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






2. The measure of how quickly a mic's diaphragm will react when it is hit by an acoustic sound wave.






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






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






5. Omnidirectional: N/ - Cardioid: 180






6. 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.






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






8. Phenomenon causing carbon microphones to lose sensitivity as granules become packed together over extended use; To remedy problem mic is gently rapped on hard surface.






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






10. To break down or disassemble any portion of a set or stage set- up.






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






12. 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.






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






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






15. Small microphone attached to the bridge of a string bass or to an acoustic guitar to amplify its sound.






16. 2 - 4 ft. from player; Placed below the line of sight of the bell - rotated at about 30 degrees off axis - and tilted upward.






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






18. 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.






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






20. Basket/grille made out of a specific type of copper wire to block protect the mic from physical damage and to protect the mic from stray RFI






21. 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.






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






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






24. Sounds that may be broadcast over the radio or internet.






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






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






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






28. 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.






29. 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.






30. This is what is measured to produce an electrical signal in condenser mics; This changes as sound waves strike the diaphragm causing the distance to the back plate to change.






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






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






33. 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.






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






35. 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.






36. 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.






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






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






39. Allows all high frequencies to pass; Blocks the lower frequencies from being processed.






40. Sounds that arrive from angles other than the 0






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






42. Will yield a 6dB increase in output - but will cause a loss of high frequency response.






43. The first cardioid pattern dynamic microphone.






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






45. Radio Frequency Interference






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






47. 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






48. 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.






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






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