Audio engineer David Schwartz and his son Daniel have created a new type of microphone (still in the prototype stage) that replaces the traditional mechanical diaphragm used in mics with a stream of smoke and lasers. A photo-detector picks up changes in the density of the light due to the sound pressure waves acting on the smoke stream, thus creating a signal that can be recorded. Why should musicians, sound designers, and recording engineers like you care? Other than just for the technological interests, a commercialized version of a microphone based on such technology should allow for greater dynamic range and greater sensitivity than traditional microphones that use a mechanical diaphragms. In the following IEEE Spectrum Online video, David & Daniel Schwartz demonstrate their proof-of-concept prototype & talk about the technology. Towards the end of the video, David Schwartz briefly explains why the new technology should allow for greater dynamic range and greater sensitivity once perfected:
To find out more about the particulate flow detection microphone, please visit the Schwartz Engineering & Design website.
