How Do Microphones Work? | Pickup Patterns, Capsule Types and More

Whoa, buckle up - Ethan Lee and Andrew from Deity are here to bring you a VERY comprehensive look at microphones. How do microphones work? They break this down into 3 sections - types of microphone capsules, diaphragm size, and pickup pattern or polar pattern. With these three parameters, you should be able to diagnose and discuss any type of microphone you come across on set or otherwise!

0:00 - Intro
1:41 - Types of Microphones
2:05 - What is a Dynamic Microphone
2:57 - What is a Condenser Microphone
3:43 - What is a Ribbon Microphone
4:20 - Mic Type Quiz
5:34 - Microphone Diaphragm Sizes
6:00 - Large Diaphragm Mics
6:35 - Small Diaphragm Mics
7:16 - Micro Diaphragm Mics
8:09 - Mic Diaphragm Quiz
9:14 - Microphone Pickup Patterns
9:29 - What is a Polar Pattern/Pickup Pattern?
10:00 - Cardioid Pickup Pattern
11:29 - Supercardioid Pickup Pattern
12:42 - Shotgun/Lobar Pickup Pattern
15:08 - Omnidirectional Pickup Pattern
16:12 - Figure 8 Pickup Pattern
17:14 - Pickup Pattern Quiz
18:33 - Leave a Comment!

Knowing how to talk about microphones is important because it allows you to be precise with what you are recording and ensures you know how to pick a microphone that is right for your job. Knowing how to choose a microphone to record a particular sound is one of the most important parts of being a recordist. Microphone pickup patterns are also important to know so you can minimize audio post processing by getting it right in the recording itself.

Let us know in the comments below if this was exciting or boring! We really don't want to bore you, especially if you read this far down here!

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Deity Microphones produces weekly digital web content to help filmmakers and sound mixers grow in their education. Deity Microphones shares this free web series in hopes that the next generation of filmmakers grows in their video production quality and changes the world.

Deity Microphones produces free educational web content to help filmmakers, vloggers, sound mixers and sound designers grow as creatives and take their production quality (be it independent, TV, or studio) to the next level. Deity Microphones believes that budget should never be a constraint to creativity.