Deck 7: Mic Technique Basics

Question 1

To capture an accurate sound, a mic's frequency response should cover _________________ .

A) 10 Hz to 10 kHz
B) an instrument's fundamentals and harmonics at equal levels.
C) 1000 Hz to 100,000 Hz
D) subharmonics

Answer 1

B

Question 2

To make a commercial-sounding recording of a pop group, how many microphones are needed?

A) 2 for stereo.
B) one for each instrument.
C) one or more for each instrument.
D) one or more for each instrument that isn't using a direct box.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Miking close to an instrument ______________________.

A) gives a tight, present sound.
B) reduces pickup of background noise.
C) reduces pickup of leakage.
D) reduces pickup of reverberation.
E) all of the above.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Leakage becomes a problem when _________________.

A) you record with two mics in stereo.
B) you record a loud instrument and quiet instrument at the same time.
C) you record without baffles.
D) you overdub.

Question 5

A guitar miked very close to the sound hole sounds _______________.

A) tinny
B) too loud
C) natural
D) boomy

Question 6

Usually, you get a natural sound if you put the mic _____________________.

A) a few inches away
B) ten feet away
C) as far from the source as the source is big
D) above the sound source aiming down

Question 7

Why does moving a mic change the recorded tone quality?

A) Each part of the instrument sounds different.
B) Phase interference color the sound.
C) High frequencies radiate in a tight cone.
D) Proximity effect changes with mic direction.
E) all of the above.

Question 8

The three-to-one rule states:

A) Use 3 mics if 1 mic doesn't work well.
B) The mic-to-source distance should be 3X the mic spacing.
C) Space the mics at least 3X the mic-to-source distance.
D) Three mics pick up 3x as much sound as one mic.

Question 9

In a stereo recording, if you hear exaggerated separation, that means _______________.

A) you've succeeded in capturing true stereo.
B) each instrument's image is very wide.
C) the mic have the wrong polar pattern.
D) the mics are spaced or angled too far apart.

Question 10

Some characteristics of a spaced-pair stereo recording are __________________.

A) sharp imaging and deep bass
B) vague imaging and a spacious effect
C) a ping pong effect
D) a hole in the middle

Question 11

Some characteristics of a coincident-pair stereo recording are __________________.

A) vague imaging and a spacious effect.
B) a ping pong effect.
C) mono compatibility and a narrow stereo spread.
D) sharp imaging and deep bass.

Question 12

Some characteristics of a near-coincident pair recording are ____________________.

A) sharp imaging and an accurate stereo spread.
B) a ping pong effect.
C) mono compatibility and a narrow stereo spread.
D) vague imaging and deep bass.

Question 13

Some characteristics of a baffled-omni recording are __________________.

A) sharp imaging and deep bass.
B) a ping pong effect.
C) vague imaging and weak bass.
D) a strong mono effect.

Question 14

If the monitored stereo spread is too narrow, you should _________________.

A) add another microphone to the mix.
B) angle or space the mics closer together.
C) move the mics farther away from the ensemble.
D) angle or space the mics farther apart.

Question 15

A convenient device to mount two mics on a single mic stand for stereo recording is a ______________.

A) stereo bar.
B) mic stand adapter.
C) mic swivel mount.
D) mic boom.