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. The world's first single element cardioid mics.






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






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






4. 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.






5. 1 Bidirectional & 1 Cardioid placed coincidentally; Bidirectional faces left and right and cardioid faces the sound; Gives control of the focus and size of the stereo image;






6. Solid State and Tube.






7. 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.






8. 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






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






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






11. 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






12. Condenser; Cardioid; Side Address; 48V Required; Large Diaphragm; Manufactured by AudioTechnica; Transformerless circuitry virtually eliminates low- frequency distortion.






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






14. An instrument for detecting sound transmitted through water commonly manufactured using ceramic piezoelectric material.






15. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






21. Very robust and durable; Used in telephones until 1990's; Currently finds applications for military use.






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






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






24. Raises the body of the microphone increasing height.






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






26. The first dynamic microphone with changeable polar patterns.






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






28. 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.






29. Dynamic; Cardioid; End Address; Manufactured by Shure; Popular musicians' choice due to its sturdy construction and ability to work well with instruments that produce high sound pressure levels.






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






31. Forward facing bipolar mics spaced 20cm apart.






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






33. Occupying the same space and time.






34. A flat or roughly flat strip on the neck of a stringed instrument against which the strings are pressed to shorten the vibrating length and produce notes of higher pitches.






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






36. Coincident pairing that is at 90






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






38. Fixed plate that is charged with polarized voltage found in condenser mics; Usually constructed of milled brass; Has a number of holes drilled in it to provide damping for diaphragm.






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






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






41. DC Voltage Req'd for capsule polarizing voltage and internal mic preamps; 3 sources: External Power Supply Unit (PSU); Phantom Power; Battery.






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






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






44. 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






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






46. More compelling sound - giving both depth and perspective.






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






48. 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.






49. 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.






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