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






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






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






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






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






6. Used to filter heating current in certain mics; Invented by Georg Neumann.






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






8. Solid State and Tube.






9. Shows the level of self- noise from a microphone's internal electronics; Measured in dB (decibels).






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






11. Dynamic; Cardioid; End Address; Manufactured by Sennheiser; Very small and compact; Especially suitable for use with drums and brass instruments; Includes a clip to mount directly on drums.






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






13. Sensitive in a slightly narrower pattern in the front than cardioid and has a small lobe at rear; Rejects most signals arriving from 125






14. 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;






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






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






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






18. The moving plate of a condenser capacitor; Constructed of a thin piece of metal or thin plastic - such as Mylar - coated with gold or nickel; .05 - 10 microns thick.






19. 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






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






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






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






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






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






25. Small coil of wire wrapped around the plastic or aluminum diaphragm of a dynamic microphone.






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






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






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






29. 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






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






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






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






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






34. Forward facing bipolar mics spaced 20cm apart.






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






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






37. Sensitive in a narrower pattern in the front than a cardioid and has a prominent/pronounced lobe at rear; Rejects most signals from 110






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






40. 12V DC; 24V DC; 48V DC






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






42. Known as 'The Bottle' this was the first mass - produced condenser mic.






43. Dynamic; Cardioid; End Address; Manufactured by Shure; Considered the industry standard for live vocal performance microphones; One of the best- selling microphones in the world.






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






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






46. Captures sounds arriving 90






47. Early example of switchable polar patterns; Had both a dynamic and a ribbon capsule inside of it which when combined produced other polar patterns.






48. 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.






49. Part of a mic stand that the mic stands on.






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