Music & Audio Advice Microphone Placement Techniques 3

Question 1

In an XY coincident stereo setup, the two cardioid capsules are positioned how?

Accepted Answer

At the same point, angled roughly 90 degrees apart

Answer

Several feet apart facing forward

Answer

Back to back

Answer

Stacked vertically facing up

Question 2

An ORTF stereo configuration uses two cardioid mics spaced 17 cm apart at what angle?

Accepted Answer

110 degrees

Answer

45 degrees

Answer

180 degrees

Answer

90 degrees

Question 3

When miking a brass section, why is some distance from the bell often preferred?

Accepted Answer

To let the sound develop and avoid harshness

Answer

To capture valve clicks

Answer

To increase distortion

Answer

To reduce all volume

Question 4

For a Decca Tree orchestral setup, the three mics are arranged in what shape?

Accepted Answer

A triangle with a center mic forward of two outer mics

Answer

A straight line

Answer

A vertical stack

Answer

A circle around the conductor

Question 5

Placing a microphone near a wall or floor (boundary placement) primarily helps with what?

Accepted Answer

Reducing phase cancellation from reflections

Answer

Adding more reverb

Answer

Boosting only treble

Answer

Eliminating the direct sound

Question 6

When recording a singer-songwriter playing guitar and singing simultaneously, what placement challenge is most common?

Accepted Answer

Bleed between the vocal and guitar mics

Answer

Too little gain

Answer

Excessive sub-bass

Answer

Loss of stereo width

Question 7

Why do engineers often use a pop filter a few inches in front of a vocal mic?

Accepted Answer

To reduce plosive bursts from P and B sounds

Answer

To boost high frequencies

Answer

To add reverb

Answer

To increase proximity effect