Microphones and speakers are similar to fraternal twins. Although they are somewhat similar, the average observer might not fully recognise them. Because of their resemblance, we can use speakers as a microphone and vice versa. Consequently, can a speaker be used as a microphone ? Let’s investigate. Many people still have a collection of damaged headphones from the era of MP3 players. One is left to wonder what would occur if one was inserted into the microphone jack. If so, how can a speaker be used as a microphone?
The following are the process which describes how can a speaker be used as a microphone:-
- You can reach the speaker body (so take out the speaker)
- Make a decision regarding the use of both speakers.
- Cut the midrange driver’s wires.
- Re-soldering
- Check the microphone.
It’s a simple and affordable process on how a speaker can be used as a microphone. It’s simpler than you think, so resist the urge to give up. Give yourself time to absorb the information; everything will come together in a few minutes. Continue reading if you want to learn how a speaker can be used as a microphone .
Can a speaker be used as a microphone?
Yes, you can use speakers as microphones. It may seem like a foreign concept if you’re new to it, but it’s a possible endeavor. It involves a couple of simple steps..
We can connect the speaker to the microphone port if both the speaker and the microphone have 3.5 mm (0.35 cm) jacks. It won’t require any adjustments to function. But for active speakers to function, a few adjustments might be necessary. When I first learned that a speaker could double as a microphone, I was surprised. While the other records it, the former plays it back. It’s similar to claiming that the vocal tract and ear are one and the same. Nevertheless, they aren’t.
- How are speakers and microphone similar? How can a speaker be used as a microphone?
-How is this approach even possible, first things first? As said before, speakers and microphones are metaphorically similar to fraternal twins. They share a lot of similarities. Transducers are a group of devices that includes both speakers and microphones. How do transducers work? Transducers are parts that convert one type of energy into another. In this instance, sound is created by speakers, whereas electricity is created by microphones. These two components simply differ in terms of their general layout. They were created by the manufacturers in two separate configurations that enable them to carry out their tasks without any difficulties. So we are inverting it while converting speakers to microphone. We are turning it upside down, which is one of the reasons the entire procedure is straightforward so can a speaker be used as a microphone.
How can a speaker be used as a microphone – step-by-step:-
After getting that out of the way, it’s time to start working and get messy and learn how a speaker can be used as a microphone. Get the following tools first:
- one set of pliers
- A preferred speaker
- An iron for soldering
- A set of safety glasses
- One set of gloves
- Powered saw
- An XLR plug, male
Below are the steps which describes how can a speaker be used as a microphone:-
1.Get to the speaker body first
Someone wishes to gain access to the speaker’s inner workings. Most speakers have a hard body that you might need to open up when you first get them. It would need to be opened with a power saw. A power saw is a type of power tool, so take heed. We do need to wear safety gear when using power tools, according to the OHSA. That is why a set of safety glasses and a set of gloves are on the list. Make sure you are wearing the correct equipment before using the power saw, then start cutting.
- Take the Loudspeaker Out of the Speaker Assembly.
First step is that the driver needs to be removed from the speaker assembly. We only require the actual speakers. Speaker removal from the speaker assembly Even if we can use different drivers from the same speaker as one microphone, the results won’t be great. It will make a lot of noise and partially muffle the sound. If we are using active speakers for this, we will see that the speaker enclosure contains a preamp component. Detach the speaker from it first. Unscrew the screws holding the speaker in place, then cut the wires off to make removing it as simple as possible.
- Cut the midrange driver’s wire.
A low-frequency driver plus a mid-range driver make up a generic speaker. It might be advisable to cut the cable leading to the mid-range driver as we will be using the low-frequency driver or speaker. Since it is no longer necessary, we do not require any noise preceding it. Advice: Take care not to break the cable entering the low-frequency speaker. If you still had the cable, that would be useful. So proceed with caution and prepare your lines.
- Soldering
Once finished, we can solder the wires into the male XLR plug. The plug has three pins with the appropriate labels.
Pin 1 – travels from the first pin to the speaker’s body.
Pins 2 and 3 touch the speaker directly. Pin 2 will be the successful pin, whereas Pin 3 will fail. An electric rule of thumb states that red is positive and black is negative.
Mission accomplished after soldering the wires to the plug.
- Check the microphone.
Some may find it hard to believe, but we currently own a functional microphone. Enjoy the magnificence of your design while testing the microphone.
- Can we make the microphone into a speaker back?
-We will need to replace those wires because we actually cut a few of them. However, it should be able to convert the microphone into a speaker. Even so, it will be somewhat challenging. However, it will be far simpler to convert a microphone into a speaker if you have one. We may utilize the audio output jack that microphones have as part of the conversion process.
Final Reflections:-
It’s surprisingly simple how a speaker can be used as a microphone . It’s essentially plug-and-play if the speaker uses the same connector as your microphone port. A microphone connector can be soldered to the speaker if you want it to function otherwise. Speakers and microphones can be used interchangeably because they are essentially the same thing. At least conceptually.
