Posted by: "John Tudor"
> Oops, my bad. I mis-read the 'type icon' on the information page. It
> is a Capacitor / Condenser mic.
>
> So, is that OK still??????
A standard condenser mic charges the diaphragm with a high voltage, the
advantage of a RF condenser is the charging is a high RF frequency and
very low voltage. A RF condensor works a lot like a FM radio as far as
separating out the audio signal, where a standard condensor is more like
AM radio in how it gets the audio off the mic. So the mics are very
different in ways other than the high charge. That high voltage in the
standard condenser is what causes humidity problems as it will break
down under those conditions, may even arc between backplate and
diaphragm, but most of the time no damage, just lost recording. The
breakdown with some mics is only a matter of seconds. So, any condensor
mic that's not been used for nature recording should be tested for this
before depending on it. The low voltage of the RF mic is far, far more
resistant to humidity breakdown.
There are other design differences, even within different models of MKH.
Most are now dual backplate with the diaphragm between the two
backplates for instance. Not a common design as it's harder to build.
But it has advantages that result in better audio.
You can read about MKH here:
http://naturerecordist.home.mindspring.com/MKH_Brochure.pdf
The ME brochure is here:
http://naturerecordist.home.mindspring.com/ME_Brochure.pdf
I don't believe these are up to date anymore, do not include the latest MKH=
.
Electrets have a built in permanent static charge, so the circuitry does
not have to keep charging them.
Walt
|