Microphones

Question 1

What is a dynamic microphone?

Answer 1

Microphone that operates on the principle of electromagnetic induction. Does not require phantom power.

Question 2

What is a condenser microphone?

Answer 2

Condenser microphones operate on an electrostatic principle instead of operating on an electromagnetic principle.

Condenser mics typically consist of:
Two plates (one very thin moveable diaphragm and one fixed backplate)
These two plates make a capacitor(UK = condensers)
Capacitors are capable of storing an electrical charge

Question 3

What is a ribbon microphone?

Answer 3

Ribbon microphones also work on the principle of electromagnetic induction

Older ribbon microphones use a diaphragm of extremely thin aluminum

Diaphragm is often corrugated along its width and is suspended within a strong magnetic field of flux (current). Sound pressure variations from the front and back of the diaphragm cause it to cut across the magnetic flux and this is what creates our current based on the frequency and amplitude of the incoming sound wave.

Question 4

You plugged in a condenser microphone and it is not working. What might be the issue?

Answer 4

Did you forget to activate the phantom power?

Question 5

What is the directional response of a microphone refer to?

Answer 5

Refers to its sensitivity (output level) at various angles of incidence with respect to the front (on-axis) of the microphone

Question 6

What does the polar pattern of a microphone mean?

Answer 6

The angular response can be graphically charted in a way that shows a microphone’s sensitivity with respect to direction and frequency over 360º

Question 7

How does an omnidirectional mic best pick up sound?

Answer 7

Omnidirectional mics best pick up sound from any direction.

Question 8

Frequency-response curve

Answer 8

The measurement of its output over the audible frequency range when driven by a constant, on-axis input signal.

Question 9

How would you describe the transient response of the microphone?

Answer 9

Transient response is the measure of how quickly a mic’s diaphragm will react when it is hit by an acoustic wave front (short loud sound)

Question 10

Which type of microphone builds usually have the quickest response to transients?

Answer 10

Condenser Microphones

Question 11

What do we mean by a microphone’s output characteristics?

Answer 11

Refers to its measured sensitivity, equivalent noise, overload characteristics, impedance and other output responses

Question 12

What are the four types of output characteristics in a microphone?

Answer 12

1. Sensitivity Rating
2. Equivalent Noise Ratio
3. Overload Characteristics
4. Impedance

Question 13

What is a sensitivity rating on a microphone?

Answer 13

This is the amount of amplification that’s required to raise the mic’s signal to line level (often referenced to –10 dBv or +4 dBm) and allows us to judge the relative output levels between any two mics.

Question 14

What is the Equivalent Noise Rating of a microphone?

Answer 14

Simply put, this is the microphone’s electrical self-noise

Question 15

What is a microphone’s Overload Characteristics?

Answer 15

How much pressure the microphone can withstand before the capsule distorts.

Question 16

Microphone Impedance - what is that?

Answer 16

This is a rating that’s used to help you match the output resistance of one device to the rated input resistance requirements of another device (so as to provide the best-possible level and frequency response matching).