Types Of Microphones

1) Carbon Dust Based Microphones

These are the first kind of microphones. It uses Carbon Dust. The Carbon Dust has thin metal or plastic diaphragm on on its sides. As the sound waves compress the diaphragm, the carbon dust is pressed and the electrical resistance changes which in turn changes the current flowing across the carbon dust and thus the sound signal is encoded as electrical signal.


2) Dynamic Type Microphones

Herein the diaphragm is attached to a magnet or coil. As the sound waves moves the magnet/coil the electromagnetic field changes and thus the change in flux induces an electric current. And in this way the sound signal is converted to electrical signal


3) Ribbon Based Microphones 

Here the sound waves move the ribbon which is suspended in a magnetic field. So the current flowing through the ribbon changes and the sound signal is thus turned into variations in electric current flowing across the ribbon


4) Condenser Microphones

It is essentially a capacitor whose one plate is free to move in accordance with the (pressure from) the sound waves. This movement changes the capacitance of the capacitor which is further amplified to create a measurable electric signal.


5) Crystal Based Microphones

We know that the electrical property of crystal change a their shape changes. In these kind of microphones the diaphragm is attached to crystal whose shape changes with the variation in sound waves and thus the electrical property of the crystal varies as a function of sound signal, thus providing a method to convert acoustic signals into electric signal