Crown PCC-130, PCC-160, PCC-170, PCC Series Brochure

Te c h M a d e S i m p l e

Tech Made Simple

The Crown® PHASE COHERENT CARDIOID® (PCC®) Microphone

THE PROBLEM

Microphones often must be placed near hard refl ective surfaces. Two situations
where this occurs are (1) picking up drama or opera with microphones near the
stage fl oor, and (2) picking up participants at a conference with microphones on
desk stands on the conference table.

In these situations, sound travels from the sound source to the microphone
via two paths: directly from the source to the microphone, and refl ected off
the surface (Figure 1, left). Note that the refl ected sound travels a longer
distance than the direct sound, so the refl ected sound is delayed relative to the
direct sound. When the direct and delayed sounds combine at the microphone
diaphragm, this results in phase cancellations of various frequencies. A series
of peaks and dips is created in the net frequency response. This is called a
comb-fi lter effect. It colors the tone quality and gives an unnatural sound.

In trying to solve this problem, you might lay a conventional microphone on the
surface. But the diaphragm of such a mic is relatively large. Sound refl ections
travel a slightly longer path to the center of the diaphragm than the direct
sound. Direct and delayed sound combine at the diaphragm and cancel high

frequencies. The result is a dull sound.

THE PCC SOLUTION

A new kind of microphone was invented to solve the problem of phase interfer­ence from surface refl ections: the Phase Coherent Cardioid or PCC.

In the Crown PCC, the microphone diaphragm is small enough so that any
phase cancellations are above the audible range (Fig. 1, right). This results in a
wide, smooth frequency response free of phase interference.

Unlike the Crown PZM

®

which uses an omnidirectional mic capsule facing
down, the PCC uses a supercardioid mic capsule facing horizontally across
the surface. Its directional polar pattern improves gain-before-feedback, reduces

unwanted room noise and acoustics, and rejects sound from the rear.

Fig. 2 shows the difference in construction and polar patterns of the PZM and
PCC.

Typical applications for PCCs are:

• Area pickup of drama and musicals (PCC-160 used on the stage fl oor)

• Conferences, videoconferences, boardroom (PCC-170 series, PCC-130
series, or MB series on the conference table)

PCC BENEFITS

• Eliminates phase cancellations, giving a clear, natural sound.

• Supercardioid polar pattern reduces feedback and room acoustics.

• 6 dB higher sensitivity and 6 dB better signal-to-noise ratio (improved
“reach”).

• Unchanging tone quality as the sound source moves.

• Lack of off-axis coloration.

• Small size, inconspicuous.

TO LEARN MORE

Go to www.crownaudio.com and click on Microphones. Then click on Document
Library. Look under Microphone Application Guides to fi nd the

Crown Boundary Microphone Application Guide.

PZM POLAR PATTERN (SIDE VIEW)

MIC CAPSULE

SOUND
SOURCE

DIRECT SOUND

MIC

SURFACE

RESULTING FREQUENCY RESPONSE

dB

FREQUENCY

Figure 1. Conventional microphone (left) vs. PCC (right)

REFLECTED

SOUND

SOUND
SOURCE

REFLECTED
SOUND

RESULTING FREQUENCY RESPONSE

dB

DIRECT SOUND

FREQUENCY

PCC MIC
CAPSULE

PCC POLAR PATTERN (SIDE VIEW)

MIC CAPSULE

FRONT

Figure 2. PZM polar pattern (top) vs. PCC polar pattern (bottom)

©2005 by Crown Audio, Inc.

1718 W. Mishawaka Rd., Elkhart, Indiana 46517-9439 USA

Tel: [phone]

136366-2 2/05

Crown, PCC, Phase Coherent Cardioid and PZM

are registered trademarks of Crown International