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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: Cheesecadet on December 09, 2017, 01:53:51 PM
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Which capsule sis more sensitive or "hot"? One with the rating of 20 mV/Pa or 14mV/Pa? Trying to compare AKG481 to Schoeps MK41. Any explanation is helpful.
Thanks!
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20mV is 3dB "hotter" than 14mV, isn't it?
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20mV is 3dB "hotter" than 14mV, isn't it?
Not sure because I am not good at all the calculations. Is there a formula to figure this out that is easy?
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Turns out there is! See the "dB Voltage Ratio Calculator" section of this page:
http://www.net-comber.com/decibel.html (http://www.net-comber.com/decibel.html)
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Here's a great explanation of how to read mic sensitivity specs, with a calculator also:
https://geoffthegreygeek.com/microphone-sensitivity/ (https://geoffthegreygeek.com/microphone-sensitivity/)
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The thing about sensitivity specifications for microphones is that the everyday meaning of "sensitivity" isn't what they're about; they don't answer the question, "What's the quietest sound that the microphone can detect?" If they did mean that, then a "more sensitive" microphone would have a lower numeric specification in decibels (sound pressure level).
Instead, "sensitivity" for microphones has a special technical definition: How large a signal voltage does the microphone put out for a given sound pressure level? That's more like it's about the microphone's efficiency in converting sound energy to electrical energy.
Once you have that idea clearly in mind, you'll see why the larger number (in mV/Pa for professional microphones) indicates the more sensitive microphone. But you have to jump through that conceptual hoop first.
--best regards