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Microphones > Microphones > Flashcards

Microphones Flashcards

1
Q

microphones act as….

A

transducers, which means they change physical acoustic pressure into electrical energy in the form of alternating current

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2
Q

what is the name when there is more than one mic on a source

A

an array. these are used to:

record in stereo

capture different parts of an instrument

capture a different tonality with different sound mics on one instrument

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3
Q

what is the history of mics

A

originally designed as a representation of the human ear. valve and ribbon mics were common after ww1

valve mics popular because pre amps did not need phantom power

tubes only method of amplification up until the 1950s

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4
Q

how do dynamic mics work

A

via electromagnetic induction. cone attached to a coil of wire which moves in the magnetic field, when diaphragm vibrates the coil moves in the magnetic field producing change in current.

they have heavier diaphragms and are considered less accurate

they do not need phantom power

less fragile than other mics

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5
Q

what are the characteristics of dynamic mics

A

good sound quality, rigid

edgy high frequencies, which can be negative

cannot handle high frequency content

cannot fully represnet all transients

commonly precense boost about 2-5 kHz

lack of air in top end

slow response

less fragile can deal with more pressure

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6
Q

what are dynamic mics good for

A

close mic situations

good on sources with heavy bass a mid range content

reduce the bleed from high end content such as cymbals

good in live performance

proximity boost is great for vocals

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7
Q

what are ribbon mics

A

work like dynamic mics using electromagnetism but have a long strig of conductive foil. when this moves within the magnetic field it generates voltage.

smoother frequency response compared to dynamics due to the light weight of the foil.

no phantom power

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8
Q

what are the characteristics of ribbon mics

A

warm low end, bump in lowe in about 50-100

top end roll off at 10kHz

sound is darker

more directional

more low end build up due to proximity effect

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9
Q

what are ribbons good for

A

good for brass

good on guitar amps combined with another mic

things with high sensitivity but naturally too harsh such as overheads and cymbals

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10
Q

what are condenser mics

A

use two plates that act like a capacitor which.

thin and small diaphragm so they are quite sensitive and fragile

require phantom power

two types: true condenser and electrets

less electronics inside so light

sensitive because diaphragm is small

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11
Q

what are the characteristics of condenser mics

A

retain high end and sensitive

careful on loud sources

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12
Q

what are condenser mics used for

A

when a more natural or airy sound is needed

commonly used in jazz or country

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13
Q

what are tube mics

A

they use tube preamps as their power supply

no phantom power needed

they are heavy

essentially condenser mics with pre amplifier stage

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14
Q

what are the characteristics of tube mics

A

extra warm compared to condensers

a scooping element, boost in low end and airy content in high

good for vocals

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15
Q

what are boundary mics

A

PZM mics are special types of condenser mics mounted facing a metal plate, works utilising a phenomenon that occurs near a reflection point.

the source signal and the reflection combine to create twice the pressure of the source alone

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16
Q

what are the characteristics of boundary mics

A

reduces low end, and has a good high end response

reduce background noise

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17
Q

what are boundary mics good on

A

rooms, as they reduce background noise

good for tight spaces such as between the lid of a piano

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18
Q

what do mic spec sheets frequency response graphs show with a graph that has a curve above 9dB towards the right side

A

has a presence peak, tends to sound bright and trebly

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19
Q

what do mic spec sheets frequency response graphs show with a graph that has a curve that falls 0dB towards the right of the graph

A

tend to sound mellow

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20
Q

what do mic spec sheets frequency response graphs show with a graph that has a curve that falls towards the left of the graph

A

is called a low frequency roll off

21
Q

what is proximity effect

A

mics boost the bass when up close which was a warm full tone. this is known proximity effect

omni mic polar patterns do not have proximity effect

more directional a mic is, the more low end picked up

22
Q

what is a polar pattern

A

the direction of the mics pick up pattern. how the mics pick up sound coming from different directions

the more directional a mic, the more changing its axis will have an effect

23
Q

what is omnidirectional

A

no proximity, picks up sound from all around. condensers are generally omni

24
Q

what is bidirectional

A

picks up sound from the front and behind, ribbbon mics are generally bidirectional

25
Q

what is figure of eight

A

rejects sound coming from the sides.

26
Q

what is unidirectional

A

cardioid - rejects sounds coming from the back

hypdercardioid - approx 12 dB less sensitive to sounds arriving from the sides but does back up sound from the back

supercardioid - approx 9dB less sensitive to sounds arriving from the sides, compared to hypercardioid but picks up more from the back but less from the sides

27
Q

what is a mics impedence

A

this is the mics effective resistance at 1kHz

mics impedence 150 - 300 is low

1000 to 4000 ohms is medium

above 25kilohms is high

28
Q

what is the most effective impedence size

A

lower impedence mics 150 to 600m so you can run longer cables without picking up hum or loosing frequencies

29
Q

what is a mics maximum SPL

A

the loudest sound a mic can pick up without distorting.

max spl of 120 is good, 130 very good and 140 is excellent

30
Q

what is a mics self noise

A

how noisey a mic is

31
Q

what is a mics signal to noise ratio

A

how noisy a mic is. important with ribbon mics becuase they have a low signal level which means you need to add more gain, meaning more noise

32
Q

what is a mics powering

A

weather they need phantom power or not

33
Q

what is a mics side address

A

wether the mic picks up best from its side, aim at the side of the sound source if so

34
Q

what is a mics end address

A

the mic picks up best from its end

35
Q

sensitivity

A

how sensitive a mic is. generally condensers the most, then dynamics, then ribbons

36
Q

what type of mics are used on kick in and why

A

dynamic mics as they are less sensitive, so they elongate the sound and do not pick up as much attack.

more durable and higher SPL

natural boost in the attack areas

37
Q

what are some typical mics used from kick ins

A

mics designed for low end instruments, which means they compliment bass and tend to reduce the low mid areas and have high end boost

akg d12

d112

audix d6

shure beta 52

38
Q

what type of mics are used on kick out and why

A

large diaphragm condenser mics, because they have extended bass response, and low frequencies have time to develop.

39
Q

what are typical kick out mics that are used

A

FET 47

Sub mic - NS10 speaker

40
Q

how are snares typically miced up

A

using two mics, one underneath and one above, with mics that are generally matched up.

occasionally using a condenser mic underneath the snare for a natural rattled sound.

be aware of phase

41
Q

what mics are generally used on snare drums

A

typically dynamic mics:

Shure SM57
Shure SM7
Sennheiser 441
Audix 15

sometimes pencil mics used on bottom:

Sennheiser 441
Audix i5

42
Q

what mics are used on toms

A

typically dynamic kick drum mics:

floor toms:

D12
D112
Beta 52
D6

High toms:

Sennheiser 421
441
SM57
SM7B
Audix D4/ D5
43
Q

what mics are used on overheads

A

typically condensers and ribbons.

Coles 4038 is industry standard

other mics:

AKG 414
UB7
U47/ C12 tube mics

44
Q

what mics are also used on cymbals

A

pencil mics:

KM184
451

45
Q

what mics are good for bass

A

DI:

for clarity/ isolation/transients/ back up

mics on pre amp:

similar dynamics used on kick drum

condensers good to provide definition in genres such as country

46
Q

electric guitar mics

A

dynamic mics used for picking up presence, and obtain a more natural sound

often paired with a ribbon mic to capture body

large diaphragm condensers also good for a more natural, cleaner sound

47
Q

what mics are good for recording vocals

A

large diapgram condensers, valves and some larger dynamics

including:

U47
C12

and dynamic mics:

Sm7
RE20

48
Q

what mics used on strings

A

focus on capturing a natural, clean sound. because of this condensors usually used.

typical mics used:

large condensoer

ribbon mics including”

KM184
KM84
M50
M49

49
Q

what mics good for recording brass

A

ribbons are good as they calm down the egdy sound of brass instruments

avoid recording from the horn or bell as high SPL

Microphones (2 decks)

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