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music tech revision > microphones > Flashcards

microphones Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a moving coil mic called

A

Dynamic microphone

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2
Q

Explain Electromagnetic Induction

A

A moving coil is positioned in a magnetic field, attached to a diaphragm. The diaphragm vibrates in equal response to sound/air pressure. The coil moves in the magnetic field to create an electrical current that is proportional to the changes in air pressure.

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3
Q

How does a condenser mic function

A

Contains capacitor which consists of two plates. Sound causes one of the plates to vibrate, which functions as a diaphragm, and that gap between the two plates changes. The plates are powered, therefore moving the diaphragm causes a change in capacitance, and a current flows

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4
Q

Features of a Dynamic mic

A

Robust
Can withstand High SPL
Good for live use
Does not require Phantom power
Limited high frequency response- Suitable for bass instruments

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5
Q

Features of a Condenser mic

A

Sensitive, giving effective capture of quiet sounds
Flat and accurate frequency responses
Able to capture a wide frequency range
Can capture a brighter signal
Good signal-to-noise ratio- High output volume and thus low noise
wide dynamic range
Suitable for most studio work

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6
Q

How does a Ribbon mic function

A

Sound vibrations disturb metallic ribbon suspended in a magnetic field, which generates a voltage that is proportional to the movement of the ribbon. ‘Warm’ sound when used as a close mic with emphasised low frequencies. Is damaged by Phantom power
Fragile and very Expensive

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7
Q

What is a pre-amp

A

It coverts a signal into a workable Line Level

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8
Q

Phantom Power

A

48v from a mixing desk or an audio interface to provide power for condenser microphones and DI boxes

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9
Q

Gain

A

The amount of boost applied to the pre-amp stage of an audio channel. Used either to boost signals to an operable level or to boost beyond that point to drive a signal into distortion for musical purposes

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10
Q

Pad

A

A switch on equipment that attenuates the gain by a set amount to prevent clipping

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11
Q

High Pass Filter

A

A type of filter that removes only lower frequencies below a set cut off frequency and allows high frequencies through unaffected. Sometimes known as a ‘Rumble Filter’

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12
Q

Polarity

A

Inverts the polarity of the signal

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13
Q

Clip/Activity LEDs

A

These will illuminate when a signal is clipping/distorting, and when a signal is going through the channel

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14
Q

Polar Patterns

A

A microphones polar pattern describes how it picks up sound from all around the capsule

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15
Q

Omnidirectional

A

Picks up sound from all around the capsule
Captures room ambience
Provides little isolation so can lead to spill being captured
Useful if the space sounds nice or the instrumentalists are all around the microphone

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16
Q

Cardioid

A

Rejects sound from behind the microphone
Minimises the amount of reverb and/or noise from behind the microphone that is captured
Used for most close-mic work

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17
Q

Hypercardioid

A

Picks up sound from in front of the capsule and gives some capture of those behind
Effective at providing partial isolation from other instruments but capturing some of the ambience of the room

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18
Q

Figure-of-8

A

Picks up sound from in front of and behind the capsule
They are used in M/S (mid-side) recording techniques to give a stereo image of the sound
Figure-of-8 microphones strongly reject sound from the sides of the capsule

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19
Q

How can you avoid capturing Unwanted noise and spill

A

Performers wear Close-back Headphones
Keeping monitor mix relatively quiet in Headphones
Using acoustic screens/isolated booths
Making use of overdubbing and directional microphones

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20
Q

What is frequency response

A

A mics frequency response shows what frequencies it picks up, commonly displayed in a graph.
The flatter the graph, the more ‘true’ the sound is- any peaks means that those frequencies are captured louder than they are in ‘real-life’

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21
Q

What is Transient response

A

How quickly the diaphragm can move when disturbed by a vibration

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22
Q

Transient response in reference to Condenser mics

A

Has a small diaphragm so tends to have a faster Transient response, as the diaphragm is light and easy to move
This means their high frequency response is often better

23
Q

Transient response in reference to Dynamic mics

A

Diaphragm is connected to a heavy coil, so does not move as quickly.
Can introduce a form of acoustic compression

24
Q

What does gain do

A

Changes the level of gain to aim to minimise noise and unwanted distortion

25
Q

What if gain is set high

A

If gain is set to maximum but volume output is low, will capture lots of hiss

26
Q

What if gain is set low

A

If gain is set lower but with the volume output set to maximum, could risk capturing a distorted signal

27
Q

What is signal-to-noise ratio

A

The difference in volume between the signal you want to capture and the noise

28
Q

What happens with a poor signal-to-noise ratio

A

noise will be more prevalent in a recording

29
Q

What happens if the signal is quieter and closer to the noise level

A

The volume of the signal should be boosted to be heard, but the level of noise will also be increased

30
Q

What is Headroom

A

The gap between the loudest peaks of the mix or audio, and the point at which digital clipping begins

31
Q

What is Lo-Z used for

A

Microphone level

32
Q

What is Hi-Z used for

A

Instrument level

33
Q

What is a DI box used for

A

Converting a signal at instrument level to microphone level/ Hi-Z to Lo-Z

34
Q

What do you use to get Hi-Z and Lo-Z to Line level

A

A Pre-amp

35
Q

What connector does Microphone level use

A

An XLR connector

36
Q

What connector does Instrument level use

A

A TS Jack

37
Q

What connector does Line level use

A

Balanced TRS Jack connector or unbalanced phono

38
Q

What is Proximity effect

A

The increase in low frequencies depending on how close the microphone is to the sound source. When closer, there will be more lower frequencies captured

39
Q

When is proximity effect useful

A

Positive for kick drums and bass guitars

40
Q

What mic exhibit Proximity effect

A

Directional mics, especially apparent on male vocals and acoustic guitars

41
Q

How can you reduce Proximity effect

A

EQ or an HPF/rumble filter can reduce, or altering the mic position, moving it further away

42
Q

What do filters do

A

Remove unwanted low or high frequencies

43
Q

What does a low pass filter remove

A

Can reduce Hiss

44
Q

What does a High pass filter remove

A

Can reduce Hum

45
Q

What does in phase mean

A

When the sound waves peaks and troughs line up

46
Q

What does out of phase mean

A

When the peaks and troughs don’t line up and can cause destructive interference, which can completely cancel out the sound of the wave

47
Q

When should you consider phase

A

When using multiple mics to record an instrument, such as drums

48
Q

What are the three common mic switches

A

Polar pattern- usually between cardioid or omnidirectional
High pass filter- will reduce all frequencies below the cut off, tending to be between 80-150Hz. Sometimes known as a rumble filter
Pad- Will change the sensitivity of the mi, usually being reduced by 10dB

49
Q

What mic placement captures a brighter sound

A

On-Axis

50
Q

What mic placement captures a duller sound

A

Off-Axis

51
Q

What does a DI box do

A

Converts an instrument or line level to microphone level, and unbalanced signals to balanced

52
Q

What do active DI boxes need

A

Phantom Power/a 9V battery

53
Q

What are Plosive sounds

A

A strong sound (usually p or d) which can create a disturbance in air pressure on the diaphragm to make a ‘pop’ sound

54
Q

What can help reduce plosive sounds

A

A pop filter/shield
Can also use EQ and compression to reduce, but a pop shield is better

music tech revision (9 decks)

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