Precision Acoustic Sensing with Contact Microphones
Discover rugged contact microphones for structural health, vibration diagnostics, and embedded sound analysis
Direct Vibration Sensing with High-Precision Contact Microphones
Contact microphones, also known as contact pickups, are specialized acoustic sensors that detect mechanical vibrations directly from solid surfaces. Unlike traditional air-pressure microphones, these devices convert vibrations within solid materials into electrical signals, making them ideal for applications requiring direct structural analysis or where airborne sound interference is a concern. Common in industrial diagnostics, musical instrumentation, and structural monitoring, contact microphones are engineered for durability and high sensitivity. Noise Vibration Monitoring brings these advanced sensing technologies to B2B customers across North America. As a trusted solutions provider, we offer purpose-built systems designed for noise and vibration monitoring environments. Whether you require field-ready rugged devices or smart sensor integrations, we provide innovative solutions backed by robust hardware, software, and cloud platforms
1. Hardware Components
- Piezoelectric contact pickups with adhesive or magnetic mounts
Vibration Meters – optimized to detect surface-level vibrations from equipment, pipes, and panels with precise signal transmission. - Miniature sensor heads for narrow or curved surfaces
Industrial & Asset Monitoring Sensors – suited for installation on tight or irregular mechanical components, enabling non-intrusive vibration detection. - Integrated pre-amplified contact microphones
Device Edge – allow immediate signal conditioning at the source, reducing noise for edge-level analytics and fast response monitoring. - Wireless-enabled contact microphone modules
NB-IoT End Devices – support real-time remote transmission of vibration and acoustic data from machinery or field assets. - High-fidelity ceramic transducer elements
Sound Level Meters & Calibrators – tailored for capturing low-amplitude surface acoustic emissions for predictive maintenance and diagnostics.
2. Software Capabilities
- Multi-channel waveform visualization
- Sound event logging with timestamped metadata
- Real-time FFT and spectral analysis
- Acoustic anomaly detection modules
- APIs for integration with enterprise sound/vibration monitoring platforms
3. Cloud Services
- Cloud-based waveform dashboards with real-time alerts
- Remote system calibration and self-diagnostics
- Encrypted data backup and access management
- Integration-ready with leading Industry 4.0 platforms
Core Components of Contact Microphone Systems
In addition to offering products and systems developed by our team and trusted partners for Contact Microphones (Contact Pickups), we are proud to carry top-tier technologies from Global Advanced Operations Tek Inc. (GAO Tek Inc.) and Global Advanced Operations RFID Inc. (GAO RFID Inc.). These reliable, high-quality products and systems enhance our ability to deliver comprehensive technologies, integrations, and services you can trust. Where relevant, we have provided direct links to select products and systems from GAO Tek Inc. and GAO RFID Inc.
Key Features and Functionalities
- Detects low-frequency mechanical resonance and impact signatures
- Compact and rugged designs suited for harsh environments
- High sensitivity with low signal-to-noise ratio
- Compatible with portable and fixed data acquisition systems
- Multi-point measurement configurations for asset-wide coverage
Integrations and Compatibility
- Compatible with structural health monitoring (SHM) systems
- Seamlessly integrates with LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, and Wi-Fi gateways
- Plug-and-play with industry-standard DAQs and vibration analysis platforms
- API access for custom industrial applications and analytics tools
Benefits of Our Strain Gauge Solutions
- Direct vibration captures unaffected by airborne noise
- Easy installation on curved or irregular surfaces
- Minimal power consumption for long-term deployments
- Real-time diagnostics without operational disruption
Applications
Motor and gearbox fault detection
Leak and crack detection in pipelines
Monitoring acoustic resonance in composite panels
In-situ structural vibration monitoring in bridges and aircraft
Embedded audio sensing in robotics and industrial tools
Industries We Serve
Aerospace
Defense
Automotive
Energy & Utilities
Manufacturing
Robotics
Relevant U.S. & Canadian Standards (Abbreviated List)
- ASTM E756
- ISO 5347-13
- IEEE 1451
- CSA C22.2 No. 61010-1
Case Studies
Case Study 1 – U.S.: Industrial Motor Health Diagnostics in Ohio
A Midwest manufacturing firm integrated contact microphones into motor casings to identify resonance-related faults. This resulted in a 25% improvement in predictive maintenance scheduling and a 30% reduction in unplanned downtimes.
Case Study 2 – U.S.: Leak Detection in Underground Pipelines
An energy distributor in Texas deployed contact microphones along buried pipelines to capture sub-surface acoustic anomalies. The company reduced leak detection time by 40% and improved regulatory compliance.
Case Study 3 – Canada: Aircraft Panel Vibration Monitoring in Ontario
An aerospace supplier used contact microphones to measure the structural acoustic behaviour of aircraft composite panels under simulated stress. The data led to redesigned components with a 15% performance improvement.
Looking for a Contact Microphone Solution?
For more information, personalized recommendations, or technical support, please Contact Noise Vibration Monitoring. Our team is ready to help you choose the right contact microphone solution tailored to your needs
