Peter Bauch

• nicht vorhanden
• A microphone – as usually the first link in a signal chain – has a significant influence to the sound of a production. Despite the wide-ranging digitalization and audio engineering a microphone remains as an essential tool for every musician and sound engineer. Thus, the microphone selection is a fundamental component to get a great recording. In general there are two categories of microphones, dynamic and condenser microphones. This bachelor thesis focuses on condenser microphones. There exist two different types: small diaphragm, and large diaphragm condenser microphones. In that case a common apprehension is that large diaphragm condenser microphones (LDCs) perform better than small diaphragm condenser microphones (SDCs) because of the psychological effect of a larger microphone.1 But how do these microphones differ actually? Hence, the aim of this thesis is to analyse the differences in quality of LDCs and SDCs. For this purpose, first of all, both microphones and their technical specifications are explained in general. Consequently, significant characteristics as well as advantages and disadvantages of both microphone types are indicated which enable the determination of objective and subjective quality characteristics or rather parameters. In order to this, three SDCs and three LDCs are examined and compared in terms of the determined quality parameters. Thereby, subjective parameters are tested through an aural examination with reference to vocal recordings. Finally, the acquired data is used to consider the question whether and how there is a relation of subjective feeling and perceptions of individuals and objective characteristics relating to technical specifications of LDC and SDC. The results indicate that SDCs perform much better than LCDs in many disciplines. However, the psychological effect of design and the subjective criterion of sound affect the quality assessment of individuals.