Condenser microphones

Condenser microphones

Unlike dynamic microphones primarily used on stage, the condenser microphone is the standard in studio work. That is, a condenser microphone is primarily a studio microphone.

The capacitor capsule consists of a thin diaphragm located in close proximity to a metal plate and is an electrical conductor. The most commonly used microphone diaphragm material is golden mylar, but some mostly older models used super thin foil.

The basic principle of operation of a condenser microphone is the conversion of sound energy into electrical energy as a result of changes in electrical capacity.

Due to the fact that the energy of one small capacitor system is too low, it is unable to swing the signal to the standard volume level. The output voltage of the capsule is quite high, but the current, on the contrary, is very small. Therefore, an additional and most important part of a condenser microphone is an impedance converter. An impedance converter amplifies the current, due to which a more powerful signal appears at the output of the microphone.

A standard condenser microphone requires 48 volt phantom power, which the microphone can get from external sound cards, mixers, and other devices designed to work with condenser microphones.

Condenser microphones are used to record vocals, musical instruments, interviews, and podcasts.

Condenser microphones are usually connected with XLR cables. There are other connections such as USB and PL3.5mm. These connections are used with lavalier condenser microphones and computer microphones.

The most popular manufacturers of condenser microphones are Behringer, AKG, Marantz, Aston, Shure.