Author: Gan Weimin

There have always been some birdwatchers asking about the working method of parabolic (planar) microphones for recording bird calls. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to have some exchanges with all birdwatchers.

What is a parabolic microphone?

Parabolic microphones, also known as parabolic microphone faces, are tools that can increase the volume of sound picked up in a certain direction. It can focus and amplify the sound of a sound source in a certain direction.

Parabolic microphones are a special type of microphone that can focus on the sound of distant sources in a certain direction, enhance the sound of sources in that direction, and minimize or completely block all sounds and noises from sources in other directions. The characteristics of this microphone make it very suitable for recording sounds or music, and even for scouting targets.

The working principle of parabolic microphones

The projectile surface microphone collects the sound waves transmitted in parallel and directs these sound waves back to a specific point. This type of microphone uses a parabolic reflector to capture parallel sound waves from a certain sound source, concentrating the sound waves at a single point to make the sound louder, clearer and easier to hear. The key point for this reflector (parabolic mask) to amplify and enhance weak sounds lies in how it collects sound waves and how it can focus the sound waves at a specific position.

A parabolic microphone is actually just an ordinary microphone. It uses a parabolic device to enhance the sound it picks up. The shape and geometric features of this parabolic device make it a powerful amplification device. The sound waves that enter the microphone in a straight line (i.e., the captured sound) are only a small part of the entire sound, but the parallel sound waves will collide with the parabolic surface and be reflected onto the microphone, efficiently concentrating the sound waves of the sound source onto a single point, thereby amplifying the sound.

The different uses of parabolic microphones

With its unique performance to pick up sound in a certain direction, that is, this parabolic microphone can focus the sound source in the indicated direction. This type of microphone has several specific uses. One of its most popular uses is for observing nature. Whether it's birds, lions, chimpanzees or other animals, this microphone can be used to observe and record these animals from a distance. Their mating calls and other communication methods can be recorded without invading their territory. The sounds made by birds can be recorded for scientific research, even if they are high up in the trees of the forest. With it, we can also observe and record the sounds of dangerous animals from a safe distance. This is why scientists and nature observers have found this kind of microphone very useful.

This kind of microphone can also be used to shoot films, whether they are feature films or documentaries.

Summary

Parabolic microphones are indeed a very useful tool for directional sound capture. If you want to know how it works and amplifies sound before you buy it, you can open your palm and place it behind your ear with your palm facing forward. You will find that the sound is louder than before. This is the basic working principle of this type of microphone.