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






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






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






4. The first AKG dynamic microphone.






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






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






7. 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.






8. 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






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






10. Part of a mic stand that the mic stands on.






11. Mounts on a single stand to provide for adjustable spacing and angling between mics.






12. When miking an amp placing it near the center of this will make it sound brighter; Miking near the outer edge of this will make it sound darker and more mellow in tone.






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






14. The method by which microphones are classified.






15. Shure's newer ribbon studio mics; KSM 353 & 313 (Roswellite); KSM 44 - 32 - & 27.






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






17. Allows all low frequencies to pass; Blocks the higher frequencies from being processed.






18. Stereo configuration using a spaced pair 3-10 feet apart.






19. The arm of the mic stand; Includes the angle adjust & telescopic adjust.






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






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






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






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






24. Quartz; Barium Titaniate - Tourmaline; Rochelle Salt - and even cane sugar.






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






26. Often look like handheld vocal mics; Talk or sing into the end of the microphone.






27. 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.






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






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






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






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






32. First to mass produce the condenser microphone in 1929; Improved cutting lathe technology by developing direct drive turntables; Invents 48V Phantom Power to power the new condenser microphone for Norwegian State Television.






33. 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.






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






35. 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.






36. French physicist who pioneered piezoelectricity.






37. 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.






38. Omnidirectional: N/ - Cardioid: 180






39. 2 - 4 ft. from player; Placed below the line of sight of the bell - rotated at about 30 degrees off axis - and tilted upward.






40. Solid State and Tube.






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






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






43. 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.






44. Bell Labs scientist that was an innovator of many spaced pair and arrayed miking techniques.






45. 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.






46. 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






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






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. Pure polar pattern that receives sound from both the front and back; Also known as a 'Figure 8' pattern; More proximity effect that Cardioid or Hyper Cardioid; Often found in ribbon mics.






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