Microphonics describes the phenomenon where certain components in electronic devices transform mechanical vibrations into an undesired electrical signal (noise). Electronics refers to the flow of charge (moving Electrons through Nonmetal conductors (mainly Semiconductors, whereas electrical Vibration refers to mechanical Oscillations about an equilibrium point. In Science, and especially in Physics and Telecommunication, noise is fluctuations in and the addition of external factors to the stream of target The term is derived by analogy to older microphones where that behavior is inherent in the design, while with modern electronics it is sometimes an intentionally added effect.

When electronic equipment was built using vacuum tubes, microphonics used to be a very serious design problem. This article is about the electronic device not an evacuated pipe used for experiments in Free-fall. The charged elements in the vacuum tubes would vibrate and the motion would change the distance between the elements, producing charge flows in and out of the tube in a manner identical to a capacitor microphone. A system sufficiently susceptible to microphonics could experience feedback. Audio Feedback (also known as the Larsen effect after the Danish scientist Søren Larsen who first discovered its principles is a special kind of Feedback

With the advent of solid state electronics (transistors), this major source of microphonics was eliminated but smaller sources still remain. Solid-state Electronic components devices and systems are based entirely on the Semiconductor, such as Transistors Microprocessor chips and In Electronics, a transistor is a Semiconductor device commonly used to amplify or switch electronic signals The ceramic dielectrics used in high-K capacitors ("Z5U" and "X7R") are piezoelectric and will directly transform mechanical vibration into a voltage in exactly the same fashion as a ceramic microphone. The word ceramic is derived from the Greek word κεραμικός ( keramikos) A dielectric is a nonconducting substance ie an insulator. The term was coined by William Whewell in response to a request from Michael Faraday. The term high-κ Dielectric refers to a material with a high Dielectric constant (κ (as compared to Silicon dioxide) used in semiconductor manufacturing A capacitor is a passive electrical component that can store Energy in the Electric field between a pair of conductors The EIA Class 2 dielectric materials are Ceramic Dielectric materials used in ceramic capacitors. The EIA Class 2 dielectric materials are Ceramic Dielectric materials used in ceramic capacitors. Piezoelectricity is the ability of some materials (notably Crystals and certain Ceramics including bone to generate an Electric potential in response to Wiring and cables can also exhibit microphonics as charged conductors move around and various materials can develop triboelectric ("static") charges that couple to the electronic circuits. Triboelectric Series Materials are often listed in order of the polarity of charge separation when they are touched with another object

The sound of guitar amplifiers that incorporate the electronic chassis into the same cabinet as the speaker are susceptible to microphonics. A guitar amplifier is an Electronic amplifier designed for use with an electric or electronic Musical instrument, such as an Electric guitar. A chassis (plural "chassis" (ˈʃæːsiː ˈtʃæːsiː consists of a framework that supports an inanimate object analogous to an Animal 's Though a guitar amplifier's microphonics distortion is sometimes appreciated as part of the "special sound" of a guitar amplifier, a faulty vacuum tube or other component can cause out of control feedback. This article is about the electronic device not an evacuated pipe used for experiments in Free-fall. Unwanted microphonics-related audible distortions can often be alleviated by using commercially available vacuum tube dampers.

Other uses

• The term is sometimes incorrectly used to describe the sounds physically produced by mechanical vibrations or knocks on the wires of a headphone or in-ear monitor, where no current induction occurs. Vibration refers to mechanical Oscillations about an equilibrium point. Headphones (also known as earphones, earbuds, stereophones, headsets) are a pair of small Loudspeakers or less commonly a single In ear monitors are devices used by performers to hear a mix of Microphones and/or instruments that are on the stage
• United Kingdom hi-fi company Microphonic Audio uses the term "microphonic" to describe a cable that allows the listener to hear everything that a microphone can hear. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

Audio vacuum tube with microphonics damper