High-Quality
Microphones
Innovative Solutions for
Demanding Applications
Bogen’s selection of high-quality, portable microphones offer
clear, natural, intelligible sound. Engineered for accurate sound
reproduction, each microphone is ruggedly constructed to with-
stand the demands of sound installations. A variety of types and
styles are available including gooseneck, desktop, handheld,
wireless handheld/lavaliere, overhead hanging, and surface-
mount microphones. Both contemporary and traditional designs
provide accurate response and dependable performance, with
optimum clarity.
Bogen’s microphone models are crafted with professional-grade
features, including models with rubberized grips, dent-proof
screens, and quiet on/off glide switches. In addition, Bogen’s
handheld mics feel good in the hand and reduce resonance from
taps and handling.
A variety of accessories are available for Bogen’s line of micro-
phones - including stands, mounting clips, and cables
.
Cardioid (Uni-Directional)
This pickup pattern is sensitive to sound coming from one direc-
tion - in front of the microphone - thus, it best serves a
single user. It is preferred for applications where there is likeli-
hood of feedback, where the ambient noise is too high or
variable for a good clear signal, or where the user will be close
to the microphone. Microphones with a cardioid pickup pattern
greatly reduce the chance of reproducing unwanted sources of
noise that are at the back or sides of the microphone, such as
with an audience.
Omni-Directional
This microphone pickup pattern is sensitive to sound from all
directions - in front, back, and on the sides of the microphone
- thus, best serving a group of users. Omni-directional micro-
phones are preferred for use in studios, offices, round-table dis-
cussions, or other environments where there is no ambient
background noise (such as a conference room). Microphones
with an omni-directional pickup pattern provide a smoother re-
sponse than microphones with a cardioid pickup pattern.
Cardioid
Omni-Directional
Dynamic vs. Electret Condenser
Microphones are transducers, or energy converters, which sense
acoustic energy (sound waves) and convert them into electrical
energy signals. There are two common methods for micro-
phones to do this: 1) the electromagnetic technique used in dy-
namic type microphones, and 2) the electrostatic technique used
in electret condenser type microphones.
Dynamic
Dynamic microphones consist of a coil of wire attached to a di-
aphragm that sits in a magnetic field that is created by a small
magnet. When sound waves cause the diaphragm to vibrate, the
motion of the coil within the magnetic field creates electrical sig-
nals that can be amplified or recorded.
These types of microphones produce a smooth, extended re-
sponse, and provide good linearity. Their output level is high
enough to work directly with most microphone inputs and have
an excellent signal-to-noise ratio. They are rugged, reliable, and
do not require batteries or external power supplies to operate.
Electret Condensers
Electret condenser microphones use a lightweight, permanently-
polarized membrane and a fixed plate to create a capacitor.
Sound waves cause the membrane to vibrate, which changes the
distance between the membrane and fixed plate causing a change
in capacitance. Using a built-in electronic pre-amplifier circuit, the
capacitance fluctuations are converted to electrical signals that
can be amplified or recorded. Because of the built-in pre-amplifier,
power must be supplied to the microphone externally. For conven-
ience, the same shielded 2-conductor cable that carries the audio
from the microphone is used to supply the DC voltage to the mi-
crophone’s pre-amp circuit. This method of supplying power to the
microphone is called “Phantom Power”.
Electret condenser microphones respond quickly, have excellent
linearity, and are very sensitive. They respond with clarity to tran-
sient sounds, provide a very uniform frequency response, and
have an outstanding low-frequency pickup.
Sensitivity Patterns
Microphones pick up sound differently, based on the type of
sensitivity pattern. There are two main types of microphones
or patterns: Cardioid and Omni-Directional.
