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






2. 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.






3. Considered to be the best mic ever made; VF14 Tube.






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






5. Dynamic; Cardioid; End Address; Manufactured by Electro Voice; Large Diaphragm; Humbucking Coil; Bass Roll Off Switch; Minimizes proximity effect; Ideal for broadcasting and sound engineering techniques.






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






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






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






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






10. - Omnidirectional: 1 - Cardioid: 1.7 - Supercardioid: 1.9 - Hypercardioid: 2 - Bidirectional: 1.7






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






12. The head or top of the guitar where the tuning pegs are located.






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. French physicist who pioneered piezoelectricity.






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






17. The reduction in the amplitude of a wave due to the dissipation of wave energy.






18. 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.






19. When miking an amp placing it near the center of this will make it sound brighter; Miking near the outer edge of this will make it sound darker and more mellow in tone.






20. Pair of omni mic elements mounted on opposite sides of a spherical shaped capsule.






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






22. French broadcasting stereo mic technique; An X-Y type with the mics 17cm apart and at a 110






23. Small coil of wire wrapped around the plastic or aluminum diaphragm of a dynamic microphone.






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






25. First microphone invented by Georg Neumann






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






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






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






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






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






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






32. 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.






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






35. 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.






36. 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.






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






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






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






40. Modeled to mimic a human head for extremely good spatialization; Shaped like a human head.






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






42. First to mass produce the condenser microphone in 1929; Improved cutting lathe technology by developing direct drive turntables; Invents 48V Phantom Power to power the new condenser microphone for Norwegian State Television.






43. Solid State and Tube.






44. Dynamic; Cardioid; End Address; Manufactured by Sennheiser; Unique mic clip with quick- release button; Large diaphragm dynamic element handles high SPL's - making it great for recording guitars and drums.






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






46. Using omnidirectional as a reference of 1 - this is a measurement of how much farther you can be from a mic to achieve equal output level in other polar pattern microphones.






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






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






49. Omnidirectional: 360






50. 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.