Question 1

To reduce excessive sibilance, use a ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  compressor. 
B)  condenser mic. 
C)  gate. 
D)  de-esser. 
A)  compressor. 
B)  condenser mic. 
C)  gate. 
D)  de-esser. D

Question 2

What is the first step in getting a good drum sound?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tune and damp the drums. 
B)  Don't mike the cymbals. 
C)  Turn up low-frequency EQ for a strong, thumpy sound. 
D)  Mike every drum and the cymbals. 
A)  Tune and damp the drums. 
B)  Don't mike the cymbals. 
C)  Turn up low-frequency EQ for a strong, thumpy sound. 
D)  Mike every drum and the cymbals. A

Question 3

When would you want to record an electric guitar from its guitar amp?

Accepted Answer

A)  When you want to avoid leakage. 
B)  When you don't have a direct box. 
C)  When you're recording quiet jazz or R&B. 
D)  When you want to record the amp's distortion. 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  When you want to avoid leakage. 
B)  When you don't have a direct box. 
C)  When you're recording quiet jazz or R&B. 
D)  When you want to record the amp's distortion. 
E)  All of the above. D

Question 4

When would you mike a violin 6 to 12 inches away?

Accepted Answer

A)  For classical music. 
B)  For old-time or bluegrass music. 
C)  For pizzicato passages. 
D)  When you need to keep the mic volume low. 
A)  For classical music. 
B)  For old-time or bluegrass music. 
C)  For pizzicato passages. 
D)  When you need to keep the mic volume low.

Question 5

How do you minimize phase cancellations with a singing guitarist?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mike close. 
B)  Aim the vocal mic upward and the guitar mic downward. 
C)  Slide the guitar track in time to sync with the vocal track. 
D)  Record the guitar alone, then overdub the vocal. 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  Mike close. 
B)  Aim the vocal mic upward and the guitar mic downward. 
C)  Slide the guitar track in time to sync with the vocal track. 
D)  Record the guitar alone, then overdub the vocal. 
E)  All of the above.

Question 6

To achieve a "tight" kick drum sound, _____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Put a pillow against the beater head. 
B)  Gate the kick. 
C)  Cut EQ around 400-600 Hz. 
D)  Use a hard beater. 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  Put a pillow against the beater head. 
B)  Gate the kick. 
C)  Cut EQ around 400-600 Hz. 
D)  Use a hard beater. 
E)  All of the above.

Question 7

If you want a spacious lead-guitar sound, ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  overdub the same part and pan both parts left and right. 
B)  turn up the low-frequency EQ. 
C)  use a compressor. 
D)  turn up the "air" EQ knob. 
A)  overdub the same part and pan both parts left and right. 
B)  turn up the low-frequency EQ. 
C)  use a compressor. 
D)  turn up the "air" EQ knob.

Question 8

If a guitar amp sounds too bright when miked in the center of the speaker cone, what should you do?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mix it with other instruments - it might sound fine when heard in the complete mix. 
B)  Turn down high-frequency EQ on your mixer. 
C)  Turn down the treble on the guitar amp. 
D)  Move the mic closer to the edge of the speaker cone. 
E)  Any of the above. 
A)  Mix it with other instruments - it might sound fine when heard in the complete mix. 
B)  Turn down high-frequency EQ on your mixer. 
C)  Turn down the treble on the guitar amp. 
D)  Move the mic closer to the edge of the speaker cone. 
E)  Any of the above.

Question 9

If you hear hum when plugging a keyboard into your mixer, how can you fix the problem?

Accepted Answer

A)  Power your mixer and the instrument from separate circuit breakers. 
B)  Enable a compressor on the keyboard channel. 
C)  Power your mixer and the instrument from the same outlet strip. 
D)  Turn the keyboard way down in the mix. 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  Power your mixer and the instrument from separate circuit breakers. 
B)  Enable a compressor on the keyboard channel. 
C)  Power your mixer and the instrument from the same outlet strip. 
D)  Turn the keyboard way down in the mix. 
E)  All of the above.

Question 10

What is a natural-sounding mic position for a grand piano?

Accepted Answer

A)  Aiming at the sound board from underneath. 
B)  At the outer edge. 
C)  Two mics about a foot over the bass and treble strings. 
D)  Aiming into a sound hole. 
A)  Aiming at the sound board from underneath. 
B)  At the outer edge. 
C)  Two mics about a foot over the bass and treble strings. 
D)  Aiming into a sound hole.

Question 11

If you are getting a lot of drum leakage into the cymbals mics, how can you reduce it?

Accepted Answer

A)  Use a 500 Hz lowpass filter. 
B)  Use a 500 Hz highpass filter. 
C)  Raise the cymbal mics. 
D)  Put a piece of foam between all the toms and the cymbals. 
A)  Use a 500 Hz lowpass filter. 
B)  Use a 500 Hz highpass filter. 
C)  Raise the cymbal mics. 
D)  Put a piece of foam between all the toms and the cymbals.

Question 12

What are some ways to clarify the electric bass sound?

Accepted Answer

A)  Add a touch of reverb. 
B)  Turn up the bass amp in the studio. 
C)  Use only the bass pickup. 
D)  Record direct and boost 700 Hz - 2 kHz. 
A)  Add a touch of reverb. 
B)  Turn up the bass amp in the studio. 
C)  Use only the bass pickup. 
D)  Record direct and boost 700 Hz - 2 kHz.

Question 13

You solo the tom mics and hear a rumbling sound. How can you reduce it?

Accepted Answer

A)  Gate the toms. 
B)  Mute the tom-tom tracks. 
C)  Switch in a lowpass filter. 
D)  Turn down the kick drum. 
A)  Gate the toms. 
B)  Mute the tom-tom tracks. 
C)  Switch in a lowpass filter. 
D)  Turn down the kick drum.

Question 14

How do you find the correct miking position for each instrument?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is no correct miking position. 
B)  Follow the suggestions in this book. 
C)  Watch what the pro's do and emulate them. 
D)  Ask the musician where they like to place their microphone. 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  There is no correct miking position. 
B)  Follow the suggestions in this book. 
C)  Watch what the pro's do and emulate them. 
D)  Ask the musician where they like to place their microphone. 
E)  All of the above.

Question 15

How can you prevent a buzzing snare drum when the bass player plays?

Accepted Answer

A)  Gate the snare drum. 
B)  Wedge a cotton ball between the snares and the snare drum stand. 
C)  Don't use a bass amp in the studio; record the bass direct. 
D)  Tune the snare drum to a different pitch. 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  Gate the snare drum. 
B)  Wedge a cotton ball between the snares and the snare drum stand. 
C)  Don't use a bass amp in the studio; record the bass direct. 
D)  Tune the snare drum to a different pitch. 
E)  All of the above.

Question 16

In general, a natural-sounding mic position for the acoustic guitar is _______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Next to the sound hole. 
B)  About 1 foot from the 12th fret. 
C)  About 1 foot from the bridge. 
D)  Close to the strumming or plucking fingers. 
A)  Next to the sound hole. 
B)  About 1 foot from the 12th fret. 
C)  About 1 foot from the bridge. 
D)  Close to the strumming or plucking fingers.

Question 17

A popular mic choice for horns is a _____________ mic.

Accepted Answer

A)  condenser 
B)  dynamic 
C)  ribbon 
D)  boundary 
A)  condenser 
B)  dynamic 
C)  ribbon 
D)  boundary

Question 18

Before you mike an instrument, ___________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  use the technique that worked last time on a similar instrument. 
B)  listen to it live in the studio. 
C)  use the mic that most engineers are using. 
D)  ask the performer if they want to be miked. 
A)  use the technique that worked last time on a similar instrument. 
B)  listen to it live in the studio. 
C)  use the mic that most engineers are using. 
D)  ask the performer if they want to be miked.

Question 19

A natural-sound mic position for a clarinet is _________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  near the player's ear. 
B)  a foot away from the side. 
C)  aiming into the bell. 
D)  3 inches from the mouthpiece. 
A)  near the player's ear. 
B)  a foot away from the side. 
C)  aiming into the bell. 
D)  3 inches from the mouthpiece.

Question 20

A natural-sounding mic position for a sax is _______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  18 inches away and above the bell. 
B)  aiming into the bell. 
C)  near the player's ear. 
D)  just below the bell. 
A)  18 inches away and above the bell. 
B)  aiming into the bell. 
C)  near the player's ear. 
D)  just below the bell.

Exam 8: Microphone Techniques

To reduce excessive sibilance, use a ____________________.

What is the first step in getting a good drum sound?

When would you want to record an electric guitar from its guitar amp?

When would you mike a violin 6 to 12 inches away?

How do you minimize phase cancellations with a singing guitarist?

To achieve a "tight" kick drum sound, _____________________.

If you want a spacious lead-guitar sound, ____________________.

If a guitar amp sounds too bright when miked in the center of the speaker cone, what should you do?

If you hear hum when plugging a keyboard into your mixer, how can you fix the problem?

What is a natural-sounding mic position for a grand piano?

If you are getting a lot of drum leakage into the cymbals mics, how can you reduce it?

What are some ways to clarify the electric bass sound?

You solo the tom mics and hear a rumbling sound. How can you reduce it?

How do you find the correct miking position for each instrument?

How can you prevent a buzzing snare drum when the bass player plays?

In general, a natural-sounding mic position for the acoustic guitar is _______________.

A popular mic choice for horns is a _____________ mic.

Before you mike an instrument, ___________________.

A natural-sound mic position for a clarinet is _________________.

A natural-sounding mic position for a sax is _______________.

The Recording Process

Sound and Psychoacoustics

Studio Acoustics; Signal Characteristics of Audio Devices

Equipping Your Studio

Monitoring

Microphones

Mic Technique Basics

Equalisation

Effects and Signal Processors

Mixers

Digital Audio

Computer Recording

Daw Operation

Judging Sound Quality

Midi and Loops

Session Procedures

Mastering and Cd Burning

On-Location Recording of Popular Music

On-Location Recording of Classical Music

Web Audio, Streaming and Online Collaboration

Appendix A: DB or Not DB

Appendix B: Optimizing Your Computer for Multitrack Recording

Appendix C: Impedance

Appendix D: Phantom Power; Legacy Recording Devices, AUDIO GLOSARRY

Filters