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. Basket/grille made out of a specific type of copper wire to block protect the mic from physical damage and to protect the mic from stray RFI






2. Commonly utilize large diaphragm dynamic mics.






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






4. 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.






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






6. 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.






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






8. 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.






9. - Omnidirectional: 100% - Cardioid: 33% - Supercardioid: 27% - Hypercardioid: 25% - Bidirectional: 33%






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






11. Omnidirectional: 360






12. Used for stereo miking to ensure correct balance and imaging.






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






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






15. Condenser; Cardioid; End Address; 48V Required; Manufactured by AudioTechnica; Switchable 80 Hz Hi-Pass Filter; Ideal for professional recording and critical applications in broadcast.






16. Keep in proper case; Never disassemble shockmounts






17. Pure polar pattern that receives sound from both the front and back; Also known as a 'Figure 8' pattern; More proximity effect that Cardioid or Hyper Cardioid; Often found in ribbon mics.






18. Mics placed in front of an instrument or ensemble (in a left/right fashion) to obtain an overall stereo image; Sound more open and natural; Weaker center image than X/Y; Great for creating background sounds that will blend in with foreground sounds.






19. The property of certain crystals that causes them to produce voltage when a mechanical pressure such as sound vibrations is applied to them; Originates from Greek word 'piezein' (to compress).






20. 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'.






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






22. 4 to 6 ft. from the player; Mic should be placed below the line of sight of the bell - rotated at about 40 degrees off- axis - and tilted upward.






23. Device or transducer used for converting sound waves or acoustical energy into electrical energy






24. Use coincident or near coincident pairings; Too many microphones will cause phasing issues.






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






26. Sounds that arrive from angles other than the 0






27. The world's first single element cardioid mics.






28. 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.






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






30. + (only); (Front capsule alone)






31. 2 - 4 ft. from player; Placed below the line of sight of the bell - rotated at about 30 degrees off axis - and tilted upward.






32. Tough & rugged microphone that contains an element consisting of a dome- shaped diaphragm and a moving 'voice coil'; Operates on principles of magnetic induction.






33. 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.






34. 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.






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






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






37. The combination of the ribbon and magnet in a ribbon microphone.






38. Sensitive in a slightly narrower pattern in the front than cardioid and has a small lobe at rear; Rejects most signals arriving from 125






39. Modern drummer who has created a large kit and innovated several ways of capturing the sound from his massive kit.






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






41. Tube manufactured for the new version of the AKG C12 (called the C12-A); Powered by Norelco.






42. The first dynamic microphone with changeable polar patterns.






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






44. 4800 ft/sec






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






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






47. Omnidirectional: 0 - Cardioid: 8 - Supercardioid: 12 dB - Hypercardioid: 6 dB - Bidirectional: 0






48. 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.






49. The measure of how quickly a mic's diaphragm will react when it is hit by an acoustic sound wave.






50. Coincident pairing angled between 90