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






2. Omnidirectional: N/ - Cardioid: 180






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






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






5. 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.






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






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






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






9. Shure's ribbon microphone that utilizes Roswellite to prevent ribbon damage.






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






11. The first cardioid pattern dynamic microphone.






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






13. 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.






14. When using multiple microphones - the distance between microphones should be at least 3 times the distance from each microphone to its intended sound source.






15. French physicist who pioneered piezoelectricity.






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






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






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






19. 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.






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






21. 4 coincident mics each positioned at 90






22. 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.






23. The first phantom powered condenser microphone designed for use by Georg Neumann for Norwegian State Television.






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






25. Determined by: Ribbon Thickness (about 3 to 6 microns); Corrugations/Inch; Tension of the Ribbon.






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






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






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






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






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






31. 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.






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






33. 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.






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






35. 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.






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






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






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






39. Sounds that arrive from angles other than the 0






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






41. Increasing magnetic field strength is the only practical means of increasing output voltage; Conductor movement is limited due to tension of the ribbon; and ribbon length increases lead to a loss of high frequency response.






42. The first dynamic microphone with changeable polar patterns.






43. 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.






44. 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.






45. First to mass produce the condenser microphone in 1929; Improved cutting lathe technology by developing direct drive turntables; Invents 48V Phantom Power to power the new condenser microphone for Norwegian State Television.






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






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






48. 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.






49. Allows all low frequencies to pass; Blocks the higher frequencies from being processed.






50. 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.