Music & Audio Advice Microphone Placement Techniques 5

Question 1

When recording a string quartet, why might a single stereo pair placed slightly above and in front be preferred over close-miking each player?

Accepted Answer

It preserves natural blend and balance between instruments

Answer

A well-placed stereo pair captures the ensemble's acoustic blend the way a listener would hear it.

Question 2

For a vocalist with strong sibilance, slightly placing the mic off-axis can help by doing what?

Accepted Answer

Reducing harsh 's' frequencies hitting the diaphragm directly

Answer

Sibilant energy is most intense on-axis, so an off-axis angle softens the harsh 's' sounds.

Question 3

What problem does placing a directional mic too far from a quiet source typically introduce?

Accepted Answer

A poor signal-to-noise ratio with audible hiss

Answer

Distant placement on quiet sources requires more gain, raising the noise floor.

Question 4

When recording a horn section live, gobos (acoustic baffles) are often used between sections to achieve what?

Accepted Answer

Reduced bleed between microphones

Answer

Gobos provide physical isolation that limits how much each mic picks up of other instruments.

Question 5

For a tom-tom, angling the mic down toward the center of the head while keeping it close mainly does what?

Accepted Answer

Captures attack and tone while rejecting cymbal bleed

Answer

A close, downward angle focuses on the tom and uses the mic's rejection to limit cymbal bleed.

Music & Audio Advice Practice Test