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. Omnidirectional: N/ - Cardioid: 180






2. 4800 ft/sec






3. The first AKG dynamic microphone.






4. 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.






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






6. Causes an increase in low frequency response as one gets closer to the source.






7. Solid State and Tube.






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






9. 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.






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






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






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






13. 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.






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






15. Condenser; Cardioid; Side Address; 48V Required; Manufactured by AudioTechnica; Ideal for project/home- studio applications; Low price; Remains the low cost performance standard in side- address condenser mics.






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






17. Works exactly like condenser mic but one of the two plates is manufactured as a capsule with a permanent static charge so there is no external power source necessary; Requires phantom or battery to charge internal mic preamp.






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






19. 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






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






21. Polar pattern produced when you add a little bit of bidirectional to the omni pattern.






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






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






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






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






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






27. Solid state version of the U67.






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






29. Tube with ports down the side with the mic capsule at the bottom; Sounds entering the tube from on - axis interact inside the tube with the sounds coming in through the side ports - an interfere with each other in such a way as to partially cancel of






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






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






32. 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.






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






34. Condenser; Multiple; Side Address; 48V Required; Manufactured by AKG; Dual Diaphragm; Nine selectable pickup patterns; Peak Hold LED; The reference microphone for almost all comparative microphone tests.






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






36. 2 - 4 ft. from player; Placed below the line of sight of the bell - rotated at about 30 degrees off axis - and tilted upward.






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






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






39. Rotating speaker cabinet design featuring separate treble and bass drivers that can switch speeds; Speaker rotate from front to back creating a Doppler effect; Resulted in new spatial perception for each note. Stereo miked up top and single miked at






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






41. Captures sounds arriving 90






42. Timing difference between two waves; Waves interfere cancelling each other out and altering frequency response; Measured in degrees; Can be caused by reflections of sound waves; Can be reduced by putting cabinet or amp at an angle.






43. Microphone consisting of two parallel metal plates - each holding an opposing charge (+ or -) and thus creating a capacitor to induce an electrical charge as sound waves move the diaphragm; Require a solid- state or tube preamplifier.






44. 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.






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






46. 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.






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






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






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






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