ABSTRACT
Improving a broadcast facility’s sound by choosing the right microphone is the direct result of knowing enough about microphones to make the right decisions. The combination of studio acoustics, type of microphone, directional characteristics, and preamplifier plays a role in the selection of the microphone that sounds best for any given situation. A microphone is an electro-acoustic transducer which, when activated by acoustic energy from a sound source, converts or transduces that energy to another form-an electric current. In the microphone, acoustical energy (sound waves impinging on the diaphragm) is converted to a varying voltage that is the electrical analog of the sound. This chapter describes the basic types of microphones, their construction, and how their different characteristics can be used in various applications for best results.
