User Manual
5
5. About condenser microphones
5.1. The basic principle of a condenser capsule
// A condenser capsule consists of a diaphragm, that is positioned in close proximity to a solid metal
plate hence forming a capacitor. This diaphragm is electrically conductive.
// The lower the mass of the diaphragm, the more sensitive it is to changes in sound pressure. In an
audible frequency range, we can perceive these changes of sound pressure, and commonly refer to them
as sound. For our large diaphragm microphones of the LCT series, we use 3 μm-thin gold-sputtered
Mylar.
// Sound waves hit the diaphragm, making it moving back and forth. As the capacitance changes
according to the rhythm of incidental sound waves, the electronics transform the change in capacitance
into alternating voltage - mechanical waves are converted into an electrical signal.
// Although the induced voltage is relatively high and could, in theory, be audible on your headphones, the
signal breaks down in an instant due to the internal impedance of the capsule. An impedance converter
and other electronics like an internal amplier are used to process the induced voltage so that it can be
safely transmitted to following equipment.
// The condenser microphone has to be supplied with external power to generate polarization voltage
for the capsule and to power the internal electronics. This external power source is commonly known
as “Phantom Power”. (Microphones with permanently polarized condenser capsules still need phantom
power to make the internal electronics work.)