"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:22:46 +0100, "Keith G"
wrote:


"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:57:07 +0100, "Keith G"

wrote:

Now, exposing yet more ignorance in public (as I am wont to do) - it
is
fair to say that a dynamic mic works like a conventional speaker in
reverse and a 'condenser' mic works like an electrostatic speaker in
reverse...???


Zackly right. And in theory you can use either for either function.


OK - I've certainly used headphones as a makeshift mic in the past.
Strange thing is, only one side of the phones seems to work, though!

Probably only one pole of the stereo plug made contact.


OK - stereo jack, mono socket kinda thing. Makes sense!




The big difference between a mic and a speaker is the distance the
diaphragm is expected to move. Because of this, speakers tend to be
designed floppy. That means the main resonance is below the audible
range. Mics, on the other hand, can be stiff, so the resonance is
placed high by stretching the diaphragm. The exception in mics is
the
ribbon, which uses a low resonance frequency like a speaker.


And being 'floppy' (ribbon itself) is presumably what makes it a bit
fragile?



Yup. If you take away all the protective casing and gauze then breathe
on the ribbon, you will tear it straight out of the mic. It is much
thinner than the foil in a ciggy pack, for example.


Interesting and scary at one and the same time!! :-)