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Re: Figure 8 mics (Sennheiser MKH pdf)

Subject: Re: Figure 8 mics (Sennheiser MKH pdf)
From: "Walter Knapp" waltknapp
Date: Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:39 am (PDT)
Posted by: "Dan Dugan"

> DAN:
>
>>>  >All mics are linear transducers--behavior at low levels is
>>
>>>>>proportionate to that at high levels. Not true for A-D converters,
>>>>>but they have become so good in recent years that that isn't a
>>
>>>  >concern any more.
>
>
> ROB:
>
>>>This is valuable information! Linear even at sound levels that are
>>>70-80dB lower than those tested? If so, mics are very elegant
>>>machines.
>
>
> It's just physics.

However mics are a lot more than linear transducers. In the MKH, how
accurate is all the electronics? The sound is first converted into a
varying frequency signal, then that signal is converted back to a analog
audio signal, then there is amplification and filtering to flatten the
frequency response. All within that mic housing. Several different types
of physics going on.

Though they do a excellent job, I'd like to see measurements of response
at the low sound levels we use. I'm not convinced the proportionality
continues indefinitely downward in sound level when you consider it as
the signal coming out of the mic into the cable. This may particularly
be true if you consider the flatness of the frequency response curve, or
the polar patterns at various frequencies.

Walt





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