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#1
07-05-2002, 11:52 PM
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What does "piezo" mean?
I've seen it in several posts on this and other guitar forums. I studied Italian, but this word escapes me.
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#3
07-06-2002, 04:59 PM
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"piezo-" is actually Greek, meaning "pressure".
In particular, piezo-electricity is "electricity or electric polarity due to pressure especially in a crystalline substance, such as quartz". The piezo-crystals in certain types of acoustic pickups translate pressure variations (vibration) into electrical signals, which are in turn translated into sound by the amp.
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#4
07-06-2002, 05:38 PM
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While on the subject, what's the difference between a condensor and a cardiod (sp?) microphone? Is one better than the other? IS there a difference? Sorry if this is a dumb question.
__________________
“With every mistake we must surely be learning”
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#5
07-09-2002, 08:59 PM
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I believe cardioid is an assymetrical pickup pattern and is used to describe a mic's pattern of sensitivity, not the type of mic it is. The more pronounced patterns of this type are referred to as supercardioid or hypercardioid.
Condensers are piezoelectric mics and are generally more sensitive than dynamic mics, but they require phantom power. Condensers can have cardioid patterns.
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#6
07-10-2002, 02:01 AM
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Orphan, your question is far from dumb. There are a lot of confusing technical terms used in the world of microphones, and I am still trying to make sense of all the information I got. Take a look at the Shure web site, particularly in the technotes page. There are a lot of really helpful technical notes about microphones, how they are made, how to use them, etc.
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Cogito ergo strum
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#7
07-10-2002, 04:30 PM
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A cardioid mic, as streamlinedman put it, is a mic with an asymetrical pickup pattern. In this case, the pattern looks like a heart, with the point being at the front of the mic. That's how it got the name with the same root as "cardiac" (pertaining to the heart).
A condenser mic is a mic which converts sound to electricity by sensing the change in capacitance between a metallic diaphragm and an electrode when the diaphagm moves in response to sound waves. Interestingly enough, Fishman undersaddle pickups aren't piezo pickups! They refer to their pickup as a co-polymer sensor. I suppose what we are looking at is a pair of metal-coated polymer wafers spaced apart by a tiny space. I wouldn't be suprised if they work on the principle of variable capacitance as well. Bob
__________________
"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website)
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