That is not necessary true.

There are at least 4 different types of microphones. Condenser which does in fact form part of a capacitor, dynamic which is effectively a linear generator (coil attached to membrane), ribbon which is a change in resistance as a small ribbon flexes and piezoelectric which is some black magic witg crystals

▲

KeplerBoy 10 months ago | parent | next [-]

Sure, that's why I wrote most microphones.

There are also some exotic principles like laser or radar microphones using interferometry.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_microphone

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7808865

▲

jpc0 10 months ago | parent [-]

I think popular is very situational though.

For me I see a lot more dynamic than condensers but I guess if you are talking about what is in like every single IOT thingamabob then you might be right there.

	▲	entropicdrifter 9 months ago \| parent [-]
		No, you're right. Most microphones and speakers ever made are dynamic. The speakers do function as microphones, by the way. The difference is simply whether you amplify the electricity generated by the vibrations moving the membrane (microphone) or if you send a pre-amplified signal to the copper coil around the magnet (speaker). They work on the same principle, so any dynamic driver can work as a microphone and any dynamic microphone could work as a driver, all just depending on the rest of the electronics they're hooked up to.

▲

sanderjd 10 months ago | parent | prev [-]

Fascinating. Is there a book about the history of microphones?

I find this to all be in the realm of "I don't believe you that any of this works at all" if I didn't have a lifetime of experience with the fruits of successfully-functioning microphones.