Music & Audio Advice Music & Audio Advice Microphone Selection and Placement Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended distance for placing a large-diaphragm condenser microphone when recording a solo acoustic guitar?
- 6 to 12 inches from the 12th fret (Correct answer)
- Directly inside the sound hole
- 3 feet away aimed at the bridge
- Touching the guitar body near the neck joint
Correct answer: 6 to 12 inches from the 12th fret
Positioning a large-diaphragm condenser 6 to 12 inches from the 12th fret captures a balanced blend of brightness and body from an acoustic guitar.
Question 2: Which microphone polar pattern is best suited for rejecting sound from the sides while capturing audio from the front and rear?
- Figure-8 (bidirectional) (Correct answer)
- Cardioid
- Supercardioid
- Omnidirectional
Correct answer: Figure-8 (bidirectional)
A figure-8 pattern picks up sound equally from the front and rear while rejecting sound from the sides, making it ideal for mid-side recording or duet setups.
Question 3: When using the mid-side stereo technique, what polar pattern should the side microphone have?
- Figure-8 (Correct answer)
- Cardioid
- Omnidirectional
- Hypercardioid
Correct answer: Figure-8
The side microphone in a mid-side configuration must be a figure-8 pattern oriented perpendicular to the sound source to capture stereo width information.
Question 4: What is the primary reason for using a high-pass filter on a microphone when recording vocals in a home studio?
- To reduce low-frequency rumble from HVAC, footsteps, and room resonance (Correct answer)
- To boost the singer's upper harmonics for presence
- To eliminate sibilance in the 5-8 kHz range
- To increase the overall recording level
Correct answer: To reduce low-frequency rumble from HVAC, footsteps, and room resonance
A high-pass filter attenuates low-frequency noise such as HVAC rumble, foot traffic vibrations, and room modes that can muddy a vocal recording.
Question 5: Which type of microphone is generally preferred for miking a snare drum in a live concert setting?
- Dynamic cardioid microphone (Correct answer)
- Large-diaphragm tube condenser
- Ribbon microphone
- Lavalier microphone
Correct answer: Dynamic cardioid microphone
Dynamic cardioid microphones handle high SPLs from a snare drum while rejecting bleed from surrounding kit pieces, making them the standard live choice.
Question 6: What happens to a condenser microphone's frequency response when you position it at an extreme off-axis angle to the sound source?
- High frequencies roll off more than low frequencies, causing a duller tone (Correct answer)
- The microphone produces a flat response identical to on-axis
- Low frequencies are attenuated while highs remain unchanged
- The microphone switches to omnidirectional behavior
Correct answer: High frequencies roll off more than low frequencies, causing a duller tone
Condenser microphones exhibit greater high-frequency attenuation at off-axis angles, resulting in a darker and less detailed sound compared to on-axis pickup.
Music & Audio Advice Music & Audio Advice Microphone Selection and Placement Questions and Answers 2
What is the recommended distance for placing a large-diaphragm condenser microphone when recording a solo acoustic guitar?