Types of Microphones

Microphones

Although all microphones serve the same purpose of amplifying sound by converting sound waves into electrical currents, there are many different methods for acheiving this. Each is employed by a different type of microphone.

The different types of microphones available include carbon microphones, dynamic microphones, ribbon microphones and condenser microphones. A carbon microphone is the oldest type of microphone available and it works by utilizing carbon dust and allowing a current to flow through the carbon dust. As this happens, the dust is compressed and when an electric current is run through the dust, it changes the resistance of the current and increases the amount of color that is flowing. In a dynamic microphone, a small current is created by using sound waves to move a magnet past a wire. In a ribbon microphone, a thin ribbon is suspended in a magnetic field; as sound waves cause the ribbon to vibrate, the flowing current is also modified. A condenser microphone is essentially a capacitor where one plate moves do to sound waves. This results in a change of capacitance that causes the amplification of sound.

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