4Microphones

4.1 Introduction

In audio production, microphones are used to record voice, music, or sound effects in both the studio and the field. The studio microphone (see Figure 4.1) takes on an important role, because it is usually the first element in the audio chain. It’s the piece of equipment that changes the announcer’s voice into an electrical signal that can then be mixed with other sound sources and either recorded, streamed, or broadcast. Because the purpose of the microphone is to change sound energy into electrical energy, it is known as a transducer, which is a device that converts energy from one form into another.

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