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. EMI employee that was the innovator of many coincident pairing mic techniques; Mid/Side & Blumlein techniques are associated with him.






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






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






4. 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.






5. Very robust and durable; Used in telephones until 1990's; Currently finds applications for military use.






6. The first dynamic microphone with changeable polar patterns.






7. Small Diaphragm Electret condensers; Extremely flat frequency response; Omnidirectional pattern.






8. Dynamic; Super-Cardioid; End Address; Humbucking Coil; Brilliance Switch; Manufactured by Sennheiser; Acknowledged as the most accurate and versatile dynamic mic available.






9. Shure's ribbon microphone that utilizes Roswellite to prevent ribbon damage.






10. Sensitive in a narrower pattern in the front than a cardioid and has a prominent/pronounced lobe at rear; Rejects most signals from 110






11. Commonly found in acoustic guitar pickups; Ceramic piezoelectric material is used in hydrophones (underwater mics) because of durability.






12. Configured to simulate the spacing and directivity of human hearing; Box shape with two 'ears' on each side.






13. Increasing magnetic field strength is the only practical means of increasing output voltage; Conductor movement is limited due to tension of the ribbon; and ribbon length increases lead to a loss of high frequency response.






14. Built by AKG for Telefunken and regarded as one of the best vintage condenser microphones ever.






15. Fixed plate that is charged with polarized voltage found in condenser mics; Usually constructed of milled brass; Has a number of holes drilled in it to provide damping for diaphragm.






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






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






18. Magnetic field opposite to that which presently exists; Do this on the bottom mic when miking a snare with two mics.






19. Derived from two words; 'electr' from electrostatic and 'et' from magnet.






20. Dynamic; Cardioid; End Address; Manufactured by Sennheiser; Very small and compact; Especially suitable for use with drums and brass instruments; Includes a clip to mount directly on drums.






21. Extremely narrow area of sensitivity in front with extended reach; Also has multiple lobes which vary in position with frequency; Not made from combining pure patterns - but created by using an interference tube.






22. Dynamic; Cardioid; End Address; Manufactured by Electro Voice; Large Diaphragm; Humbucking Coil; Bass Roll Off Switch; Minimizes proximity effect; Ideal for broadcasting and sound engineering techniques.






23. Pair of omni mic elements mounted on opposite sides of a spherical shaped capsule.






24. Filters only the bandwidth of frequencies that are supposed to (or allowed) to pass through; High and Low Pass are examples.






25. When using two microphones reverse the polarity of the bottom mic.






26. Solid state version of the U67.






27. Angle of maximum signal rejection in a microphone polar pattern.






28. The arm of the mic stand; Includes the angle adjust & telescopic adjust.






29. Voltage applied to piezoelectric material will cause it to deform or change shape; NO PHANTOM POWER!






30. Divisions on the fingerboard which represent the position of a specific note or tone.






31. Shows the level of self- noise from a microphone's internal electronics; Measured in dB (decibels).






32. 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.






33. DC Voltage Req'd for capsule polarizing voltage and internal mic preamps; 3 sources: External Power Supply Unit (PSU); Phantom Power; Battery.






34. Commonly utilize large diaphragm dynamic mics.






35. Allow sound to reach the rear of the capsule/diaphragm - to create cardioid - supercardioid - and hypercardioid patterns In single capsule pressure gradient microphones.






36. 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.






37. Changes in air pressure from the front or the back can cause polarity cancellation; Sides have good rejection; Natural polar pattern is bidirectional.






38. Coincident pairing angled between 90






39. A stereo miking technique similar to coincident pair - where the mics are set up with some distance between them; Distance and angle of microphones may differ; Creates a more defined stereo image; Produces very sharp images; Provides more 'air'.






40. Pair of omni mic separated by a circular absorptive baffle.






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






42. Condenser; Cardioid/Hypercardioid; End Address; 48V Required; Manufactured by AKG; Can be powered by internal 9 V battery for field recording; Improves clarity of speech with the PB 1000 Presence Boost Adapter.






43. More compelling sound - giving both depth and perspective.






44. A gradual - continuous decrease in low frequency response.






45. Characterized by a vacuum tube transducer; Heat rises so many are hung upside down to prevent heat from reaching the microphone head; Avoid jostling or shaking these fragile mics.






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






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






48. Cable wrapping method that keeps every coil on top of the next; May cause interference and tiny curls or tangles.






49. Condenser; Cardioid; Side Address; 48V Required; Large Diaphragm; Manufactured by Rode; Widely recognised as the world's quietest studio microphone; Ideal for vocals - voiceover - and acoustic instruments.






50. Small microphone attached to the bridge of a string bass or to an acoustic guitar to amplify its sound.