Laser Microphone

[dolivas]

This is from the New Scientist which is all thinks geek squared. Someone got a patent stating he invented a laser microphone.

http://www.newscientisttech.com/arti...ine-news_rss20

Laser microphone

In a standard microphone, sound waves move a diaphragm and these movements are translated into electricity. But the diaphragm's mass and resilience can easily reduce its sensitivity and add distortion to any finished recording.

David Schwartz, an inventor based in California, US, thinks a much more sensitive microphone could be built using a diaphragm made from a continuous microscopic flow of water particles and a laser that senses the way this flow responds to sound waves.

Schwartz's device will stream damp air through a tube and fire light from a laser diode on one side of the tube at a sensor positioned on the opposite side.

When sound waves enter the tube through a gap they will vibrate the droplets and the laser sensor should detect the effect optically. The watery ribbon will be very sensitive to faint sounds and introduce no distortion, Schwartz claims.

Although such a microphone would no doubt cost a lot to make, some audiophiles are already happy to spend tens of thousands of dollars on turntables that use a laser to play vinyl records. So perhaps a laser-driven microphone could prove a hit too.

How practicle or realistic is something like that for use? Just cool to see someone inventing a new type of way to pick up sound.

[GearJunkie]

Originally Posted by dolivas

This is from the New Scientist which is all thinks geek squared. Someone got a patent stating he invented a laser microphone.
http://www.newscientisttech.com/arti...ine-news_rss20
How practicle or realistic is something like that for use? Just cool to see someone inventing a new type of way to pick up sound.

dude, who CARES?! it has LASERS!

[Nubus]

Somebody put a clip up on youtube check it out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vZFl06P08A

[smopo24]

i never even knew they had turntables that read vinyl with lazers! this microphone sounds awesome on paper; i wonder how long before behringer clones it.

[Whoopysnorp]

I'm guessing a mic like that would be very detailed but wouldn't have a lot of character. It would probably be awesome for measurement purposes. It might make for a funny sounding rock album though.

[McLean]

My friend had a little gadget that was a laser/mic listening device. You pointed it at a window and it picked up the vibrations in the room. It was marketed as a "spy" device in one of those weird catalogs of strange and unusual products. He said it sort-of worked. I would like to get it and point it at a speaker to pick up those vibrations. Or point it at anything in the room while a band is playing. Everything is vibrating then. I am very curious about that now. When he told me I did not do much recording. Now, I can think of hundreds of applications for that. Look up Laser Listener for more info. I just found schematics and other info, got to love the internet.

[steveoidm]

This is the real thing, very tempted just to go for the demo!

http://www.spyshop.ltd.uk/index.php?...products_id=27

[abarnett]

Originally Posted by Whoopysnorp

I'm guessing a mic like that would be very detailed but wouldn't have a lot of character. It would probably be awesome for measurement purposes. It might make for a funny sounding rock album though.

Yeah i think what a mic doesn't pick up is a lot of its character, that's pretty important to me to. not very good for live tracking i bet

although, the no distortion thing is nice. Maybe we'll get even more realistic explosion effects in movies now. BTW did you know they record explosions by pointing the mic away from the explosion?

[tom_quinn]

that link at http://www.spyshop.ltd.uk/ looks well interesting. Think I'll buy 2! lol!