Microphones and Amplification

The invention of microphones and amplifiers have changed the world of music forever.  Before electricity was discovered, the only way to experience music was by live performance, whether it was a classical orchestra, or a choir performing in church, or music shared with one another.  There would be no such thing as a concert in a large space without the usage of microphones and amplification systems.

Many concerts in our day and age use microphones to amplify sound.  In a large space, they are particularly useful to hear musicians sing, or to give an extra boost for acoustic instruments, such as a flute, saxophone, clarinet, and many more.  Microphones take the sound being inputted, and that sound is then outputted through an amplifier for everyone to be able to hear.  Microphones could also have the ability to manipulate the sound being put through it to create different effects, depending on the type of microphone it is.

Amplifiers have more functions than the microphone alone.  On my Fender amplifier I use to perform with my electric guitar, I have effects that manipulate the sound being outputted through the minuscule microphones on my instrument, located on the pickups underneath the strings.  I can change the amount of reverb, power of treble lines, power of the bass, volume, amount of pickups being used, and more.  With certain effect pedals, I can also change the quality and type of sound that is outputted through the amplifier, but those are external from the amplifier itself.  The more effect pedals that are used to amplify and manipulate the sound, the more confusing things can get when it comes to hooking up the wiring for a concert.

It's one thing to have the sound slightly amplified in smaller venues, but it's another thing to have a concert at large venues, such at PNC Bank Arts Center and Madison Square Garden, without having amplification.  Concerts in venues such as those would not be possible without the usage of microphones and amplifiers to increase the amount of sound being outputted for everyone to be able to hear.