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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. Moving a conductor (a coil of wire) through a magnetic field will cause a voltage to be induced across the conductor.

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2. Condenser; Cardioid; End Address; Manufactured by Shure; Small condenser design that is great for instrument recording.






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






4. The attachment that holds a microphone in place on the mic stand; Comes in various shapes - sizes - and applications.






5. 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.






6. The arm of the mic stand; Includes the angle adjust & telescopic adjust.






7. 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.






8. Condenser; Cardioid; End Address; 48V Required; Manufactured by Neumann; Consists of three compact miniature microphones; Has a gentle rise at about 9 kHz that provides tonal balance that is fresher and livelier.






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






10. Tube with ports down the side with the mic capsule at the bottom; Sounds entering the tube from on - axis interact inside the tube with the sounds coming in through the side ports - an interfere with each other in such a way as to partially cancel of






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






12. Utilized primarily on condenser and ribbon mics to isolate it from vibrations that might otherwise be transmitted to the microphone through the mic stand.






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






14. 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.






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






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






17. Raises the body of the microphone increasing height.






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






19. 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.






20. 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






21. Sounds that arrive from angles other than the 0






22. The first dynamic microphone with changeable polar patterns.






23. 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.






24. 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.






25. Device used to calibrate sound pressure measurement devices; Emits a single 1 kHz frequency over a sustained period of time.






26. 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.






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






28. Pure polar pattern with which the microphone is equally sensitive in all directions; Great for capturing ambiance or room reverb.






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






30. Digital device used to Fourier Forms; Used to measure the specific number of sine waves in a specific frequency in a specific setting.






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






32. One of the oldest mics; Diaphragm mounted on & compresses cup of tiny granules of carbon (100 microns big) that increase current flow when compressed by sound waves and vary electrical current; Also called Resistance Mics;






33. 4 coincident mics each positioned at 90






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






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






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






37. 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.






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






39. Causes an increase in low frequency response as one gets closer to the source.






40. 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






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






42. Delicate and require extreme care; NO PHANTOM POWER; Becoming more popular than ever because of highly efficient magnets - lower manufacturing costs - and great fidelity.






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






44. Condenser; Cardioid/Hypercardioid; End Address; 48V Required; Manufactured by AKG; Can be powered by internal 9 V battery for field recording; Improves clarity of speech with the PB 1000 Presence Boost Adapter.






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






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






47. Commonly utilize large diaphragm dynamic mics.






48. 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






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






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