A device that converts sound waves into analogous electrical waves. Usually called a "mike," it contains a flexible diaphragm composed of film or foil that vibrates as it makes contact with the sound. The diaphragm movement modulates an electrical current by various methods. In a carbon mike, used in telephones for more than a hundred years, the diaphragm changes the pressure in carbon grains, changing its resistance.
In a condenser mike (electrostatic mike), the diaphragm changes the capacitance between itself and a metal plate, both acting as electrodes. The widely used electret mike has a charged dielectric between the electrodes that generates voltage.
Crystal microphones use a piezoelectric diaphragm that produces voltage when subjected to the sound waves (mechanical pressure). Dynamic mikes use a diaphragm attached to a movable coil that generates voltage as it moves between the poles of a magnet.
In a condenser mike (electrostatic mike), the diaphragm changes the capacitance between itself and a metal plate, both acting as electrodes. The widely used electret mike has a charged dielectric between the electrodes that generates voltage.
Crystal microphones use a piezoelectric diaphragm that produces voltage when subjected to the sound waves (mechanical pressure). Dynamic mikes use a diaphragm attached to a movable coil that generates voltage as it moves between the poles of a magnet.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2007 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Averatec 2575
- Since we reviewed the Averatec 2371 last year, the company has taken its laptops in a whole new direction. Gone are the cheap-looking plastic cases and rock-bottom prices; in their place, the company offers a new minimalist design and slightly higher--though still competitive--prices. The new ultraportable in the company's lineup,...
- Product reviews 2008-05-05
- HP Pavilion dv2700t Special Edition
- Hewlett-Packard's 14-inch HP Pavilion dv2700t Special Edition offers an upscale design and feature set in a laptop with a price that starts less than $1,000, including Altec Lansing stereo speakers, a remote control, and an HDMI port. Our review unit clocked in at $1,394 and added a TV tuner, dedicated...
- Product reviews 2008-05-02
- The 31 Days of the Dragon contest starts today, win an HP laptop valued at over $5,000
- While the giveaway I am going to talk about doesn't relate to a mobile device, my fellow MobileTechRoundup podcast co-hosts are a part of the contest and I think it is such a MAJOR contest that my readers here would enjoy entering for a chance to win. Today is the...
- Blog posts 2008-05-02
- Toshiba Satellite L355D
- The Toshiba Satellite L355D is a tough laptop to critique. One the one hand, its feature set is merely adequate, its battery life below average, and (thanks to the inclusion of an AMD processor) its performance--while sufficient for such basic computing tasks as Web surfing, watching movies, and word processing--can't...
- Product reviews 2008-04-30
- Could Apple be preparing the way for Mac gaming?
- Could Apple be preparing the way for Mac gaming?Absolutely - NLP would rock their sales!It's about time they make the microphone an equal input device in lieu of previous weaker attempts with macs. In addition, as a developer I'm looking forward to their high-quality, or familiar voices, toolkit to...
- Discussion threads 2008-04-29
- Apple beefs up iMac line
- Apple on Monday updated its iMac lineup with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors and NVIDIA GeForce graphics. Among the tweaks to the iMac line: The iMac has 2GB of memory standard on most models and offers a 3.06 GHz Intel processor on the 24-inch iMac...
- Blog posts 2008-04-28
- Toshiba Satellite U405-S2830
- With a lineup of perfectly serviceable, but not exactly standout mainstream laptops, Toshiba's Satellite brand has long played second fiddle to the company's excellent Qosmio multimedia systems. Aiming to correct this, Toshiba has a whole new look and feel for its mainstream consumer products, with a shiny metallic sheen and...
- Product reviews 2008-04-25
- JukeVox MP3 Player (msi)
- JukeVox is a Virtual DJ, and completely voice controlled MP3 player. With the sound of your voice you can play any MP3 on your computer. Simple, easy, and inconspicuous, JukeVox will put the play back in MP3 player. JukeVox will scan your computer for MP3s, from there you have complete...
- Software downloads 2008-04-25
- ScreenFlow (dmg)
- ScreenFlow is a brand new application for creating amazing screen recordings on your Mac. Using a unique new screen capture system, powerful enough to capture the contents of your entire desktop at the same time as your video camera, microphone and computer's audio, you'll be creating incredible screencasts in no...
- Software downloads 2008-04-25
- Leopard mauls podcaster (updated 2x)
- For weeks I've been bedeviled by an audio bug on my MacBook Pro. The symptoms include poor audio quality by recipients of a Skype call using a USB microphone. While that may sound like an obscure bug, it affects one particular vertical market the hardest – podcasters. ...
- Blog posts 2008-04-24
- Samsung SC-HMX10
- Photo gallery:Samsung SC-HMX10Samsung takes some interesting turns to deliver its semibudget-priced, flash-based HD camcorder. On one hand, the SC-HMX10 seems to offer quite a bit for the money, including 720p video, 8GB built-in memory, manual exposure controls, and a microphone input, all in a diminutive package. On the other hand,...
- Product reviews 2008-04-23
- Audio Recorder Platinum (exe)
- Audio Recorder Platinum is an useful audio recorder that lets you record any audio you can play on your computer and save the recording directly into MP3, WAV, or OGG files. It is a perfect utility to record your own voice, music or any other sound as well as VoIP...
- Software downloads 2008-04-23
- Gateway P-172X FX
- Gateway's current laptop line offers something for gamers with widely varying budgets, without sacrificing too much in terms of components or features. We were previously very impressed with the high-end $3,000 P-171XL-FX and the low-end $1,249 P-6831FX. Both include Nvidia's GeForce 8800 graphics card, making the P-6831FX the best gaming...
- Product reviews 2008-04-21
- Enpower ENP780
- This is one desktop replacement that might actually find itself leaving the house from time to time. The Enpower ENP780 is the thinnest and lightest 17-inch laptop we've laid hands on to date. Where most laptops in this class hover around the 9-pound mark (and Dell's XPS M1730 breaks the...
- Product reviews 2008-04-17
- Dell Vostro 1310
- Catering to companies with one to 25 employees, Dell's Vostro line of laptops occupies the space between the company's consumer Inspiron and corporate Latitude lines. Like the Inspirons, the Vostro laptops offer a decent selection of components at a sub-$1,000 starting price. Like Latitudes, they incorporate business-level features, such as...
- Product reviews 2008-04-17
- iLuv i399 (Black, Bluetooth)
- The iLuv i199 iPod audio system impressed us with its seemingly endless array of features crammed into a tight package at an affordable price. Enter the iLuv i399: it's larger and more expensive than the older i199, and delivers a more thumping bass line, thanks to its built-in...
- Product reviews 2008-04-17
- Canon Vixia HF100
- Photo gallery:Canon Vixia HF100Canon may not have been first out of the gate with a flash-based camcorder--or second, or third--but one of its debut models, the high-definition Vixia HF100, gets it right the first time. A sleek, matte-gray compact model with a well-rounded feature set, great video, and excellent performance,...
- Product reviews 2008-04-16
- Sony MDR-NC500D Digital Noise Canceling Headphones
- Sony is certainly no stranger to the headphone market. The company's portable line may very well be the most popular aftermarket earphones. It has quite an array of full-size "cans" as well as a decent selection of noise-canceling models. The latest high-end set to hit virtual retail shelves combines the...
- Product reviews 2008-04-16
- Motley Crue to release single on 'Rock Band'
- Rock 'n' roll bad boys will become the first group to release a new single through the popular music game. (From Reuters) In a nod to the ascendancy of video games, rock 'n' roll bad boys Motley Crue will become the first group to release a new single...
- News items 2008-04-15
- Third-party VoIP app for the iPhone - How will Apple respond to this?
- So, the first VoIP client for the iPhone is out. A free VoIP client at that. What will Steve Jobs make of this? To make fring work on your iPhone you do need a jailbroken device (and no, it won't work on the iPod touch because you don't have a microphone...
- Blog posts 2008-04-15
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Which solar technology will survive?
-
At the Cleantech Forum in San Francisco, Todd Glass of Heller Ehrman moderates a discussion, among tech execs, on the various solar technologies making a difference in the green movement.
- Watch the video >>
- Built-in Manageability and Proactive Security for Business Desktop PCs
-
"This technical white paper explores the capabiltiies of Intel vPro technology, including remote communication, simpler remote management, proactive security, virtualization, and much more.
- Download the white paper to learn more about Intel® vPro™ Technology >>
-
-
Discover tests mobile payments
2:03
Discover Financial Services CIO: Diane Offereins -
Renting green cars
0:58
Avis-Budget VP of Technology: John Turato -
LinkedIn vs. Facebook, MySpace
2:03
LinkedIn VP of Technical Operations: Lloyd Taylor -
Measuring energy usage with smarter meters
1:14
PG&E CIO: Pat Lawicki - View all CIO Vision Series Videos
