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. Device used to measure sound loudness; Often used to measure and balance the loudness of each speaker in a home - studio - or live venue or theater system.






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






3. 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






4. Never store mic in a damp place; Keep dirt & dust away from the mic; Never 'pop' test the mic; Check if a mic is working by lightly scratching the grill.






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






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






7. Omnidirectional: 360






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






9. Another name for condenser microphone.






10. 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.






11. 4 coincident mics each positioned at 90






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






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






14. 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.






15. Coincident stereo miking techniques that has two microphone diaphragms occupying (as near as possible) the same space; Capsules often on top of each other; Not good for noisy locations.






16. Changes in air pressure from the front or the back can cause polarity cancellation; Sides have good rejection; Natural polar pattern is bidirectional.






17. Forward facing bipolar mics spaced 20cm apart.






18. 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.






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






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






21. 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.






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






23. Configured to simulate the spacing and directivity of human hearing; Box shape with two 'ears' on each side.






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






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






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






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






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






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






30. 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.






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






32. 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.






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






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






35. - Omnidirectional: 100% - Cardioid: 33% - Supercardioid: 27% - Hypercardioid: 25% - Bidirectional: 33%






36. The method by which microphones are classified.






37. Cable wrapping method that reduces interference and makes it easier to unravel the cable.






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






39. Stereo coincident pairing where the middle mic (usually a cardiod) is facing source and a bidirectional side mic is placed at 90






40. 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.






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






42. A 3- mic array using omni mics with left - right and center placement; Center is placed about 5 ft. closer to the source to eliminate 'holes' in the middle and the center levels are reduced for an even sound; Forms a triangle.






43. Big + & + (More front with less positive rear)






44. 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.






45. Coincident pairing that is at 90






46. 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'.






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






48. 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.






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






50. 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.