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Season Four Research Files
Episode Fourteen
8:00pm - 9:00pm
A parabolic microphone is a mirror telescope for sound that uses a concave reflector to collect and focus sound waves onto a microphone receiver. A parabola is much more directional than a standard microphone because the mic needs to be pointed to the direct source of sound. When sound waves strike the surface of the parabolic dish, they partially reflect and redirect inward because of the dish's shape. A parabola may pick up sounds 150 feet away, while a standard microphone might only be able to reach 30 feet away.
Parabolic microphones are generally not used for standard recording applications, because they tend to have poor low-frequency response as a side effect of their design. High frequency sounds tend to be more concentrated onto the pickup element. These parabolas are primarily used in law enforcement and espionage.
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