📖 Audio Glossary

Calibration Microphone

A measurement microphone with extremely flat frequency response — used to capture accurate room acoustic data for correction.

Unlike recording microphones (which may have colored response for character), calibration mics are designed for measurement accuracy. They have an omnidirectional polar pattern (captures sound equally from all directions) and come with individual calibration files that correct for any remaining frequency deviations.

Popular models: miniDSP UMIK-1 ($79), Dayton Audio EMM-6 ($50), Earthworks M23 ($500+). Used with Room EQ Wizard (free software) or Dirac Live to measure and correct room acoustics. Essential for any serious room correction setup.

Related Terms

Room CorrectionUsing digital analysis and filtering to compensate for acoustic problems caused by room resonances and speaker placement.Impulse Response (IR)A measurement capturing how a room or device responds to an extremely short, sharp sound — contains frequency, phase, and decay information.DSP (Digital Signal Processor)A specialized microprocessor performing mathematical operations on digital signals — used for EQ, compression, reverb, and room correction.
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