Test 2

Question 1

Who invented the first mic? When? How does it work?

Answer 1

Berliner, 1877, intended for telephones. An electric acoustic device that converts to acoustical

Question 2

Who invented the first capacitance mic? When? How does it work?

Answer 2

E.C Wente, 1916, 1st condensor. 2 thin plates, 1 move, 1 is fixed with charge applied. The acoustic pressure changes the capacitance

Question 3

Who invented the first moving coil mic? When? How does it work?

Answer 3

E.C Wente, 1928, better bandwidth. It moves through the magnetic field in response to the sound waves hitting the diaphragm, and it produces voltage proportional to sound

Question 4

Who invented the ribbon mic? When? How does it work?

Answer 4

Harry Olsen, 1932. It uses a medal ribbon attached to a fixed magnet, ribbon then vibrates from the pressure of the sound waves so voltage is generated

Question 5

Phantom Power

Answer 5

Convenient power source for condenser microphones

Question 6

What does linear mean?

Answer 6

Having an output that varies in direct proportion to the input

Question 7

2 switches that exist on some mics? Explain

Answer 7

Bass Roll Off- reduces less frequency

Pad- cuts the volume

Question 8

Polar pattern

Answer 8

A microphones sensitivity with respect to direction and frequency

Question 9

3 different polar patterns

Answer 9

Omni- all around
Bi directional- front and back
Cardiod- front (heart shaped)

Question 10

Microphones frequency response

Answer 10

Range of frequency a mic can produce

Question 11

3 types of stereo mixing

Answer 11

Spaced Pair- 2 identical mics spaced 3-30ft from each other
Deca Tree- uses 3 omni mics, placed in T 8-20in apart
Coincident (X/Y)- 2 identical mics, capsules aligned 90-135 degrees

Question 12

Pros and Cons of close and distant microphone techniques

Answer 12

Distant- >3ft from source, high probability of phase cancellations, room tone/ambiance
Close-<3ft from source, adds presence and gives isolation to the sound, few phase cancellations

Question 13

ORTF

Answer 13

2 identical mics, near coincident that are at an angle of 110 degrees

Question 14

M/S

Answer 14

mid-side

Question 15

3:1 Rule

Answer 15

Each microphone must be at least 3 times farther apart from the source

Question 16

On axis vs. off axis

Answer 16

On- talking directly in front of the mic

Off- off center of the mic

Question 17

What part of the mic give its sound?

Answer 17

The element

Question 18

3 types of loudspeakers

Answer 18

Moving coil (most common)
Ribbon
Electrostatic

Question 19

Frequency response

Answer 19

Measure of an audio systems ability to reproduce a range of frequencies with the same loudness

Question 20

Distortion

Answer 20

Signal in a reproduced sound that wasn’t part of the original

Question 21

Polar Response

Answer 21

How a loudspeaker focuses sound at a listening position

Question 22

Far field vs. Near field

Answer 22

Far- larger and full range, but in wall and several feet from the listener
Near-maller and limited range, set on stands and console bridges, near listener

Question 23

Headphone Monitoring

Answer 23

Eliminates influence of room acoustics on what you hear

Question 24

High vs. Low frequencies

Answer 24

Low is larger and travels further, high is opposite

Question 25

Signal flow

Answer 25

When patch audio takes through a system

Question 26

Overdub

Answer 26

Adding instruments that were not present during the original performance

Question 27

Block diagram

Answer 27

The use of signals to describe the signal flow

Question 28

Pan pot

Answer 28

Allows a creation of stereo imaging (L & R speakers to give the image- drums in one, guitar in other)

Question 29

Insert vs. Send return

Answer 29

Insert- seral, compression and EQ, will go with signal flow

Send- parallel, reverb, adds another chain to signal flow

Question 30

What is the first revered chamber patent date?

Answer 30

1935

Question 31

How did the focus of making a music recording change in the 1940’s?

Answer 31

Changed from capturing to creativity

Question 32

Who developed stereo recording and the stereo disk?

Answer 32

Alan Blumlein of EMI

Question 33

What are the playing speeds of LPs?

Answer 33

33 1/3, 45, 78 RPM