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If you've come here to learn about the intricacies of circuit parts and how they work exactly in conjunction to produce modern electronics, you've come to the wrong place! Here you will find some information on specific microphone circuits, as well as the dynamic between real life sound and electronic data. We can also use this information to figure out how to overload a microphone.
The circuit diagrams below (schematics) use symbols to represent various electronic parts. Here is a brief guide to reading these schematics for those who are unfamiliar with them.
Pictured: A bass speaker pulsing glitter into the air
The Basics
The Basics
By the end of this section, we will answer:
How can a bunch of electronic parts and some power generate noise?
How do microphones transform actual sound waves into electronic signals? And vice versa?
How can we overload/damage a microphone and its circuits? (For science, of course.)
Electric Currents and Oscillation
Electric Currents and Oscillation
When you alternate the voltage levels to a special electronic part, you can produce a vibration. When the rate of vibration becomes high enough, you come up with sound audible to the human ear.
Pictured: A circuit alternating current between two LEDs. This same current oscillation is the driving force of circuits that make sound.
Dynamic Microphones
Dynamic Microphones
All microphones are transducers, turning sound energy into electrical energy. Sound waves physically vibrate the microphone's diaphragm, which is placed in an electromagnetic field. The diaphragm makes disturbances to this field. A conductive coil, also situated in the magnetic field, moves back and forth to create an alternating current (AC), thus creating the electric signal.
Condenser Microphones
Condenser Microphones
Condenser microphones are more sensitive and fragile than their dynamic counterparts, and they are often used for vocal recordings. Inside a typical condenser microphone are parallel capacitors which are at a fixed charge. There is also a diaphragm which is moved by sound waves; the diaphragm's shifts cause the parallel capacitors to shift apart or closer together, thus causing a change in voltage (AC). And thus, we have our electric signal.
How Microphones Can Break
How Microphones Can Break
Just like every electronic device ever made, microphones (especially condenser mics) need good care. Even small droplets or dust particles can compromise a microphone's delicate interior circuits. Besides that, though, sound waves that are too violent can damage a microphone's diaphragm (which is essential to converting sound to electric signals.) That's why it's usually not a good idea to be breathing into a microphone, with your mouth inches away from the mic, when you are using one.
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