Reduction of nonlinear distortion in condenser microphones using a simple post-processing technique

In this paper, an approach for effectively reducing nonlinear distortion in single-backplate condenser microphones is introduced, i.e., most microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphones, studio recording condenser microphones, and laboratory measurement microphones. This simple post-processing technique can be easily integrated on external hardware such as an analog circuit, microcontroller, audio codec, digital signal processing unit, or within the Application Specific Integrated Circuit chip in a case of MEMS microphones. It effectively reduces microphone distortion across its frequency and dynamic range, and relies on a single parameter, which can be derived from either the microphone's physical parameters or a straightforward measurement presented in this paper. An optimal estimate of this parameter achieves the best distortion reduction, whereas overestimating it never increases distortion beyond the original level. The technique was tested on a MEMS microphone. The findings indicate that for harmonic excitation, the proposed technique reduces the second harmonic by approximately 40 dB, leading to an effective reduction in the total harmonic distortion. The efficiency of the distortion reduction technique for more complex signals is demonstrated through two-tone and multitone experiments, where second-order intermodulation products are reduced by at least 20 dB.