Who invented the microphone?

The first microphone was invented in 1876 by Emile Berliner and was used as a telephone voice transmitter. The idea behind the microphone was inspired by the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell. The microphone's patent was later bought for $50,000 by the Bell Telephone Company.

Another important invention in the history of the microphone is the 1878 carbon microphone by David Edward Hughes. Though the carbon microphone was not further developed until the 1920s, Hughes' original concept is a base model for carbon microphones in use in 2014. In 1942, the ribbon microphone was invented as part of the development of the radio broadcasting industry.