Elements of Radio Production - Microphones

A microphone is a device used to record sound. It converts sound signals or waves into electric signals. Microphones are used in telephones, public address systems, hearing aids, etc. microphones are connected to other devices to record and amplify sound. Microphones are essential part or radio production and are placed in recording studios. They amplify or increase the volume of sound. Microphones are classified on the basis of their directivity. It is the measuring point to calculate the direction of emission of the powerful waves.

Different types of microphones are:

1. Uni-directional Microphones

This type of microphone picks up sound from only one direction. The sound will be recorded properly only if the speaker speaks in front of it. For better results the speaker should keep a favourable distance from the microphone. It is used in a studio for single person recordings. It is used by the radio jockeys, announcers and news readers in a studio.

2. Bi-directional Microphones

Here, the voice is picked up from two directions. That is left and right. This type of microphones has two different streams of audio. This is commonly used in recording studios for interviews, where sound from two persons is recorded simultaneously.

3. Omni-directional Microphones

The word Omni means ‘everywhere’. An Omni- directional microphone picks up sound from every direction. These types of microphones are used when a number of voices are used in a single programme, like radio discussions and radio drama.

There are also other microphones which are classified on the basis of their size, shape and purpose. Some examples are lapels, gun mics, boom mics, cordless mics, etc.