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. Sounds that may be broadcast over the radio or internet.






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






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






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






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






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






7. Condenser; Cardioid; End Address; Manufactured by Shure; Small condenser design that is great for instrument recording.






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






9. Coincident pairing angled between 90






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






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






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






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






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






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






17. 4800 ft/sec






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






19. 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






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






21. Solid State and Tube.






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






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






24. Carbon; Ceramic/Crystal; Magnetic/Dynamic; Ribbon; Condenser






25. Determined by: Ribbon Thickness (about 3 to 6 microns); Corrugations/Inch; Tension of the Ribbon.






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






27. Sounds that arrive from angles other than the 0






28. Bell Labs scientist that was an innovator of many spaced pair and arrayed miking techniques.






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






30. 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.






31. Mic in which the diaphragm moves in response to sound waves and an attached pin/rod moves; Coil attached to pin/rod moves alone with the diaphragm.






32. 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.






33. 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






34. 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






35. An electromagnetic microphone - in which a thin - corrugated ribbon is suspended within a high magnetic flux field; Excellent transient response due to the small amount of acoustic energy required to move diaphragm.






36. To capture two perspectives on the same sound.






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






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






39. An extremely strong acoustic nano- film designed to replace the foil ribbon in ribbon microphones.






40. The first cardioid pattern dynamic microphone.






41. 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.






42. 12V DC; 24V DC; 48V DC






43. 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.






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






45. Stereo coincident pairing where the middle mic (usually a cardiod) is facing source and a bidirectional side mic is placed at 90






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






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






48. Adds two outer right and left rear facing mics to a Decca tree for surround sound depth.






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






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