#843 The old time style microphone brings music to my ears

A microphone, sometimes called a mic or mike, is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. The microphone is used in many applications such as public address systems for concert halls and public events, motion picture production, live and recorded audio engineering, telephones, hearing aids, two-way radios, megaphones, radio and television broadcasting, and even in computers. My favorite use for a microphone is a rock concert.

Paul Shortino singing at Raiding The Rock Vault in Las Vegas

Paul Shortino singing at Raiding The Rock Vault in Las Vegas

Most every microphone used today uses electromagnetic induction (dynamic microphones), capacitance change (condenser microphones) or piezoelectricity (piezoelectric microphones) to produce an electrical signal from air pressure variations. A microphones typically needs to be connected to a preamplifier before the signal can be amplified with an audio power amplifier and a speaker or recorded. Ah, science.

In 1827, Sir Charles Wheatstone was the first person to coin the phrase “microphone” although history tells us the earliest known device used to increase the volume of the spoken word dates back to 600 BC with the invention of masks with specially designed mouth openings that acoustically augmented the voice in amphitheatres. Did you ever cup your hands around your mouth when you are yelling to someone? Something like that.

According to inventors expert Mary Bellis at About.com, with the invention of the radio, new broadcasting microphones were created with the ribbon microphone being invented in 1942 for radio broadcasting. These are the types of microphones I like. Not saying they are the best. James R Cameron writes in his book Public Address Systems, “There is room for improvement in even the best microphones.”

To learn the full history of the microphone one could read whole books or take courses and probably still not know all there was to learn. What I do know is that the old time style microphone is the one I like best. It just looks so cool.

There is the one you would imagine to see in the recording studio:

studio microphone shure

Or the type you could see in the hands of a soulful singer on stage at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville:

microphone girl

Yes, wherever or however it is being used, the look of the old time microphone always makes me smile.

Now, if someone would just use it at a rock concert…

microphone shure headphones

Are you in a field where you use a microphone on a regular basis? What style do you prefer? Tell us about your experience. We would love to hear from you. Click here to leave a comment and share your opinion and experience. Would love to hear from you.

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Read how to Make Money With Your Microphone: How to Make Money Online Recording and Selling Audio Information Products on The Internet from Amazon.

146 Replies to “#843 The old time style microphone brings music to my ears”

  1. I do short podcasts, and I’ve been using the the Rode NTK happily. I need more gadgets for all my audio needs though- a Bose amp, a couple speakers, some good quality speaker cables and an Arcam Airdac to top it all- all from Bay Bloor Radio ( http://baybloorradio.com ). It’s one hell of a setup though 🙂

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  11. Hi Troy,

    Very nice of you for sharing it with us.

    Old microphones were out of trend fom some time but as we know everything takes a round and comes again and today the story is that it is stated as rockstar’s mic.

    Most of the stars use such like microphones today for stage shows or any big concerts. The whole story is so good and also got to know the history of microphones.

    Thanks for the post.
    Have a nice day.

    ~ Harshwardhan
    Harswardhan Azad Singh recently posted…20 Wardrobe Essentials That Every Twenty Something Girl Must HaveMy Profile

  12. The Bluebird bistro is a spot where individuals attempting to make it in down home music go to get found. I hear some astonishing ability has leave that foundation and that it is an unquestionable requirement stop destination in Nashvill

  13. Thanks you touched all the important thing. i like your post and the way your blogging and providing the meaningful question and answers.

  14. I Love Song And Musics U R Reminding Me My Childhood Day Now I M Going To SHare This Post To My Freind
    Keep Posting Dear . 🙂

  15. There is no way older mic can be replaced. I know technology is trying hard. But they are still cute in my own opinion.

    There are some music that looks better with them.

  16. I’m actually both in Music and Music Blogging. Just by reading something related to Music brings a smile on my face and here you have actually made me realise how​ little do I know about the history of Musical Equipments. Thanks Troy. I would really love to invite you for a Guest Post on my Blog. 🙂

  17. I love vintage microphones, I play a lot of rockabilly music and they are perfect. I also use vintage mics when i record stock music for bars and resturants you can hear many of these old recording on Songtrack Network.

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