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. Microphone with 4 large diaphragm condenser capsules; 3 bidirectional and 1 omni; Can be combined to make any polar pattern.






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






3. + (only); (Front capsule alone)






4. 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.






5. 4 coincident mics each positioned at 90






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






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






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






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






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






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






12. Modern drummer who has created a large kit and innovated several ways of capturing the sound from his massive kit.






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






14. Solid State and Tube.






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






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






17. Coincident stereo miking techniques that has two microphone diaphragms occupying (as near as possible) the same space; Capsules often on top of each other; Not good for noisy locations.






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






19. Electro- acoustic device attached to a transducer that vibrates to receive or produce sound waves which put the device into motion.






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






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






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






23. Occupying the same space and time.






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






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






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






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






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






29. Mics placed in front of an instrument or ensemble (in a left/right fashion) to obtain an overall stereo image; Sound more open and natural; Weaker center image than X/Y; Great for creating background sounds that will blend in with foreground sounds.






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






31. Verify that the boom is placed over a microphone leg prior to use to provide added balance and stability.






32. 2 - 4 ft. from player; Placed below the line of sight of the bell - rotated at about 30 degrees off axis - and tilted upward.






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






34. Radio Frequency Interference






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






36. 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.






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






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






39. 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.






40. Vintage Tube Mics hold voltage after being unplugged; Be sure grounds are connected to power cord and that the charge has left microphone prior to striking.






41. The outer covering of a microphone.






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






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






44. Captures sounds arriving 90






45. Omnidirectional: 360






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






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






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






49. 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.






50. Cable wrapping method that reduces interference and makes it easier to unravel the cable.