Independent Research - The Microphone

Music, language, poetry, and human beings’ natural interest in sound has always existed.  The advent of the microphone gave us a way to capture these sounds and create tangible works of art.  It also makes it possible for aspiring audio professionals such as myself to find work!  Without the microphone and the ability to transform acoustical energy into electrical energy, the world would be a much different, and in my opinion, more dreary and boring place.

The impact that the microphone has had on the music industry is paramount.  The industry would not exist without this crucial invention.  There is a reason why every engineer or every producer has his or her favorite vocal microphone, or why you will find collections of various different kinds of microphones in top-dollar studios.  The whole recording process starts at the microphone, and capturing the right kind of recordings is the most important part.  The entire media world, not just the music industry, relies on microphones.  Can you imagine watching Monday Night Football without listening to the sports announcers?  Microphones are the reason why you can talk to your mother halfway across the country in Kansas when you are sitting on the beach in sunny Florida.  Since the birth of the microphone in 1876, when Emile Berliner invented the first one to be used to transmit the human voice, it has shaped much more than just the music industry, but modern society as a whole.

One type of microphone is the dynamic microphone.  Dynamic microphones work under the laws of electromagnetic induction.  There is a voice coil, which is a wire that is wrapped around, usually, a piece of plastic.  This is then suspended in a magnetic field and connected to a diaphragm.  When the diaphragm is moved by acoustical pressure, it will induce a current or voltage change.  The frequency at which the sound waves hit the diaphragm is translated into electrical impulses of varying amplitude, or the volume at which the sound waves are captured.  Dynamic microphones are fairly rugged in design, so this makes them perfect situations with high SPL’s. 

Another type of microphone is the condenser microphone.  In a condenser microphone there is also a diaphragm.  This diaphragm is very thin and coated with either gold or nickel, and is spaced a certain length apart from a fixed back plate.  Both the diaphragm and back plate are electrically charged, and when the diaphragm moves due to acoustical pressure, there is a change in electrical capacitance between the two surfaces.  The design and structure of condenser microphones is very precise, and very weak or small signals with low SPL’s can be captured.  This is great when you want to record every little nuance of a performance. 

The microphone has had a profound impact on me as both a casual listener and as a professional.  For all of my life I have always loved music and audio in general, and without the microphone I would have never been exposed to many of my life experiences.  The music I listen to, the experiences I have when watching television shows or playing video games, and my career path all have been heavily influenced by the ability to record sound.  I believe that it is not only one of the most important inventions for the music industry, but for society as a whole.