Mounting and positioning play a crucial role in how contact microphones capture sound. From guitars and drums to field recordings of metal, glass, or even water, placement determines the tone, resonance, and clarity of your recordings. Learning how to manage resonance, reduce handling noise, and experiment with different surfaces helps you unlock the full creative potential of contact mics.
Contact microphones unlock hidden vibrations that traditional mics miss. Learn how to use them in sound design, from placement tips to processing techniques, for unique and creative audio textures.
Contact mics and traditional microphones work differently, with contact mics capturing surface vibrations and traditional mics recording airborne sound. Learn the key differences and when to use each.
A diy contact microphone lets you capture vibrations directly from surfaces, instruments, and objects for unique sound recordings. With just a piezo disk, wires, hot glue, and a soldering iron, you can build your own contact mic and connect it to an audio interface, amplifier, or mixer. Adding insulation like heat shrink tubing and using shielded cable ensures durability and the best sound quality.
Contact microphones capture vibrations directly from solid objects, making them ideal for recording hidden or subtle sounds in field work. From resonating surfaces and industrial machinery to natural soundscapes and musical textures, they allow recordists to isolate unique audio without environmental noise interference.
Contact microphones are unique devices that capture sound through vibrations in solid objects rather than through the air. This introduction explains how they work, what they’re used for, and why they’re essential tools in music, sound design, science, and more.