The BBC-Marconi Type A[1] is a ribbon microphone that was produced by the BBC[2] and Marconi between 1934 and 1959.[3] The microphone has been described as "iconic"[4] and a symbol of the BBC.[5]
In the early 1930s, the BBC became aware of RCA's model 44 ribbon microphone that was used in Hollywood.[1][6] Each pair of microphone and amplifier would have cost the BBC £130 (approximately £6,500 in 2009[6][7]). As this was not within the BBC's budget, they designed their own microphone, the Type A, alongside Marconi. There were initial concerns that the new design infringed the patent of the RCA microphone, but these were overcome.[6] The Type A was produced at a cost of £9 each (approximately £475 in 2009).[6][7]
The original Type A microphone was designed by engineer F. W. Alexander[8] under the guidance of H. L. Kirke's Research Department at the BBC.[9]
In the early 1950s, the BBC began to design the Type A's successor. The first model was the pressure gradient PGD design.[4] In 1953, production began on the PGS (pressure gradient single) ribbon microphone in agreement with the company Standard Telephones and Cables (STC). In the mid-1970s, STC's manufacturing was transferred to Coles Electroacoustics,[10] who continue to manufacture the PGS under the model number 4038.[4][9][11]
Technical
Four versions of the microphone were produced – the "A", "AX", "AXB", and "AXBT".[2] The original microphone used a thick aluminium ribbon which produced a harsh resonance.[1] This was soon replaced with a thinner ribbon, and was named Type AX.[1] In 1943, the AXB model was launched, which featured balanced wiring.[12] In 1944, the microphone was renamed the AXBT with the addition of a Ticonal magnet to increase sensitivity by 6 decibels.[1][12] The AXBT weighed approximately 9.25 pounds (4.20 kg).[6]
BBC (2010), , BBC Collection Archive, London: BBC Online, archived from the original on 9 July 2010, retrieved 2 December 2015 (Wayback Machine cached version of page)
Beckwith, Roger (2009), , Old BBC Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories, archived from the original on 21 June 2007, retrieved 9 November 2010
Coutant, Stan (2009), STC Brochures, Drums, PA: Coutant.org, retrieved 14 November 2010
Coutant, Stan (2010), The British Broadcasting Corporation Type AX Marconi Ribbon Microphone, Drums, PA: Coutant.org, retrieved 5 October 2010
Fisher, David (2009), "1934", Chronomedia, London: Terramedia, retrieved 5 October 2010
Institution of Electrical Engineers (1961), The Proceedings of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, vol. 108, London: The Institution
Miller, Ant (2010), BBC R&D Heritage Microphones, London: BBC, retrieved 9 November 2010
Sargeant, Paul (2010), Looking Back at the BBC, London: BBC, retrieved 9 November 2010
Science and Society (2010), "BBC Marconi ribbon microphone, type AXBT, 1", Science Museum Picture Library, London: Science Museum, retrieved 5 October 2010
Shaw, Alan A (2008), BBC Monitors 1922-1960, Haywards Heath, West Sussex: Harbeth Loudspeakers, retrieved 9 November 2010
Standard Telephones and Cables (1963), 4038 Ribbon Microphone(PDF), London: STC, retrieved 14 November 2010
March 29, 2023
marconi, type, microphone, marconi, type, ribbon, microphone, that, produced, marconi, between, 1934, 1959, microphone, been, described, iconic, symbol, marconi, type, atype, 1945usesbroadcasting, sound, recordinginventorf, alexandermanufacturerbbc, marconimod. The BBC Marconi Type A 1 is a ribbon microphone that was produced by the BBC 2 and Marconi between 1934 and 1959 3 The microphone has been described as iconic 4 and a symbol of the BBC 5 BBC Marconi Type AType A c 1945UsesBroadcasting Sound recordingInventorF W AlexanderManufacturerBBC MarconiModelA AX AXB AXBTL Appel du 22 juin 1940 source source General Charles De Gaulle s 18 and 22 June appeals used Type A microphones to broadcast to French forces during World War II Problems playing this file See media help Contents 1 History 2 Technical 3 Footnotes 4 SourcesHistory EditIn the early 1930s the BBC became aware of RCA s model 44 ribbon microphone that was used in Hollywood 1 6 Each pair of microphone and amplifier would have cost the BBC 130 approximately 6 500 in 2009 6 7 As this was not within the BBC s budget they designed their own microphone the Type A alongside Marconi There were initial concerns that the new design infringed the patent of the RCA microphone but these were overcome 6 The Type A was produced at a cost of 9 each approximately 475 in 2009 6 7 The original Type A microphone was designed by engineer F W Alexander 8 under the guidance of H L Kirke s Research Department at the BBC 9 In 1940 the Type A was used in the broadcast of Charles de Gaulle s 1940 appeals 4 In the early 1950s the BBC began to design the Type A s successor The first model was the pressure gradient PGD design 4 In 1953 production began on the PGS pressure gradient single ribbon microphone in agreement with the company Standard Telephones and Cables STC In the mid 1970s STC s manufacturing was transferred to Coles Electroacoustics 10 who continue to manufacture the PGS under the model number 4038 4 9 11 Technical EditFour versions of the microphone were produced the A AX AXB and AXBT 2 The original microphone used a thick aluminium ribbon which produced a harsh resonance 1 This was soon replaced with a thinner ribbon and was named Type AX 1 In 1943 the AXB model was launched which featured balanced wiring 12 In 1944 the microphone was renamed the AXBT with the addition of a Ticonal magnet to increase sensitivity by 6 decibels 1 12 The AXBT weighed approximately 9 25 pounds 4 20 kg 6 The microphone had a figure of eight polar pattern 2 The aluminium ribbon was less than one micrometre thick 3 Footnotes Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to BBC Marconi Type A microphone a b c d e Coutant 2010 a b c BBC 2010 a b Science and Society 2010 a b c d Miller 2010 Sargeant 2010 a b c d e Beckwith 2009 a b Based on a retail price index calculation 1 Fisher 2009 a b Shaw 2008 Coutant 2009 Standard Telephones and Cables 1963 p 2 a b Institution of Electrical Engineers 1961 p 285 Sources EditBBC 2010 BBC Microphone BBC Collection Archive London BBC Online archived from the original on 9 July 2010 retrieved 2 December 2015 Wayback Machine cached version of page Beckwith Roger 2009 BBC Type A 1934 onwards Old BBC Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories archived from the original on 21 June 2007 retrieved 9 November 2010 Coutant Stan 2009 STC Brochures Drums PA Coutant org retrieved 14 November 2010 Coutant Stan 2010 The British Broadcasting Corporation Type AX Marconi Ribbon Microphone Drums PA Coutant org retrieved 5 October 2010 Fisher David 2009 1934 Chronomedia London Terramedia retrieved 5 October 2010 Institution of Electrical Engineers 1961 The Proceedings of the Institution of Electrical Engineers vol 108 London The Institution Miller Ant 2010 BBC R amp D Heritage Microphones London BBC retrieved 9 November 2010 Sargeant Paul 2010 Looking Back at the BBC London BBC retrieved 9 November 2010 Science and Society 2010 BBC Marconi ribbon microphone type AXBT 1 Science Museum Picture Library London Science Museum retrieved 5 October 2010 Shaw Alan A 2008 BBC Monitors 1922 1960 Haywards Heath West Sussex Harbeth Loudspeakers retrieved 9 November 2010 Standard Telephones and Cables 1963 4038 Ribbon Microphone PDF London STC retrieved 14 November 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title BBC Marconi Type A microphone amp oldid 1140677677, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
