Condenser is another word for capacitor. This microphone uses a charged capacitor to pick up the sound from the air and convert it into an electrical signal.
A type of microphone which picks up sound via a thin, flexible diaphragm placed in proximity to a metal plate - as opposed to the rigid diaphragm-and-coil system used by dynamic microphones. Condenser mics are very sensitive, especially to distant sounds and high frequencies. They have to be powered, which can be achieved by batteries, but for professional use a 48V DC Phantom Power supply is provided from the console via the balanced mic cable.
A type of microphone that uses an electrostatic diaphragm rather than an electromagnetic one. Generally, the microphones have a much better frequency response.
A type of microphone in which the diaphragm is one plate of a capacitor (condenser) containing an electrical charge. An electrical output signal is generated by detecting the variations in the charge present in the capacitor resulting from movement of the diaphragm by sound waves. Some are called capacitor microphones.
A charged microphone which depends, for its operation, on the variation in capacitance of its plates.
microphone consisting of a capacitor with one plate fixed and the other forming the diaphragm moved by sound waves
A microphone design where a thin diaphragm is placed in front of a metal disc. A capacitor (or condenser) is created whose capacitance varies as a function of sound pressure. If the capacitor is first given an electrical charge then change in capacitance, since the charge is fixed, causes the voltage across it to vary proportionally to the sound pressure (Coulomb's Law). Condenser microphones require external voltage (usually phantom power (q.v.) ) to operate.
A microphone that generates an electrical signal when sound waves vary the spacing between two charged surfaces: the diaphragm and the backplate.
A mic that depends on an external power supply or battery to electrostatically charge its condenser plates. Also called a 'Capacitor' microphone.
A classic studio microphone which offers very good sound quality with minimal distortion. Better suited to higher frequencies than, for example, dynamic microphones. The system depends on variations in the internal capacitance and is made up of a metallic membrane (diaphragm), which is around 1-10 micrometers thick, and the stationary back plate. These two components are usually around 5-50 micrometers apart. A condenser microphone's diaphragm is the negatively charged plate of the capacitor. Sound waves moving the diaphragm cause a synchronous change of the capacitance of this capacitor. By moving the plates closer together, the electrostatic attraction between them increases. This causes a flow of current back to the positive plate and vice versa. As the sound wave changes, the electrical current changes simultaneously.
A condenser microphone is essentially at the opposite end of the scale from a dynamic one. These are used to record softer instruments like the acoustic guitar and soft vocals, because of this they can produce 'true sound'.
a microphone that picks up sounds via an electrically charged, metallized diaphragm, which is separated from a conductive back plate by a thin air layer. Sound waves striking the diaphragm cause a minuscule voltage change, which is increased by a tiny amplifier circuit within the mic body. Because power is required by both the microphone capsule and the amplifier, condenser microphones must have a power source, which can be a battery inside the mic body or "phantom" power from a mixing console or external power supply.
A microphone that operates on an electrostatic principle... ( more)
A pressure microphone sensitive to sound pressure variations. It has an extremely high output impedance and must be placed very close to a preamplifier to avoid loss of a signal.
A microphone design where a condenser (the original name for capacitor) is created by stretching a thin diaphragm in front of a metal disc (the backplate). By positioning the two surfaces very close together an electrical capacitor is created whose capacitance varies as a function of the movement of the diaphragm in response to varying sound pressure. Any change in sound pressure causes the diaphragm to move, which changes the distance between the two surfaces. If the capacitor is first given an electrical charge ( polarized) then this movement changes the capacitance, and if the charge is fixed, then the backplate voltage varies proportionally to the sound pressure. In order to create the fixed charge, condenser microphones require external voltage ( polarizing voltage) to operate. This is normally supplied in the form of phantom power from the microphone preamp or the mixing console.
A transducer utilising a change in capacitance to produce an output voltage.
A thin diaphragm is positioned very closely to an electrical charge plate creating capacitance when the diaphragm moves toward and away from the plate. A condenser mic requires batteries or phantom power to operate. Condenser microphone is very sensitive.
