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. 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.






2. Coincident pairing angled between 90






3. The lowest - and usually most intense - frequency of a complex sound; Most often perceived as the sound's basic pitch.






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






5. 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.






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






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






8. Sounds that arrive at the 0






9. Derived from two words; 'electr' from electrostatic and 'et' from magnet.






10. Another name for condenser microphone.






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






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






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






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






15. Omnidirectional: 360






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






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






18. - Omnidirectional: 1 - Cardioid: 1.7 - Supercardioid: 1.9 - Hypercardioid: 2 - Bidirectional: 1.7






19. 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.






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






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






22. First microphone invented by Georg Neumann






23. A stereo miking technique similar to coincident pair - where the mics are set up with some distance between them; Distance and angle of microphones may differ; Creates a more defined stereo image; Produces very sharp images; Provides more 'air'.






24. 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






25. Used in adverse conditions to protect from elements like sand - or dust.






26. 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.






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






28. Tough & rugged microphone that contains an element consisting of a dome- shaped diaphragm and a moving 'voice coil'; Operates on principles of magnetic induction.






29. When using two microphones reverse the polarity of the bottom mic.






30. 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.






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






32. 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.






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






34. 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.






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






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






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






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






39. 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.






40. To capture two perspectives on the same sound.






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






42. 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.






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






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






45. 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.






46. Extremely narrow area of sensitivity in front with extended reach; Also has multiple lobes which vary in position with frequency; Not made from combining pure patterns - but created by using an interference tube.






47. Mic in which the diaphragm moves in response to sound waves and an attached pin/rod moves; Coil attached to pin/rod moves alone with the diaphragm.






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






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






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