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. 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.






2. 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'.






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






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






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






6. The reduction in the amplitude of a wave due to the dissipation of wave energy.






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






8. 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.






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






10. The first cardioid pattern dynamic microphone.






11. 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.






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






13. 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.






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






15. 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.






16. 4800 ft/sec






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






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






19. Sensitive in a narrower pattern in the front than a cardioid and has a prominent/pronounced lobe at rear; Rejects most signals from 110






20. Omnidirectional: N/ - Cardioid: 180






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






22. 12V DC; 24V DC; 48V DC






23. 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.






24. The first phantom powered condenser microphone designed for use by Georg Neumann for Norwegian State Television.






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






26. The first microphone sold by Shure; Military awarded Shure a contract to build microphones in WWII.






27. Measurement of Sound Pressure; stated as being N/m2 with a Newton being a measurement of force equal to about 9.8 lbs; Equal to 94dB SPL






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






29. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






36. Adds two outer right and left rear facing mics to a Decca tree for surround sound depth.






37. Carbon; Ceramic/Crystal; Magnetic/Dynamic; Ribbon; Condenser






38. Tough & rugged microphone that contains an element consisting of a dome- shaped diaphragm and a moving 'voice coil'; Operates on principles of magnetic induction.






39. An instrument for detecting sound transmitted through water commonly manufactured using ceramic piezoelectric material.






40. 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).






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






42. 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.






43. 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.






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






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






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






47. 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;






48. 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.






49. Another name for condenser microphone.






50. 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.