# microphone

> acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal

**Wikidata**: [Q46384](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46384)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphone)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/microphone

## Summary
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. It functions as an input device, providing data and signals to information processing systems. Microphones are used by humans to capture and process sound for various applications.

## Key Facts
*   A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor.
*   Its primary function is to convert sound into an electrical signal.
*   It is classified as an input device, sound transducer, sensor, and musical instrument.
*   Microphones are used by humans.
*   Common aliases include "mic" and "mike."
*   Specific types include condenser, dynamic, ribbon, carbon, wireless, and lavalier microphones.
*   Specialized applications include hydrophones for underwater sound and laser microphones for surveillance.
*   It can be represented by Unicode characters 🎤 (U+1F3A4) and 🎙 (U+1F399).

## FAQs
### Q: What is the basic function of a microphone?
A: The basic function of a microphone is to act as an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor. It converts sound waves into an electrical signal, allowing sound to be captured and processed electronically.

### Q: What are some different types of microphones?
A: There are many types of microphones, including condenser, dynamic, ribbon, carbon, wireless, lavalier, parabolic, and shotgun microphones. Specialized types also exist, such as hydrophones for underwater use and laser microphones for detecting sound vibrations remotely.

### Q: Is a microphone considered an input device?
A: Yes, a microphone is considered an input device. It serves as a peripheral that provides data and signals, specifically sound converted into electrical signals, to an information processing system.

## Why It Matters
Microphones are fundamental to modern communication, recording, and information processing because they bridge the gap between acoustic energy and electrical systems. By converting sound waves into electrical signals, they enable the capture, storage, transmission, and amplification of sound. This capability makes them indispensable input devices for a vast array of information processing systems, allowing humans to interact with technology through speech and other sounds. From facilitating conversations across distances and recording music, to specialized applications like detecting underwater phenomena with hydrophones or monitoring ground movement with geophones, microphones play a crucial role. They are integral to fields ranging from entertainment and broadcasting to surveillance and scientific research, fundamentally shaping how we interact with and utilize sound in the electronic age.

## Notable For
*   Its core function as an acoustic-to-electric transducer, converting sound into electrical signals.
*   Serving as a primary input device for information processing systems, enabling sound-based data input.
*   The wide array of specialized designs and applications, such as hydrophones for underwater sound detection and laser microphones for remote surveillance.
*   Its role in enabling human interaction with technology and information systems through sound.

## Body

### Definition and Function
A microphone is defined as an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor. Its fundamental purpose is to convert sound into an electrical signal. This conversion allows acoustic energy to be processed, recorded, transmitted, or amplified by electronic systems.

### Classification and Usage
The microphone is classified as:
*   An input device, serving as a peripheral to provide data and signals to an information processing system.
*   A sound transducer.
*   A sensor.
*   A musical instrument (as a classification).

Microphones are used by humans for various purposes.

### Types and Related Entities
The source material identifies numerous types, designs, and related entities for microphones:

#### General Classifications and Accessories
*   **Input device:** A broad class to which microphones belong.
*   **Wii Speak:** A microphone accessory for Nintendo's Wii video game console.
*   **Logitech AudioMan:** An audio device with an integrated speaker and microphone.
*   **Microphone flag:** A part of a TV broadcast microphone, typically depicting a station's logo.

#### Specialized Microphones
*   **Laser microphone:** A surveillance device that uses a laser beam to detect sound vibrations in a distant object.
*   **Parabolic microphone:** Uses a parabolic reflector to collect and focus sound waves onto a transducer.
*   **Hydrophone:** An underwater microphone.
*   **Geophone:** A device that converts ground movement (velocity) into voltage.
*   **Boundary microphone:** Designed for use on or near a surface.
*   **Lavalier microphone:** A microphone that attaches to clothing.
*   **Contact microphone:** Senses vibrations through contact with solid objects.
*   **Interruption microphone:** Has the ability to override others in a system.
*   **Wireless microphone:** Features circuitry to convert the audio signal to a radio signal.
*   **Stenomask:** A microphone built into a padded sound-proof enclosure that fits over the speaker's mouth or nose and mouth.
*   **Noise-canceling microphone:** Filters ambient noise.
*   **Shabbat microphone:** A specific type of microphone.

#### Microphone Design Types and Characteristics
*   **Pressure gradient microphone:** A type of microphone design.
*   **Pressure microphone:** A type of microphone design.
*   **Berliner microphone:** A microphone designed by Emile Berliner.
*   **Boom microphone:** A microphone with an attached boom pole.
*   **Condenser microphone:** A type of microphone design.
*   **Dynamic microphone:** A type of microphone design.
*   **Carbon microphone:** A type of microphone design.
*   **Shotgun microphone:** A specific type of microphone.
*   **Ribbon microphone:** A type of microphone design.
*   **Omnidirectional microphone:** Refers to a pickup pattern of a microphone.
*   **Soundfield microphone:** A type of microphone design.
*   **Directional microphone:** A specific type of microphone.

#### Specific Models
*   **STC 4021 microphone:** Also known as the 'Ball and Biscuit' microphone due to its distinct shape.
*   **Royer SF-24:** A specific microphone model.
*   **Røde NT1-A:** A specific microphone model.

### Aliases and Identifiers
The entity "microphone" is also known by several aliases, including:
*   mic
*   mike
*   micro
*   condenser microphone
*   dynamic microphone
*   ribbon microphone
*   Schallempfänger
*   Schalldruckempfänger
*   Mikrophon
*   Microphon

It is represented by the Unicode characters 🎤 (U+1F3A4, MICROPHONE) and 🎙 (U+1F399, STUDIO MICROPHONE).

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "microphone",
  "description": "acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal",
  "sameAs": [
    "http://wordnet-rdf.princeton.edu/wn30/03759954-n",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphone",
    "https://www.britannica.com/technology/microphone-electroacoustic-device",
    "http://id.loc.gov/authorities/sh85084882"
  ],
  "additionalType": [
    "https://schema.org/SoundTransducer",
    "https://schema.org/Sensor",
    "https://schema.org/InputDevice",
    "https://schema.org/MusicalInstrument"
  ]
}

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Nuovo soggettario
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
5. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Microphone-9MB6M)
6. National Library of Israel
7. KBpedia
8. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)