A supercardioid microphone capsule is a type of directional microphone component with a pickup pattern resembling a narrow heart shape. It features high sensitivity at the front and significantly reduced sensitivity on the sides, making it ideal for focused sound capture. Its design involves the following critical components and considerations:
1. Voice Coil Selection and Design
The voice coil is the core component of the capsule and directly affects sensitivity, impedance, and frequency response. Designers must select appropriate coil materials and dimensions based on the intended application and environment, followed by precise design optimization.
2. Magnetic Circuit Design
The magnetic circuit is another essential element. Its design impacts sensitivity, distortion, and frequency response. This involves magnetic field distribution modeling, selection of core materials, and magnetic path optimization to ensure stable performance.
3. Microphone Housing Design
The outer shell not only protects the internal components but also affects durability and acoustic behavior. Designers must consider waterproofing, dustproofing, impact resistance, and acoustic transparency when selecting housing materials and structuring the shell.
4. Circuit Design
Signal processing is crucial. The internal circuitry typically includes a preamplifier, filters, and other components to condition and process the microphone signal. The circuit should be designed according to the required output level, noise floor, and operating voltage.
5. Testing and Calibration
Once the design is finalized, thorough testing and calibration are essential to ensure the capsule meets the performance standards. This includes tests for sensitivity, frequency response, total harmonic distortion (THD), and directional pattern accuracy.
In summary, designing a supercardioid microphone capsule requires careful attention to the voice coil, magnetic circuit, housing, electronics, and performance calibration-all of which contribute to achieving high fidelity and directional precision in sound capture.