An effective bandwidth in a membrane based ultrasonic transducer is improved by a control element (C). The control element (C) is disposed on a first side (10a) of a first membrane (10) of the transducer to increase or decrease a displacement amplitude of the first membrane (10) towards the first side (10a) and/or the opposite, second side (10b). This induces a displacement asymmetry (Za Zb) in a motion of the first membrane (10) during a first vibration (V1) of the first membrane (10) to the first side (10a) compared to the second side (10b). The displacement asymmetry may result in improved bandwidth.