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






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






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






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






5. Used to make sure you have accurate angles & capsule spacing when miking in stereo.






6. Founded AKG at the end of WWII in Austria.






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






8. Shure's newer ribbon studio mics; KSM 353 & 313 (Roswellite); KSM 44 - 32 - & 27.






9. 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.






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






11. Filters only the bandwidth of frequencies that are supposed to (or allowed) to pass through; High and Low Pass are examples.






12. Used in adverse conditions to protect from elements like sand - or dust.






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






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






15. 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






16. 12V DC; 24V DC; 48V DC






17. Dutch broadcasting stereo mic technique; An X-Y type with the mics 30cm apart and at a 90






18. To capture two perspectives on the same sound.






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






20. Coincident pairing that is at 90






21. 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.






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






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. Configured to simulate the spacing and directivity of human hearing; Box shape with two 'ears' on each side.






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






26. First microphone invented by Georg Neumann






27. 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.






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






29. 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.






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






31. DC Voltage Req'd for capsule polarizing voltage and internal mic preamps; 3 sources: External Power Supply Unit (PSU); Phantom Power; Battery.






32. Overall measurement close to the overall sound level in frequency response charts.






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






34. Keep in proper case; Never disassemble shockmounts






35. 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.






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






37. Sub- frequency (below 100Hz) capture device designed for use with kick drums and floor toms as an alternative or supplement to a traditional microphone.






38. Responds to air pressure variations outside of the capsule; Not selective of direction; Natural polar pattern is omnidirectional.






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






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






41. Older ribbon microphone weighing 8.5 lbs. nearly all of it the large magnet!






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






43. Mics in which sound waves vibrate a piezoelectric crystal that generates a varying voltage.






44. Occupying the same space and time.






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






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






47. This is what is measured to produce an electrical signal in condenser mics; This changes as sound waves strike the diaphragm causing the distance to the back plate to change.






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






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






50. 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.