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. 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.






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






3. 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.






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






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






6. Small coil of wire wrapped around the plastic or aluminum diaphragm of a dynamic microphone.






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






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






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






10. 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.






11. Determined by: Ribbon Thickness (about 3 to 6 microns); Corrugations/Inch; Tension of the Ribbon.






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






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






14. The outer covering of a microphone.






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






16. 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






17. Method of creating low end effects from a bass drum by creating a tunnel at the mic end thus trapping sound and amplifying low end boost.






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






19. 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.






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






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






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






23. Rotating speaker cabinet design featuring separate treble and bass drivers that can switch speeds; Speaker rotate from front to back creating a Doppler effect; Resulted in new spatial perception for each note. Stereo miked up top and single miked at






24. Commonly utilize large diaphragm dynamic mics.






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






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






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






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






29. Condenser; Cardioid; End Address; 48V Required; Manufactured by Neumann; Consists of three compact miniature microphones; Has a gentle rise at about 9 kHz that provides tonal balance that is fresher and livelier.






30. An electrical device characterized by its capacity to store an electric charge;






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






32. 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.






33. Condenser; Cardioid; End Address; Manufactured by Shure; Small condenser design that is great for instrument recording.






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






35. Device used to calibrate sound pressure measurement devices; Emits a single 1 kHz frequency over a sustained period of time.






36. 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.






37. Founded AKG at the end of WWII in Austria.






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






39. 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.






40. 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






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






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






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






44. 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.






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






46. 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.






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






48. Term coined by Sir Charles Wheatstone derived from the Greek words 'micro' (small) & 'phon' (sound).






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






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