TYPES OF MICROPHONES
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Why the Abundance of Microphones in different forms for Commercial Audio? You might already have a knack for picking the perfect microphone, but even seasoned audio experts can benefit from a quick refresher. This 5-minute read will dive into the different types of microphones used in professional and commercial audio systems, and how their sensitivity plays a crucial role in choosing the right one. By understanding these characteristics, you'll be able to select microphones with more confidence for your next sound reinforcement or public address project. |
Exploring Microphone Types
Here are the typical microphone types designed for professional and commercial audio systems:
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Handheld This classic microphone is designed to be held in your hand or mounted on a stand. It's perfect for capturing vocals, speeches, presentations, and even close-up instrument sounds. Since handheld microphones typically have lower sensitivity, they excel at picking up the sound source directly while minimizing unwanted background noise. |
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Handheld (Paging) Handled Paging microphones are built for quick announcements and are often found at cash registers, boarding gates, or on commercial vehicles (where they usually hang on a wall when not in use). The curly cord and push-to-talk (PTT) switch make grabbing and using them a breeze. Similar to standard handheld microphones, their lower sensitivity keeps the focus on the speaker's voice. |
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Gooseneck Gooseneck microphones are designed to be placed on a table, podium, or lectern to capture the speaker's voice. They're a popular choice for discussion and conference systems, often featuring a base station with user controls. Gooseneck microphones typically have a higher sensitivity than handheld microphones, ensuring clear voice pickup even when the speaker moves around or leans away slightly. |
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Lavalier Lavalier microphones are small and clip discreetly onto clothing, allowing the speaker to move freely with their hands. They're a must-have for stage presentations and lectures, and often used with a wireless transmitter for even more flexibility. Lavalier microphones typically have a lower sensitivity to prioritize the speaker's voice and minimize background noise. |
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Headset Headset microphones keep the microphone close to your mouth for optimal sound pickup. They're ideal for active users like aerobics instructors or stage performers who need both hands free. Similar to lavalier microphones, headset microphones typically have lower sensitivity to focus on the speaker's voice and minimize background noise. They're also often used with a wireless transmitter for convenience. |
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Boundary (Tabletop) Tabletop boundary microphones are designed to sit flat on a surface like a table, floor, or podium. They're perfect for conference rooms, meeting spaces, and boardrooms where multiple people might be speaking. Boundary microphones can pick up everyone's voice clearly without needing individual microphones for each participant, although they may also capture some ambient noise. |
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Boundary (Flash-mount) Flush-mount boundary microphones are designed to be permanently installed flush with a surface like a tabletop, floor, wall, or ceiling. Their low profile makes them visually discreet and less obtrusive than other microphone types. They're ideal for situations where you need to capture sound uniformly across a wider area, such as conference rooms, boardrooms, lecture halls, houses of worship, and broadcast studios. |
Microphone "Type" and "Sensitivity"
There's a general relationship between microphone type and sensitivity. Microphones designed to be positioned close to the sound source, like handheld and lavalier microphones, typically have lower sensitivity to focus on the primary audio without picking up too much background noise. On the other hand, boundary microphones, which need to capture sound across a wider area, generally have higher sensitivity.
Ready to Dive Deeper into Microphone Sensitivity?
Check out this article for a more in-depth exploration of this important audio concept!
