What does throat microphone do?

A throat microphone, also called a laryngophone or throat mic, is a type of contact microphone that picks up vibrations directly from the wearer’s throat. The device contains a sensor that absorbs vibrations from the throat and converts them into electrical signals, which are then amplified and transmitted as speech [1].

Unlike traditional microphones that detect sound waves in the air, throat mics make direct contact with the skin to detect speech vibrations. This allows them to pick up the fundamental frequencies of speech very clearly. Throat mics have key advantages in noisy environments where regular microphones may struggle to isolate the wearer’s voice [2].

Some common uses for throat mics include military communications, law enforcement, aviation, motorsports, and other noisy situations where headsets are impractical. They are also sometimes used by singers, actors, and public speakers who want their voice amplified without a microphone in their face. Throat mics can even pick up subvocalizations and whispers [3].

[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throat%20microphone
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throat_microphone
[3] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/throat-microphone

How a Throat Microphone Works

A throat microphone, also known as a laryngophone or throat mic, works by converting vibrations in the throat into electrical signals. It uses a contact microphone that is placed against the throat to pick up speech.

The contact microphone contains a diaphragm that senses vibrations in the skin of the neck. These vibrations are created by the movements of the vocal cords and throat when speaking. As the skin vibrates, it causes the diaphragm in the mic to vibrate and convert the mechanical energy into electrical signals.

The electrical signals are then amplified and transmitted via wires or wireless technology to a receiver. This allows the throat mic to pick up speech clearly, even in extremely noisy environments where regular microphones would struggle.

Because it senses vibrations directly from the throat, a throat mic does not pick up any external noise. This makes it ideal for military, law enforcement, aviation, and other uses where ambient sound needs to be avoided (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throat_microphone).

Advantages Over Traditional Microphones

Throat microphones have some key advantages over traditional microphones:

They work very well in noisy environments. The throat mic sits right against the throat, picking up vibrations directly from the vocal cords and skin. This allows the mic to isolate the wearer’s voice from background noise effectively (https://www.sensear.com/blog/throat-microphones-then-and-now).

Throat mics allow for hands-free operation. Since it sits against the neck, there is no need to hold a microphone or headset. This is useful in situations where the user needs their hands free for other tasks (https://medium.com/@iasus-concepts/exploring-the-advantages-and-applications-of-throat-microphones-1458c6f3218).

The microphone is concealed and not obvious. Unlike headsets and boom mics, a throat mic is hidden from view when worn with a shirt or coat. This makes it useful for covert operations where discretion is needed.

Uses in Military and Law Enforcement

Throat microphones allow for clear communication in high-noise environments which makes them ideal for military and law enforcement applications. The vibration pickup of a throat mic eliminates the issue of background noise interference common with traditional microphones.

For example, throat mics allow soldiers to communicate clearly during combat situations where gunfire, explosions, and vehicle noise would drown out regular microphones. They can wear protective gear like gas masks without losing ability to talk over radios.

Law enforcement also uses throat mics for SWAT teams breaching buildings or engagements where regular microphones could get disrupted. Firefighters utilize them to talk on radios when operating loud equipment like chainsaws or aerial ladder trucks.

According to SafariLand, their Tactical Throat Microphone System Gen 3 is “built for operators conducting tactical missions or frequently deploying gas masks and respirators.” Key benefits are “uninterrupted communications” and “crystal-clear audio.”

Use for Extreme Sports

Throat microphones are commonly used for hands-free communication in extreme sports where headsets would be impractical or dangerous. Sports like skydiving, hang gliding, mountain climbing, and skiing require both hands free for safety. A throat mic allows the athlete to communicate clearly without compromising the use of their hands.

For example, skydivers often wear throat mics inside their helmets so they can talk to fellow divers and ground crew during freefall without having to hold anything. The mic picks up vibrations directly from the throat for clear speech transmission even in 120+ mph winds. This allows divers to coordinate maneuvers or report issues while still maintaining control of their parachute and body position.

According to Walkie Talkie Earpiece Throat Mic, K Plug U94, throat mics are ideal for high noise and fast moving environments like extreme sports where headsets would easily fall off or get in the way.

Throat Mic for Singing & Stage Performance

Throat microphones are valued by some singers and stage performers for their ability to pick up subtle vocal tones and nuances while minimizing ambient noise from monitors and amplified instruments. The direct contact with the throat allows the mic to capture delicate vibrations, breathiness, and emotional qualities that may get lost with a traditional mic.

According to users on Reddit here, throat mics can enable more expressive vocals that get across the raw emotion in a performance. They recommend effects like distortion to shape the unique throat mic sound for rock singing. The industrial musician Author & Punisher uses an array of throat mics for his intense vocal style.

For live performances, some singers use a throat mic combined with another mic or a headset to have both a clear directed vocal pickup and amplification of stage sound. With the right sound engineering, the throat mic can enable powerful vocal projection while retaining intimacy.

Models and Main Manufacturers

Some of the leading companies and brands manufacturing throat microphones include:

  • Motorola – Popular for their heavy duty and rugged designs used by military and law enforcement.
  • Z-Tactical – Known for their comfortable adjustable neck band and noise cancelling boom mic models like the Z-TAC VTac Alpha.
  • ACR – Manufactures waterproof throat mics designed for marine and watersports use.

Popular consumer models include:

  • Z-Tactical Z-TAC VTac Alpha – Rugged mic with adjustable neckband and noise cancelling boom mic.
  • Nexus U-94 PTT – Affordable and compact throat mic for outdoor recreation use.
  • Retevis RHD-2 – Durable waterproof throat mic perfect for hunting and fishing.

When choosing a throat mic, key factors are comfort, durability, noise cancellation, and compatibility with your existing communication devices.

How to Set Up and Use a Throat Microphone

Properly setting up and adjusting a throat microphone is important for getting the best audio quality and performance. Here are some tips on placement, adjustment, and connecting to devices:

Placement – The throat mic should be positioned directly on the larynx or voice box area of the throat. Having it too high or too low on the neck will reduce sound pickup. The mic should fit snugly but not too tight. Make sure there is good skin contact for vibration transmission.

Adjustment – Throat mics typically have a spring-loaded clip that lets you adjust the pressure on the throat. Start with light pressure and increase until the sound is optimal without being uncomfortable. Twist the mic slightly to improve contact. Test the audio output and adjust as needed.[1]

Connecting – Most throat mics use a wired connection with a 3.5mm jack. This can plug directly into a two-way radio, phone headset port, or audio recorder. Some models have a built-in push-to-talk button. Wireless Bluetooth throat mics will pair with phones or radios. Set the audio input and level appropriately on the receiving device.

Throat Mic Compared to Headsets

Throat mics offer some key advantages and disadvantages compared to traditional headsets:

Noise Cancellation – Throat mics pick up vibrations directly from the throat so they are less sensitive to ambient noise. This makes them useful in very noisy environments like combat zones or during motorsports where headsets would pick up too much background noise. However, throat mics also pick up other body noises like breathing and swallowing which can be distracting [1].

Mobility – Throat mics allow for completely hands-free communication without a boom mic in front of the face. This allows for greater mobility and less encumbrance during strenuous activity. However, the tradeoff is sound quality is not as clear as a close-talking boom mic [2].

Concealment – Throat mics are very discreet when worn under clothing around the neck. This makes them ideal for covert operations where a visible headset would draw unwanted attention. The tradeoff is wearing comfort and ease of use is not as good as a traditional headset.

In summary, throat mics excel in noisy environments, for mobility, and for concealment. But headsets tend to provide clearer voice quality and wearing comfort. The choice depends on the priorities and needs of the application.

Future Applications

Throat microphones have potential applications in emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), voice control, and virtual reality (VR). As more devices become voice-activated, throat mics could provide a hands-free way to control smart home systems, voice assistants, and other IoT technologies. The ability to detect subvocalized speech makes throat mics ideal for discreet, silent commands in public settings.

Throat mics are also being explored for use in augmented and virtual reality headsets. They can pick up the wearer’s voice more accurately than traditional mics, even in noisy environments. This helps enable more seamless voice control and communication in VR/AR. Throat mics reduce background noise interference, allowing for clearer voice input and output.

Researchers are also investigating medical applications, like enabling people with disabilities to control wheelchairs or communicate viathroat-generated speech. As the technology improves, there are many possibilities for throat mics to enhance voice user interfaces and speech recognition systems. Their unique form factor and subvocalization detection give throat microphones advantages over traditional mics in certain specialized use cases requiring hands-free, silent, or discreet voice input.

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