capacitor microphone
Noun: A capacitor microphone is a type of microphone that uses a capacitor (also called a condenser) as its core component. One plate of this capacitor is fixed, while the other plate acts as a thin, movable diaphragm. When sound waves hit the diaphragm, it vibrates, changing the distance between the two plates. This movement alters the capacitance, which in turn generates an electrical signal that represents the sound.
The term capacitor microphone is used to describe this specific technical device, particularly in engineering, audio production, and technical specifications. It is synonymous with the more common term "condenser microphone." - The studio invested in a high-quality capacitor microphone for recording vocals. - For capturing subtle acoustic details, a capacitor microphone is often preferred over a dynamic microphone.
- Technical Operation: The capacitor microphone requires a power source (often called phantom power) to charge the capacitor plates and to power its internal electronics.
- Remember to activate the 48V phantom power on the mixer for the capacitor microphone to work.
- Condenser Microphone: This is the most common synonym for capacitor microphone.
- Condenser microphones are very sensitive and are excellent for studio use.
- Electret Microphone / Electret Condenser Microphone: A common subtype of capacitor microphone that uses a permanently charged material (an electret) for one of the plates, often found in consumer electronics.
- The lavalier microphone clipped to the presenter's tie is typically an electret microphone.
- Condenser microphone
- Electrostatic microphone (a broader technical term)
- Phantom-powered microphone: This phrase often implicitly refers to a capacitor microphone, as it is the type that typically requires phantom power.
- All the inputs on this audio interface can supply phantom power for capacitor microphones.
- microphone consisting of a capacitor with one plate fixed and the other forming the diaphragm moved by sound waves