boom microphone

sound instrument

Also known as: boom mike

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

A boom microphone, often attached to a boom pole, is a specialized tool used in film and audio production to capture clear sound. It's designed to be positioned just out of camera range, typically above and in front of actors, allowing it to pivot towards whoever is speaking. This placement helps minimize unwanted background noise by focusing on the desired sound source.1

The development of microphones and their placement, including the use of boom poles, was crucial for improving sound recording techniques in motion pictures. This allowed for greater fidelity and better separation of sound from the picture, especially during the transition to sound films.12

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Dorothy Arzner
Early life and work
…which she created the “boom mike,” a long pole with a microphone attached that followed the actors around but remained out of camera range, thus giving the actors a mobility that had been prohibited by the stationary microphones previously used. The film, which starred Bow, was also innovative in…
Read More
…which she created the “boom mike,” a long pole with a microphone attached that followed the actors around but remained out of camera range, thus giving the actors a mobility that had been prohibited by the stationary microphones previously used. The film, which starred Bow, was also innovative in…
Read More