How does a ribbon microphone work?
How does a ribbon microphone work?
A ribbon mic is actually a type of dynamic microphone. Instead of a dynamic microphone’s diaphragm that is attached to a moving coil that vibrates within a magnetic field, ribbon mics feature an extremely thin strip of metal (most often aluminum) suspended in a strong magnetic field.
When were ribbon mics used?
1920s
Invented in the 1920s, they were the high-end mic of choice in both recording and broadcast for decades—or, as Wired magazine once put it: “Ribbon microphones captured iconic sounds from Bing Crosby’s pillow- talk vocals to Ringo Starr’s cymbal crashes and the audio of many iconic recordings made before the 1980s.”
Can a condenser mic be used live?
Condenser Microphone Condenser microphones are most often found in recording studios. However, many condenser mics are now being used in live sound environments. The condenser microphone is a very simple mechanical system, simply a thin, stretched conductive diaphragm held close to a metal disk called the back plate.
What kind of microphone is a ribbon microphone?
A ribbon microphone, also known as a ribbon velocity microphone, is a type of microphone that uses a thin aluminum, duraluminum or nanofilm of electrically conductive ribbon placed between the poles of a magnet to produce a voltage by electromagnetic induction. Ribbon microphones are typically bidirectional,…
When did the BBC start using ribbon microphones?
The BBC-Marconi Type A was an iconic ribbon microphone produced by the BBC and Marconi between 1934 and 1959. Also of note is the ST&C Coles 4038 (or PGS – pressure gradient single), designed by the BBC in 1954 and still used for some applications to this day.
How does a step up transformer work on a ribbon microphone?
The voltage output of older ribbon microphones is typically quite low compared to a dynamic moving coil microphone, and a step-up transformer is used to increase the voltage output and increase the output impedance.
How are ribbon microphones used in the Blumlein array?
Due to their bidirectional pick-up pattern, ribbon microphones may be used in pairs to produce the Blumlein Pair recording array. In addition to the standard bidirectional pick-up pattern, ribbon microphones can also be configured to have cardioid, hypercardioid, omnidirectional, and variable pattern .