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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. 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.






2. Angle of maximum signal rejection in a microphone polar pattern.






3. Omnidirectional: 0 - Cardioid: 8 - Supercardioid: 12 dB - Hypercardioid: 6 dB - Bidirectional: 0






4. One of the oldest mics; Diaphragm mounted on & compresses cup of tiny granules of carbon (100 microns big) that increase current flow when compressed by sound waves and vary electrical current; Also called Resistance Mics;






5. 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.






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






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






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






9. Moving a conductor (a coil of wire) through a magnetic field will cause a voltage to be induced across the conductor.

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10. Raises the body of the microphone increasing height.






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






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






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






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






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






16. 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;






17. 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.






18. Coincident pairing of two bidirectional mics that make a pattern of crossing Figure 8's.






19. 4 to 6 ft. from the player; Mic should be placed below the line of sight of the bell - rotated at about 40 degrees off- axis - and tilted upward.






20. 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.






21. Dynamic; Super-Cardioid; End Address; Humbucking Coil; Brilliance Switch; Manufactured by Sennheiser; Acknowledged as the most accurate and versatile dynamic mic available.






22. Voltage applied to piezoelectric material will cause it to deform or change shape; NO PHANTOM POWER!






23. Tough & rugged; Can work in extremely high SPL environments; Less responsive to transient frequencies b/c of diaphragm mass is heavier than sound waves.






24. 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.






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






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






27. 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.






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






29. Very robust and durable; Used in telephones until 1990's; Currently finds applications for military use.






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






31. Big + & - (More front with less opposite rear)






32. 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.






33. Delicate and require extreme care; NO PHANTOM POWER; Becoming more popular than ever because of highly efficient magnets - lower manufacturing costs - and great fidelity.






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






35. 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.






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






37. The property of certain crystals that causes them to produce voltage when a mechanical pressure such as sound vibrations is applied to them; Originates from Greek word 'piezein' (to compress).






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






39. 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.






40. 4 coincident mics each positioned at 90






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






42. The first cardioid pattern dynamic microphone.






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






44. 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.






45. Sounds that arrive at the 0






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






47. Sounds that arrive from angles other than the 0






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






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






50. E = Blv - e - Electromotive Force (in volts) - B - is the magnetic field strength - l - is the length of the conductor - v - is the velocity of the conductor moving through the magnetic field