Test your basic knowledge |

Microphones Theory

Subject : engineering
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Coincident pairing of two bidirectional mics that make a pattern of crossing Figure 8's.






2. Microphone with 4 large diaphragm condenser capsules; 3 bidirectional and 1 omni; Can be combined to make any polar pattern.






3. Delicate and require extreme care; NO PHANTOM POWER; Becoming more popular than ever because of highly efficient magnets - lower manufacturing costs - and great fidelity.






4. Reduces the power of a signal used when the trim itself cannot prevent overload in the mic line level signal.






5. The moving plate of a condenser capacitor; Constructed of a thin piece of metal or thin plastic - such as Mylar - coated with gold or nickel; .05 - 10 microns thick.






6. The lowest - and usually most intense - frequency of a complex sound; Most often perceived as the sound's basic pitch.






7. Dynamic; Cardioid; End Address; Manufactured by Shure; Popular musicians' choice due to its sturdy construction and ability to work well with instruments that produce high sound pressure levels.






8. The first phantom powered condenser microphone designed for use by Georg Neumann for Norwegian State Television.






9. Small coil of wire wrapped around the plastic or aluminum diaphragm of a dynamic microphone.






10. Shows the max sound pressure level possible with a certain amount of distortion; Measured in dB (decibels).






11. The attachment that holds a microphone in place on the mic stand; Comes in various shapes - sizes - and applications.






12. Developed the condenser microphone in 1916 at Bell Labs.






13. Most sensitive to sounds arriving from the front while rejecting sounds from rear; Shaped like a heart; Rejects most signals from 180






14. Part of a mic stand that the mic stands on.






15. Method of creating low end effects from a bass drum by creating a tunnel at the mic end thus trapping sound and amplifying low end boost.






16. A 3- mic array using omni mics with left - right and center placement; Center is placed about 5 ft. closer to the source to eliminate 'holes' in the middle and the center levels are reduced for an even sound; Forms a triangle.






17. The head or top of the guitar where the tuning pegs are located.






18. Measurement of the mic's sensitivity; Measured in mV/Pa (millivolts per Pascal).






19. Mounts on a single stand to provide for adjustable spacing and angling between mics.






20. Proportional to: Magnetic field strength; Length of the conductor; Velocity of conductor moving through the magnetic field.






21. Forward facing bipolar mics spaced 20cm apart.






22. Bioacoustic Research; Documentary Journalism; Radio; Film/TV Production; Audio Post Production.






23. Sounds that arrive at the 0






24. Stereo configuration using a spaced pair 3-10 feet apart.






25. Big + & + (More front with less positive rear)






26. Quartz; Barium Titaniate - Tourmaline; Rochelle Salt - and even cane sugar.






27. Dynamic; Cardioid; End Address; Manufactured by Sennheiser; Unique mic clip with quick- release button; Large diaphragm dynamic element handles high SPL's - making it great for recording guitars and drums.






28. Using omnidirectional as a reference of 1 - this is a measurement of how much farther you can be from a mic to achieve equal output level in other polar pattern microphones.






29. Device used to calibrate sound pressure measurement devices; Emits a single 1 kHz frequency over a sustained period of time.






30. Mid-Section of the mic stand; Includes the clutch.






31. Used by government agencies to determine safe sound exposure levels (in dB) over a period of time; 85 - 90 dB = 16 hrs. of safe exposure time at 85 dB; Decreases to 8 hrs. of safe exposure time at 90 dB.






32. Tube microphone capable of SPL's over 140dB.






33. Vintage Tube Mics hold voltage after being unplugged; Be sure grounds are connected to power cord and that the charge has left microphone prior to striking.






34. Condenser; Cardioid; End Address; 48V Required; Manufactured by Neumann; Consists of three compact miniature microphones; Has a gentle rise at about 9 kHz that provides tonal balance that is fresher and livelier.






35. Digital device used to Fourier Forms; Used to measure the specific number of sine waves in a specific frequency in a specific setting.






36. French physicist who pioneered piezoelectricity.






37. Modeled to mimic a human head for extremely good spatialization; Shaped like a human head.






38. Measurement similar to how our hearing works in frequency response charts.






39. One of the oldest mics; Diaphragm mounted on & compresses cup of tiny granules of carbon (100 microns big) that increase current flow when compressed by sound waves and vary electrical current; Also called Resistance Mics;






40. 12V DC; 24V DC; 48V DC






41. Consumers can listen to live broadcasts over telephone lines; Individual one- way experience that required a subscription service to listen to performances.






42. Close mic placement can help guard again bleed from other instruments and takes advantage of proximity effect; Center of cone = Brighter; Outside of cone = Darker; Reflections can create phase issues (can be reduced by putting the cabinet at an angle






43. Solid State and Tube.






44. Will yield a 6dB increase in output - but will cause a loss of high frequency response.






45. Device used to measure sound loudness; Often used to measure and balance the loudness of each speaker in a home - studio - or live venue or theater system.






46. Used to filter heating current in certain mics; Invented by Georg Neumann.






47. French broadcasting stereo mic technique; An X-Y type with the mics 17cm apart and at a 110






48. Radio Frequency Interference






49. The graphic representation plot of the sensitivity of a microphone from any direction over a 360






50. Known as 'The Bottle' this was the first mass - produced condenser mic.