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. Never store mic in a damp place; Keep dirt & dust away from the mic; Never 'pop' test the mic; Check if a mic is working by lightly scratching the grill.






2. + & - (Front & rear in opposite equal amounts)






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






4. Omnidirectional: N/ - Cardioid: 180






5. Sounds that arrive from angles other than the 0






6. Tough & rugged; Can work in extremely high SPL environments; Less responsive to transient frequencies b/c of diaphragm mass is heavier than sound waves.






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






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






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






10. This is what is measured to produce an electrical signal in condenser mics; This changes as sound waves strike the diaphragm causing the distance to the back plate to change.






11. 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.






12. Big + & - (More front with less opposite rear)






13. Term coined by Sir Charles Wheatstone derived from the Greek words 'micro' (small) & 'phon' (sound).






14. Dynamic; Cardioid; End Address; Manufactured by Shure; Considered the industry standard for live vocal performance microphones; One of the best- selling microphones in the world.






15. 2 - 4 ft. from player; Placed below the line of sight of the bell - rotated at about 30 degrees off axis - and tilted upward.






16. + & + (Front & rear in equal positive amounts)






17. When using multiple microphones - the distance between microphones should be at least 3 times the distance from each microphone to its intended sound source.






18. When miking an amp placing it near the center of this will make it sound brighter; Miking near the outer edge of this will make it sound darker and more mellow in tone.






19. Pair of cardioids facing to the front and rear - plus a sideways - facing figure 8; Mid- sides pair plus another rear- facing cardioid which is combined with the same Figure 8 mic for the surrounds.






20. 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.






21. Omnidirectional: 360






22. Allows all high frequencies to pass; Blocks the lower frequencies from being processed.






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






24. E = Blv - e - Electromotive Force (in volts) - B - is the magnetic field strength - l - is the length of the conductor - v - is the velocity of the conductor moving through the magnetic field






25. To oppose with equal weight or force as in the length of the boom arm versus the weight of the microphone.






26. Best signal- to- noise ratio; Minimal phase cancellation; Quality representation of what is being recorded; Attempt to ignore unwanted external noise.






27. Used in adverse conditions to protect from elements like sand - or dust.






28. 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.






29. The part of the guitar you turn to tune the strings in order to get the right sound out of the guitar when one plays.






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






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






32. Three or more microphones working together to capture a stereo or surround image of the sound source.






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






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






35. Condenser; Cardioid; Side Address; 48V Required; Large Diaphragm; Manufactured by AudioTechnica; Transformerless circuitry virtually eliminates low- frequency distortion.






36. Often look like large diaphragm studio mics; Talk or sing into the side of the microphone.






37. 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.






38. Another name for condenser microphone.






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






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






41. Barrier made of shaped wire covered with a piece of nylon that is placed between a sensitive mic and the talent to avoid damage to the diaphragm of the mic.






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






43. Solid state version of the U67.






44. Solid State and Tube.






45. 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;






46. Shows the total range of the mic's internal pre- amp; Measured in dB (decibels).






47. Utilized primarily on condenser and ribbon mics to isolate it from vibrations that might otherwise be transmitted to the microphone through the mic stand.






48. Electro- acoustic device attached to a transducer that vibrates to receive or produce sound waves which put the device into motion.






49. Responds to air pressure variations outside of the capsule; Not selective of direction; Natural polar pattern is omnidirectional.






50. Measurement of Sound Pressure; stated as being N/m2 with a Newton being a measurement of force equal to about 9.8 lbs; Equal to 94dB SPL