Audio Video and Media

Module2: Electro Acoustical Transducers, Equalization and

Filters
 INTRODUCTION
• We all use transducers in our day to day life, although we may not aware of what a
TV antenna does: it converts radio waves to electrical energy.
• Any device that converts energy from one form to another is a transducer like
• Eg: Microphones and loud speakers
• Technology has advanced to a stage where some form of energy can be measured
without having direct contact with the object
• An eg for such a device is electro magnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT), which is
used in sound generation and reception.
• Equalization involves the process of boosting or reducing the levels of different
frequencies in a signal
• A lot of sounds known as noise or unwanted sounds are generated in the process of
recording and playing recorded sounds.
• To get a high quality experience while listening to the sounds without the
interference of noise devices called filters can be used to eliminate such disturbances
• Modern technology has provided us with the technology to enjoy pure and
unadulterated music with the help of equalisers and filters. These come as a part of
device we purchase
• A microphone is a transducer that picks up acoustic energy or sound and
transforms it into electrical energy.
• Besides audio recording devices, microphones are used in telephones, mobile
phones,hearing aids and public address systems
• Loudapeakers is another type of electro acoustic transducer that converts
electrical energy to sound energy.
 MICROPHONES
• In 1933, the first commercial microphone sometimes called a ceramic microphone
was introduced by C.M. Chorpening and F.H. Woodworth of the Astalic
Corporation.
• The term microphone was first used in 1827 by Sir Charles Wheatstone.
• In the recording and reproduction of sound process, the microphone is at the
beginning of the process.
 Types of Microphones
1. Dynamic Microphones
• A dynamic microphone has a diaphragm attached to a voice coil(a long coil of
wire) near the apex and works on a magnetic system with the coil in its gap
• Sound pressure hits the diaphragm which moves according to the pressure and
in turn moves the coil.
• The movement of the coil make the current to flow as lines of flux are cut
from the magnet.
• Dynamic microphones are rugged and reliable and do not require any batteries
or other external power to operate.
 Condenser microphones
• Condenser microphones are capacitor based with a lightweight membrane and a
fixed plate that acts at opposite sides of a capacitor.
• Sound pressure makes the thin polymar film to move which alerts the capacitance
of the circuit and thereby a changing electrical output
• Advantage: Highly uniform frequency response. It also captures transient sound
with clarity
• The overall output is a natural, clean and clear sound with excellent transparency
and detail
 Ribbon Microphones
• It consists of a thin aluminium strip that moves between two magnets generating
voltage.
• They offer the purest form of transduction and produce a distinctive warm sound
• Had a lot of compatibility problems
• They are predominantly used for broadcast, studio and live applications
 Carbon Microphone
• Also known as a carbon button Microphone or jat a button Microphone
• It works with two metal plates having a capsule or button, containing carbon
granules, pressed between them
• Voltage runs across the metal plates, making a small current flow through the
carbon
• Mainly used in telephones
 Piezoelectric Microphones
• Also reffered to as crystal Microphones
• Some materials when subjected to pressure have the ability to produce a
voltage, known as piezoelectricity.
• Piezoelectricity is used to convert vibrations to electric signals
 Directivity
• One of the most important technical characteristics of Microphone is directivity,
sometimes called directionality, polar pattern or pickup pattern
• It refers to the sensitivity relative to the direction or angle of sound arriving at the
Microphone.
• It relates to how sound is picked up by a Microphone from the source depending on their
relative orientation
• That is the intensity of sound from a source will differ according to the direction from
where it comes as compared to the direction of the Microphone.
• It will depend on the characteristics of the Microphone
• The sound source is at the same distance in all instances of the recording
• A pure Omni directional Microphone is not impacted by direction.
• This property can ensure that undesired sound is discarded or desired sound is
enhanced with change in the position of the Microphone.
 Factors influence directivity of a Microphone
1. Diaphragm size
• Improved directivity at higher frequencies can be obtained by using a large
diaphragm.
• This also gives a larger output voltage resulting in a better signal-to-noise
ratio.
• The drawback with large diaphragms is that the highest frequency is
restricted to the wavelength that coincidea with the diaphragm diameter.
• The problem with small diaphragms is the low output level resulting in less
signal-to-noise ratio.
1. Placement
• Placement of the Microphone plays a critical role in the effectiveness by which
it can capture sounds.
• The directional characteristics that are specified for a Microphone will get
compromised if it is placed very close to a surface like a wall,floor,drum skin or
a singer’s face.
1. Live application
2. Polar
 Polar pattern or pickup pattern
• The polar patterns of the Microphone describes how a Microphone
responds to sound from different directions.
• Really there are 2 general polar pattern types: omnidirectional and
unidirectional.
 Omnidirectional Directivity
• Omnidirectional pickup means that sounds come equally from all directions
and are picked up equally from all directions and that’s the front, back and
bottom side.
• Remember this is a 360