Evolution of microphones within the BBC

Mike Jordan

A great YouTube video from the BBC Archive.

Just so you know what mic to use!

1972: EVOLUTION of MICROPHONES at the BBC | Nationwide | Making Of | BBC Archive

Veteran BBC radio broadcaster John Snagge – who first broadcast for the BBC in 1927 – discusses how microphones evolved throughout his career. Mr Snagge recalls the bulky ‘meat safe’ microphones originally used by the BBC – which were wheeled around on mahogany legs, Reisz microphones – that needed the occasional kick to unpack their carbon crystals, and moving coil microphones which had to be housed in a hut during outside broadcasts to minimise background noise.



 



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