Tinamarie LinaresNew York City Recording Connection

Microphones Posted on 2013-08-24 by Tinamarie Linares

Alexander Graham Bell is credited with the invention of the 1st microphone.

David Edward Hughes gave us the carbon microphone in 1878.

Edward Christopher Wente invented the condenser microphone in 1916.

George Neumann invented the transverse current carbon microphone in the early 1920s.

Ribbon microphones were invented by Dr. Hendry F. Olsen.

Frequency response refers to the difference between what frequencies a performance is actually transmitting, to what the microphone is capturing.

The input impedence of a mixer mic is about 1500ohms.

The max SPL of a mic is a reference to the max amount of db level the mic can accept before the output distorts.  

Neumann U87 is 1 of the best known & mos widely used mics.  Offers 3 pickup patterns - Cardioid, Omni, and Figure8.  

AKG C414 - features 9 pick up patterns, 3 filters, and a pad.  Has a peak hold LED light. 153db dynamic range.

Telefunken ELA M 251 - switchable polar pattern

Neumann KM 84 - 1st phantom powered mic.  Discontinued in 92.

Neumann M 49 - pickup pattern can be adjusted by a dial, maintains equal sensitivity & output levels across patterns.

Dynamic (Moving Coil) mics use electromagnetic induction.  They don't need a power supply.  They tolerate very high SPLs & are durable.  

Shure SM57/58 - extremely versatile. 58 comes with pop filter, good for vox.

Sennheiser MD 421 - 5 position bass roll off switch.  Versatile but especially good for drums.

Shure SM7B - high pass filter, presence boost, great for vox, used by MJ on Thriller.  Has low sensitivy rating therefore needs more preamp causing more noise in signal.

ElectroVoice RE20 - patented Variable D design to control proximity effect.  

AKG D112 - kick drum mic.

Beyer Dynamic M 201 - Hypercardioid pick up pattern.

Royer R121 - passive ribbon mic.  high SPL capability  of 135db on 1 side, other side is equally sensitive but brighter. "2 mic in 1". Patented in 99.

Coles 4038 - designed by  the BBC.  Frequency response is flat from 30 to 15000hz.  Maintains uniform figure 8 both horiztonal and vertical. 

RCA 77D - 3 options - Unidirectional (cardioid), Nondirectional (omni), & Bidirectional (figure8)

El Diablo - ribbon mic tough enough for kick drum, impervious to blowouts.

 

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