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Glossary
Hertz (Hz) – A unit of measurement
that represents cycles-per-second.
The musical note "A" above middle
"C" is equivalent to 440 Hz.
Impedance – In an electrical circuit,
opposition to current flow of alternating
current, measured in ohms. A high
impedance microphone has an
impedance of 10,000 ohms or more.
A low impedance microphone has an
impedance of 50 to 600 ohms.
Lavalier Microphone – A small
microphone designed for hands-free
usage. Usually clipped to the clothing.
Leakage – Pickup of an instrument
by a microphone intended to pick up
another instrument.
Multitrack Recording – A method of
recording where each instrument (or
group of instruments) is recorded onto
a separate track and later combined
into a stereo mix. Common formats
include 4, 8, 16, and 24-track recording.
Omnidirectional Microphone –
A microphone that picks up sound
equally well from all directions.
Overhead Microphone – Microphones
that are typically hung from the ceiling.
Common applications are choir and
theater miking.
PA – Public Address. Usually refers
to a sound reinforcement system.
Phantom Power – A method of
providing power to the electronics of
a condenser microphone through the
microphone cable.
Reverberation – The reflection of a
sound a sufficient number of times that it
becomes non-directional and persists for
some time after the source has stopped.
The amount of reverberation depends of
the relative amount of sound reflection and
absorption in the room.
Sensitivity – The electrical output that a
microphone produces for a given sound
pressure level.
Shaped Response – A frequency
response that exhibits significant variation
from flat within its range. It is usually
designed to enhance the sound for a
particular application.
Shotgun Microphone – An extremely
directional microphone, commonly
used in broadcast and film production
applications.
Sound Reinforcement –
Amplification of live sound sources.
Stereo – Two channels of audio, left
and right, which can be used to simulate
realistic listening environments.
Supercardioid Microphone –
A unidirectional microphone with a
tighter front pickup angle (115 degrees)
than a cardioid, but with some rear pickup.
Angle of best rejection is 126 degrees
from the front of the microphone, that is,
54 degrees from the rear.
Unidirectional Microphone –
A microphone that is most sensitive to
sound coming from a single direction –
in front of the microphone. Cardioid
and supercardioid microphones are
unidirectional.
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