An electroacoustic device which delivers an electrical signal when actuated by a sound. A microphone consists of an acoustic system that supplies mechanical (acoustic) energy to a transducer, which converts the energy into electrical energy. Microphones are classified by their acoustical parameters, by their method of transduction, and by their directional characteristics.
See capsule, cardioid, supercardiod, hypercardioid, ribbon microphone, moving coil microphone, condenser microphone, dynamic microphone, boundary microphone, Soundfield microphone, Lavalier microphone, contact microphone, and omnidirectional