Microphones can have a variety of transducer types. The transducer is the mechanism in the microphone that translates external sound into electronic signal. Some microphones need additional power and some do not. Each transducer has its own specific method of processing sound. Some microphone transducers are further sub-categorized --- but still under their basic transducer type.
Standard Dynamic Transducers
Dynamic microphone transducers handle high-pressure sounds. Usually, they are used on individualized recordings --- such as specific solo instruments and vocals. Dynamic microphone transducers contain three basic components: a diaphragm, magnet and voice coil. The voice coil is connected to the back of the diaphragm. As the pressure changes, the voice coil moves according to air pressure. They need no additional power. Dynamic microphone transducers are extremely sensitive and fragile. An overexerted air blast can completely disrupt the transducer.
They operate from the principle of a responsive wire in a stationary magnetic field. There are two primary sub-categories of dynamic microphone transducers: ribbon-coil and moving-coil.
Moving-Coil Transducers
Moving-coil microphone transducers' responsive wires are coils positioned within the stationary magnetic field, attached to the microphone's diaphragm. They are responsive to force of airflow. When the coil responds, voltage is generated within the magnetic field and sent through a transformer to the amplifier. The moving-coil transducer is a type of dynamic microphone transducer. Most moving-coil transducers are omnidirectional. That means that they can pick up sound from any direction --- unlike transducers that are bi-directional or uni-directional. There are design varieties for these microphones. Each one produces a different sound response.
Ribbon Transducers
Ribbon microphone transducers are also within a subcategory of dynamic microphone transducers. These have a electrically conductive ribbon between the magnetic poles of the transducer. Ribbon transducers cannot use an additional power source such as phantom power --- which would permanently destroy the ribbon. They are very sensitive to air blasts as well, which can permanently damage and distort it. Most ribbon microphones are bi-directional --- meaning they only pick up sound from two directions, generally front and back of the microphone.
Condenser Transducers
Condenser microphone transducers are also known as capacitor transducers. They are not a sub-category within the dynamic microphone transducer. These work on a different principle --- mostly needing an additional power source such as phantom power. One plate of the condenser is stretched and placed closely to another stretched plate. Constant voltage is applied, causing the plates' element to change. This causes a constant charge to flow between the two plates. Another form is additional power is the use of batteries --- if your microphone is battery-applicable.
Tags: microphone transducers, additional power, dynamic microphone, Dynamic microphone transducers, magnetic field, voice coil
