Microphone Placement Techniques Flashcards
7 cards from real Music & Audio Advice practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Microphone Placement Techniques flashcards as text
In an XY coincident stereo setup, the two cardioid capsules are positioned how?
Answer: At the same point, angled roughly 90 degrees apart
XY places capsules as close together as possible at an angle, giving strong mono compatibility.
An ORTF stereo configuration uses two cardioid mics spaced 17 cm apart at what angle?
Answer: 110 degrees
ORTF spaces capsules 17 cm apart at 110 degrees to mimic human ear spacing for a natural image.
When miking a brass section, why is some distance from the bell often preferred?
Answer: To let the sound develop and avoid harshness
Brass instruments project a focused, harsh beam at the bell, so backing off yields a fuller blend.
For a Decca Tree orchestral setup, the three mics are arranged in what shape?
Answer: A triangle with a center mic forward of two outer mics
The Decca Tree uses a center mic ahead of two spaced outer mics for a wide, stable orchestral image.
Placing a microphone near a wall or floor (boundary placement) primarily helps with what?
Answer: Reducing phase cancellation from reflections
Boundary mics sit at the reflective surface, so the reflected and direct sounds arrive together without cancellation.
When recording a singer-songwriter playing guitar and singing simultaneously, what placement challenge is most common?
Answer: Bleed between the vocal and guitar mics
With two close sources, each mic picks up the other instrument, causing bleed and possible phase issues.
Why do engineers often use a pop filter a few inches in front of a vocal mic?
Answer: To reduce plosive bursts from P and B sounds
A pop filter disperses the blast of air from plosives before it hits the diaphragm.