Omnidirectional – It picks up sound equally from any side.Notice that there is a rejection area in between both sides. Bidirectional – Picks up sound equally from the front or from behind.Notice how the focus behind it is wider than in front. Hypercardioid – In this case it picks up sound in front and behind the microphone.Cardioid – Picks up the sound from the front of the microphone.We can have several different polar patterns. Fun fact: electret condenser microphones require phantom power only for amplification. The metal plates also need to be powered with electrical tension. As we have seen, there is an internal circuit of the microphone, this circuit increases the gain of the signal and requires electrical power to work. However, this level of signal is very low and needs to be amplified. As in the illustration below:Īs the plate moves it creates electric potential difference – that difference is the signal captured being transmitted. The moving plate is generally gold plated in order to conduct electrical current properly (figure 2).īoth plates are connected to a converter that generates output tension. One of the plates is movable and behaves as a diaphragm, while the other plate (called backplate) is fixed. In physics, that is same characteristic of a capacitor, so that is why condenser microphones are also known as capacitor microphones. Its capsule is composed of two thin metal plates, very close to each other. By design, condenser microphones have high transient response and a excellent response to high frequencies. This circuit can contain a tube or valve, like in guitar amps, for example (picture 1) transistors (being a solid-state mic) or even be an electret microphone. The condenser microphone generally has an embedded electronic circuit. Microphones can be divided by their capsule construction style. Its function is to “translate” the sound pressure transmitted by air vibration into electric current variation. But one thing is certain: condenser microphones are very accurate in capturing richness of detail in high end and nuances.Ī microphone is a transducer. Rich in high and ultra high frequencies: On a good day we can say those microphones are “beautiful for detail”, on a bad day we call them “a little too bright”.Quick transient response: Its light and polarized capsule makes it a great microphone for short sounds (transients), keeping clarity of peaks.High sensibility: Because of its active circuit and external power source, the condenser microphone captures very subtle sounds with significant gain.Need phantom power: Those microphones need external powering that normally comes from the interface or the sound board.In summary, what to expect from a condenser microphone? In this article we will talk about their characteristics and working. Besides, due to their reputation in the recording business, those are probably the most expensive microphones you will find. However, some of the nuances it is able to capture are the main reason for its extensive use in voice recordings as much as of instruments in general. In this case it turns mechanic energy into electric energy air sound wave into audio signal. The condenser microphone is a transducer, just like any other microphone, meaning it transforms one type of energy into another. This is for sure one the most desired equipments to have at your home recording studio.

Light compressor microphone