ASSIGNMENT #1 - MICROPHONES

Due Date: Monday, 1/25/10

2 formats required: word/text document emailed to me at scotts@integinc.com AND a
physical copy printed out

Object: To further your understanding of microphones and how they work, general
characteristics of the 4 main types of microphones, polar patterns, top vs side address, and
optional switches.

Requirements: Compose a research paper using the requirements listed below, which
should include a cover page with your name, assignment topic, semester, PT201, and my
name. It should be broken down into 5 sections, as follows.

Section 1: Microphone Basics

- What is a mic? (keyword: transducer)
- What do mics do and how do they do it?
- What is a diaphragm, and what does it do?

Section 2: Microphone Types (Each type of mic should have it's own paragraph)
- Research each of the 4 main types of mics: Condenser, Dynamic, Ribbon, and Crystal.
- For each type of mic, define the following:
* General definition of each mic, and what makes each unique
* Define specific characteristics of each mic
* Basic components inside each type of mic and how it works
* General applications where each type is typically used
* List 3 examples of each type of mic (ex: Dynamic = Shure SM 58)

Section 3: Proximity Effect & Polar Patterns (Each pattern should have it's own paragraph,
as should the proximity effect)
- Research and define Proximity Effect. What is it? How does it work/why does it happen?
How can you use this to your advantage when recording?
- Research the different polar patterns (omnidirectional, figure 8, cardiod, hyper-cardiod,
super-cardiod, pzm)
- For each polar pattern, define the following:
* Definition of each pattern
* Common uses/applications of each pattern type
* Which patterns do and do not have Proximity Effect
* List 3 microphone's for each type of pattern (ex: Cardiod = Shure SM 58); Note: don't list
mic's with multi-pattern switches

Section 4: Misc mic info

- Define difference between top and side address microphone's, list 1 microphone example
of each (ex: top address = Shure SM 58)
- Optional switches (pad, polar pattern, high-pass/low-cut filter), and for each switch define
the following:
* Definition of each switch
* An application where each switch could be used
* List 1 microphone example that has all 3 switches (ex: Shure KSM 44)
- Define plosives, pop filters, and why pop filters are used
Section 5: Microphone Examples & Applications
- List 3 microphones from each of the following manufacturer's:
* Shure
* AKG
* Audix
* Earthworks
* Neumann
* Telefunken
* Audio-Technica
* Blue
* Sennheiser
* Rode
* Brauner
- List the microphone you would use for the following studio applications (there isn't a
"right" answer, but there are some mic's that are known for being better at recording
certain sources, which you should have picked up on during your research):
* Lead vocal
* Acoustic guitar
* Electric guitar amp/cabinet
* Bass amp/cabinet
* Drum set: kick drum, snare, hi-hat, tom, overheads (x2)
* Sax
* Cello
* Djembe (top)