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






2. Commonly found in acoustic guitar pickups; Ceramic piezoelectric material is used in hydrophones (underwater mics) because of durability.






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






4. 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.






5. An electromagnetic microphone - in which a thin - corrugated ribbon is suspended within a high magnetic flux field; Excellent transient response due to the small amount of acoustic energy required to move diaphragm.






6. 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.






7. An extremely strong acoustic nano- film designed to replace the foil ribbon in ribbon microphones.






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






9. Often look like large diaphragm studio mics; Talk or sing into the side of the microphone.






10. Occupying the same space and time.






11. Another name for condenser microphone.






12. 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.






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






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






15. Forward facing bipolar mics spaced 20cm apart.






16. Microphone consisting of two parallel metal plates - each holding an opposing charge (+ or -) and thus creating a capacitor to induce an electrical charge as sound waves move the diaphragm; Require a solid- state or tube preamplifier.






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






18. Vintage Tube Mics hold voltage after being unplugged; Be sure grounds are connected to power cord and that the charge has left microphone prior to striking.






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






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






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






22. 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.






23. 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.






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






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






26. The graphic representation plot of the sensitivity of a microphone from any direction over a 360






27. Modeled to mimic a human head for extremely good spatialization; Shaped like a human head.






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






29. Responds to air pressure variations outside of the capsule; Not selective of direction; Natural polar pattern is omnidirectional.






30. 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.






31. 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.






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






33. 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.






34. Timing difference between two waves; Waves interfere cancelling each other out and altering frequency response; Measured in degrees; Can be caused by reflections of sound waves; Can be reduced by putting cabinet or amp at an angle.






35. Three or more microphones working together to capture a stereo or surround image of the sound source.






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






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






38. The measuring device used for loudspeaker room response testing.






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






40. Developed the condenser microphone in 1916 at Bell Labs.






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






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






43. 1 Bidirectional & 1 Cardioid placed coincidentally; Bidirectional faces left and right and cardioid faces the sound; Gives control of the focus and size of the stereo image;






44. Mics in which sound waves vibrate a piezoelectric crystal that generates a varying voltage.






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






46. Keep in proper case; Never disassemble shockmounts






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






48. Omnidirectional: N/ - Cardioid: 180






49. Solid state version of the U67.






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