The History of Microphones

The History of Microphones

A microphone is a device for converting acoustic power into electric power with essentially similar wave characteristics. Today, microphones are most often associated with the music and entertainment industries, but the devices date back as far as the 1600s when scientists began seeking out ways in which they could amplify sound.

The 1800s

Sir Charles Wheatstone coined the phrase “microphone”

Sources

Leslie, Clara Louise, “Who Invented the Microphone?” Radio Broadcast, 1926

The 20th Century

The development of the vacuum tube amplifier helped improve the volume output for devices, including microphones

The 21st Century

2000s: MEMS (Microelectromechanical systems) microphones begin making inroads in portable devices including cell phones, headsets, and laptops

Source

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