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






2. Moving a conductor (a coil of wire) through a magnetic field will cause a voltage to be induced across the conductor.

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3. 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.






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






5. 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






6. Omnidirectional: N/ - Cardioid: 180






7. Another name for condenser microphone.






8. 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.






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






10. 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.






11. Allow sound to reach the rear of the capsule/diaphragm - to create cardioid - supercardioid - and hypercardioid patterns In single capsule pressure gradient microphones.






12. 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.






13. 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.






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






15. 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






16. Measurement of the mic's sensitivity; Measured in mV/Pa (millivolts per Pascal).






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






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






19. Close mic placement can help guard again bleed from other instruments and takes advantage of proximity effect; Center of cone = Brighter; Outside of cone = Darker; Reflections can create phase issues (can be reduced by putting the cabinet at an angle






20. 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).






21. Often look like handheld vocal mics; Talk or sing into the end of the microphone.






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






23. 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.






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






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






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






27. 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.






28. The tuning machines of a guitar; Part of the tuning key that strings are threaded through and twisted.






29. A flat or roughly flat strip on the neck of a stringed instrument against which the strings are pressed to shorten the vibrating length and produce notes of higher pitches.






30. 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.






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






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






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






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. 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.






36. An electrical device characterized by its capacity to store an electric charge;






37. Device used to calibrate sound pressure measurement devices; Emits a single 1 kHz frequency over a sustained period of time.






38. The outer covering of a microphone.






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






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






41. 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.






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






43. 12V DC; 24V DC; 48V DC






44. Measurement similar to how our hearing works in frequency response charts.






45. Coincident pairing of two bidirectional mics that make a pattern of crossing Figure 8's.






46. A gradual - continuous decrease in low frequency response.






47. 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.






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






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






50. 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