted close to (but not touching) a rigid back plate, which may or sometimes not have a

hole in it. A battery is connected to both pieces of metal, which produces an electrical latent, or charge. The amount of charge is confirmed by the area

of the diaphragm and back plate, the voltage level of the battery, and the distance between the two. This detachment changes as the diaphragm

travels in response to sound.

Microphones are now a developing and reconstructing object. Mincrophones only use to come in the two types above and now in the modern day era, there are other popular types of microphones, such as

wireless microphone. Wireless microphones are widely used for recording and broadcasting sounds. These are portable microphones that can be

connected to cameras, recorders, or speakers without the use of cables.