sr1200
Well-known member
I've been going down the rabbit hole lately with all the research I've been doing into various microphone designs and companies, parts, etc. etc.
One thing i keep seeing come up is something I can't quite get my head around, and its making me think its not a real thing, similar to how old timers used to use the term "mic reach", which is certainly NOT a real thing. I'll tie it into all the buzz words that the marketing department throws into their ads and brochures. And something I see on this forum all the time...
How a mic has a "FAST TRANSIENT".
I see it written, i hear it said, but never explained.
The words make me think "response time" as it employs the use of the word FAST (time). But that can't be it, since the speed of a transient is tied directly to the frequency itself. A transient can only be as "fast" as the frequency that is being picked up.
Then i started thinking, "maybe they're talking about amplitude and how loud the transient is..." but that can't be it either since the amplitude is a result of the frequency response of the mic in relation to the spl level hitting the diaphragm. But that is frequency dependent and can't be attributed to the mic or capsule overall.
The only thing that I've noticed in testing this stuff, is that some mics (and preamps for that matter) seem to have an issue AFTER the transient, or what I would consider a recovery time. Some seem to "ring" a bit more. I would maybe associate that with either the rigidity of the diaphragm or possibly things at the component level (transformer, transistor, tube etc.). Is this what is referenced? The total time from the transient back to full rest?
Perhaps someone here can point me to some hard data or tests that can be performed to be able to show/prove what a "fast transient" actually is.
Or is it just a BS term that people throw around like "mic reach" that mean nothing to sound more knowledgeable about the topic?
Please enlighten a dummy!
One thing i keep seeing come up is something I can't quite get my head around, and its making me think its not a real thing, similar to how old timers used to use the term "mic reach", which is certainly NOT a real thing. I'll tie it into all the buzz words that the marketing department throws into their ads and brochures. And something I see on this forum all the time...
How a mic has a "FAST TRANSIENT".
I see it written, i hear it said, but never explained.
The words make me think "response time" as it employs the use of the word FAST (time). But that can't be it, since the speed of a transient is tied directly to the frequency itself. A transient can only be as "fast" as the frequency that is being picked up.
Then i started thinking, "maybe they're talking about amplitude and how loud the transient is..." but that can't be it either since the amplitude is a result of the frequency response of the mic in relation to the spl level hitting the diaphragm. But that is frequency dependent and can't be attributed to the mic or capsule overall.
The only thing that I've noticed in testing this stuff, is that some mics (and preamps for that matter) seem to have an issue AFTER the transient, or what I would consider a recovery time. Some seem to "ring" a bit more. I would maybe associate that with either the rigidity of the diaphragm or possibly things at the component level (transformer, transistor, tube etc.). Is this what is referenced? The total time from the transient back to full rest?
Perhaps someone here can point me to some hard data or tests that can be performed to be able to show/prove what a "fast transient" actually is.
Or is it just a BS term that people throw around like "mic reach" that mean nothing to sound more knowledgeable about the topic?
Please enlighten a dummy!
