What is the difference between TUBE and Condensor MIC?

[kennymoon83]

I was thinkin about purchasing a Rode Microphone. I was looking at the mics and I saw that they have Tube Mics and then they have condensor Mics. The NT-K is a tube condensor MIC. The NT1000 is a condensor MIC. What is the difference when its a tube and when it isn't?

 

[kidvybes]

I was thinkin about purchasing a Rode Microphone. I was looking at the mics and I saw that they have Tube Mics and then they have condensor Mics. The NT-K is a tube condensor MIC. The NT1000 is a condensor MIC. What is the difference when its a tube and when it isn't?

You've kinda answered your own question...the "tube" is the difference...a vacuum tube (pentode or dual triode in most designs) is utilized in either an input or output circuit (and in some more rare cases both) in place of (and often in combination with) a transistor circuit or transformer...tubes were used more commonly before the invention of transistor technology and the FET circuits utilized in many of today's modern condenser mics...

 

[PhilGood]

Actually, they are both condenser mics. A condenser is sometimes referred to as a capacitor microphone. A condenser mic is any microphone that uses a capsule that acts as a capacitor. The capsule consists of a brass backplate and a diaphragm which is coated with a conductive material, such as gold, and the two are separated. A charge is then applied to both conductors and as sound hits the diaphragm it changes the distance to the backplate in waves. The change in capacitance is measured as sound and amplified by the head amplifier.

Here's where your answer is: There are 2 types of amplifiers. FET (solid state) and vacuum tube. A tube mic has a vacuum tube which gets its power from a dedicated power supply. A solid state mic is either powered with phantom power or batteries.

Not all of these descriptions are absolutes.