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. 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






2. 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.






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






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






5. The lowest - and usually most intense - frequency of a complex sound; Most often perceived as the sound's basic pitch.






6. 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.






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






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






9. 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.






10. Cable wrapping method that keeps every coil on top of the next; May cause interference and tiny curls or tangles.






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






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






13. 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.






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






15. Flat plate that controls or directs the flow of sound energy in a crystal/ceramic mic.






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






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






18. 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.






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






20. 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.






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






22. 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.






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






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






25. The first dynamic microphone with changeable polar patterns.






26. Omnidirectional: 0 - Cardioid: 8 - Supercardioid: 12 dB - Hypercardioid: 6 dB - Bidirectional: 0






27. Another name for condenser microphone.






28. Carbon; Ceramic/Crystal; Magnetic/Dynamic; Ribbon; Condenser






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






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






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






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






33. Sounds that arrive from angles other than the 0






34. Aluminum Ribbon - Bi-Polar (Figure 8); Side Address; Manufactured by Shiny Box; Buttery mid- range improves digital recordings and smooths out modern treble; Best on drums - piano - overheads - and vocals where treble is focused.






35. 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.






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






37. To capture two perspectives on the same sound.






38. 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.






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






40. + & + (Front & rear in equal positive amounts)






41. Derived from two words; 'electr' from electrostatic and 'et' from magnet.






42. 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






43. 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






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






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






46. To oppose with equal weight or force as in the length of the boom arm versus the weight of the microphone.






47. Consumers can listen to live broadcasts over telephone lines; Individual one- way experience that required a subscription service to listen to performances.






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






49. 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.






50. 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