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






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






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






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






5. Tube manufactured for the new version of the AKG C12 (called the C12-A); Powered by Norelco.






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






7. 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;






8. To capture two perspectives on the same sound.






9. 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.






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






11. 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.






12. 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.






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






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






15. 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.






16. The attachment that holds a microphone in place on the mic stand; Comes in various shapes - sizes - and applications.






17. 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.






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






19. 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.






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






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






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






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






24. Captures sounds arriving 90






25. 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.






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






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






28. 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.






29. Condenser; Cardioid; Side Address; 48V Required; Large Diaphragm; Manufactured by AudioTechnica; Transformerless circuitry virtually eliminates low- frequency distortion.






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






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






33. 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.






34. The world's first single element cardioid mics.






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






36. Reduces the power of a signal used when the trim itself cannot prevent overload in the mic line level signal.






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






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






39. Using omnidirectional as a reference of 1 - this is a measurement of how much farther you can be from a mic to achieve equal output level in other polar pattern microphones.






40. 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.






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






42. Bioacoustic Research; Documentary Journalism; Radio; Film/TV Production; Audio Post Production.






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






44. Close mic placement can help guard again bleed from other instruments and takes advantage of proximity effect; Center of cone = Brighter; Outside of cone = Darker; Reflections can create phase issues (can be reduced by putting the cabinet at an angle






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






46. The first cardioid pattern dynamic microphone.






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






48. Sounds that arrive at the 0






49. Shows the max sound pressure level possible with a certain amount of distortion; Measured in dB (decibels).






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