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






2. 4800 ft/sec






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






4. The part of the guitar you turn to tune the strings in order to get the right sound out of the guitar when one plays.






5. 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.






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






7. Commonly utilize large diaphragm dynamic mics.






8. 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.






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






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






11. 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.






12. The measure of how quickly a mic's diaphragm will react when it is hit by an acoustic sound wave.






13. 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






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






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






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






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






18. 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.






19. Occupying the same space and time.






20. 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.






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






22. The first cardioid pattern dynamic microphone.






23. One of the world's greatest condenser microphones prized for the CK12 capsule.






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






25. Forward facing bipolar mics spaced 20cm apart.






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






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






28. Sounds that arrive from angles other than the 0






29. 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.






30. Bioacoustic Research; Documentary Journalism; Radio; Film/TV Production; Audio Post Production.






31. 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.






32. 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.






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






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






35. The first AKG dynamic microphone.






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






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






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






39. Another name for condenser microphone.






40. 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






41. Coincident pairing that is at 90






42. 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.






43. Raises the body of the microphone increasing height.






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






45. Reduces the power of a signal used when the trim itself cannot prevent overload in the mic line level signal.






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






47. First microphone invented by Georg Neumann






48. Small Diaphragm Electret condensers; Extremely flat frequency response; Omnidirectional pattern.






49. An extremely strong acoustic nano- film designed to replace the foil ribbon in ribbon microphones.






50. Demonstrated the first stereophonic transmissions via the Theatrophone in 1881.