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






2. 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.






3. 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.






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






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






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






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






8. Solid state version of the U67.






9. Phenomenon causing carbon microphones to lose sensitivity as granules become packed together over extended use; To remedy problem mic is gently rapped on hard surface.






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






11. 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.






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






13. Keep in proper case; Never disassemble shockmounts






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






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






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






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






18. Forward facing bipolar mics spaced 20cm apart.






19. 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






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






21. The first microphone sold by Shure; Military awarded Shure a contract to build microphones in WWII.






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






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






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






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






26. 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.






27. 2 - 4 ft. from player; Placed below the line of sight of the bell - rotated at about 30 degrees off axis - and tilted upward.






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






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






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






31. Verify that the boom is placed over a microphone leg prior to use to provide added balance and stability.






32. 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;






33. To break down or disassemble any portion of a set or stage set- up.






34. 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.






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






36. 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.






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






38. German broadcasting stereo mic technique; An X-Y type with the mics 20cm apart and at a 90






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






40. Coincident stereo miking techniques that has two microphone diaphragms occupying (as near as possible) the same space; Capsules often on top of each other; Not good for noisy locations.






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






42. First microphone invented by Georg Neumann






43. 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.






44. French physicist who pioneered piezoelectricity.






45. Delicate and require extreme care; NO PHANTOM POWER; Becoming more popular than ever because of highly efficient magnets - lower manufacturing costs - and great fidelity.






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






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






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






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






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