AAERT CER Final Exam Questions
and All Correct Answers 2025-2026
Updated.
Methods of audio recording - Answer Analog and digital
Microphone - Answer Converts acoustical energy that is sound into electrical signal that can
be delivered to either an analog or digital device
Path of digital audio - Answer To change the analog signal to a digital signal it will need to
pass through an analog to digital
converter (digital mixer or A/D converter)
Sample rate - Answer Number of samples taken each second when recording sound. (44.1
kHz, 48 kHz, et cetera)
Bit rate - Answer the number of bits transferred or received per unit of time (usually 16 or 24
bits)
Low sampling rate - Answer Approximation
High sampling rate - Answer Smooth
Digital mixer or A/D converter - Answer The digital mixer, or A/D converter, will output the
signal through one of a variety of connections such as USB, FireWire (IEEE 1394), serial, local
computer bus, or Ethernet.
Dynamic Microphone - Answer (Moving coil) - made up of diaphragm, a coil, and a magnet.
As acoustical energy hits against the diaphragm, which is a flat plate at the front of the
microphone, it causes the coil that is attached to it to move back and forth over the top of the
magnet. The movement of the coil over top of the magnet creates an electrical signal which
travels through the wires within the microphone and eventually reaches your digital mixer or
A/D converter.
Condenser Microphone - Answer Consists of a front plate (diaphragm), back plate, and a 48-
volt power source. The front and back plate together create a capacitor. When acoustical energy
hits the front plate of the capacitor, the distance between the front and back plate changes. The
gap between these two plates is electrically charged. This charge is created by either an internal
battery source or an external power source referred to as phantom power.
, Should you use microphones with batteries? - Answer No. If a battery would die during use,
you could have a gap in your recording, and you would need to interrupt the event you are
reporting to fix this problem.
Digital mixers and A/D converters act as - Answer Phantom power source for condenser
microphones
Biggest difference between dynamic and condenser microphones - Answer The way by
which acoustical energy is transformed into electrical energy, one assisted by an electrical
source and the other by a magnet. Both are capable of facilitating a quality audio recording and
are recommended for use in the field of digital reporting.
Pickup pattern - Answer Set path in which a microphone will intercept sound
Cardioid pickup pattern - Answer Unidirectional - heart-shaped pattern which reaches out
from the diaphragm of a microphone. Beneficial for single voice located in front of mic while
rejecting additional ambient room sound from behind the mic and lower sensitivity on the sides
Omnidirectional pickup pattern - Answer Intercepts sound from all directions from its
placement, meaning it captures sound equally from all directions. Beneficial for capturing
multiple voices using only one microphone or when you have more speakers than available
recording channels. Use carefully to avoid noisy recordings or voices covering one another if
speaking simultaneously.
Dynamic Microphone - Answer Very good for spoken word in a very controlled environment.
Not designed for long-range pickup or varying pickup patterns
Condenser Microphone - Answer Offer more flexibility and lighter-weight products, but
comes with more responsibility on reporter for understanding how to adjust for different
environments.
Gooseneck Microphone - Answer Has a solid base which rests on a desk or table. From the
base, a long flexible neck with a narrow condenser microphone attached to the end extends out
towards the speaker. Oftentimes has a button that can toggle the microphone on and off to
keep confidential conversations from appearing on the record.
Low profile boundary Microphone - Answer Lay flat on desk or table and are commonly no
more than an inch or two thick. have a solid base which rests on a desk or table. This type of
mic tends to pick up a lot of ambient noise and parties tend to place papers on top of them.
and All Correct Answers 2025-2026
Updated.
Methods of audio recording - Answer Analog and digital
Microphone - Answer Converts acoustical energy that is sound into electrical signal that can
be delivered to either an analog or digital device
Path of digital audio - Answer To change the analog signal to a digital signal it will need to
pass through an analog to digital
converter (digital mixer or A/D converter)
Sample rate - Answer Number of samples taken each second when recording sound. (44.1
kHz, 48 kHz, et cetera)
Bit rate - Answer the number of bits transferred or received per unit of time (usually 16 or 24
bits)
Low sampling rate - Answer Approximation
High sampling rate - Answer Smooth
Digital mixer or A/D converter - Answer The digital mixer, or A/D converter, will output the
signal through one of a variety of connections such as USB, FireWire (IEEE 1394), serial, local
computer bus, or Ethernet.
Dynamic Microphone - Answer (Moving coil) - made up of diaphragm, a coil, and a magnet.
As acoustical energy hits against the diaphragm, which is a flat plate at the front of the
microphone, it causes the coil that is attached to it to move back and forth over the top of the
magnet. The movement of the coil over top of the magnet creates an electrical signal which
travels through the wires within the microphone and eventually reaches your digital mixer or
A/D converter.
Condenser Microphone - Answer Consists of a front plate (diaphragm), back plate, and a 48-
volt power source. The front and back plate together create a capacitor. When acoustical energy
hits the front plate of the capacitor, the distance between the front and back plate changes. The
gap between these two plates is electrically charged. This charge is created by either an internal
battery source or an external power source referred to as phantom power.
, Should you use microphones with batteries? - Answer No. If a battery would die during use,
you could have a gap in your recording, and you would need to interrupt the event you are
reporting to fix this problem.
Digital mixers and A/D converters act as - Answer Phantom power source for condenser
microphones
Biggest difference between dynamic and condenser microphones - Answer The way by
which acoustical energy is transformed into electrical energy, one assisted by an electrical
source and the other by a magnet. Both are capable of facilitating a quality audio recording and
are recommended for use in the field of digital reporting.
Pickup pattern - Answer Set path in which a microphone will intercept sound
Cardioid pickup pattern - Answer Unidirectional - heart-shaped pattern which reaches out
from the diaphragm of a microphone. Beneficial for single voice located in front of mic while
rejecting additional ambient room sound from behind the mic and lower sensitivity on the sides
Omnidirectional pickup pattern - Answer Intercepts sound from all directions from its
placement, meaning it captures sound equally from all directions. Beneficial for capturing
multiple voices using only one microphone or when you have more speakers than available
recording channels. Use carefully to avoid noisy recordings or voices covering one another if
speaking simultaneously.
Dynamic Microphone - Answer Very good for spoken word in a very controlled environment.
Not designed for long-range pickup or varying pickup patterns
Condenser Microphone - Answer Offer more flexibility and lighter-weight products, but
comes with more responsibility on reporter for understanding how to adjust for different
environments.
Gooseneck Microphone - Answer Has a solid base which rests on a desk or table. From the
base, a long flexible neck with a narrow condenser microphone attached to the end extends out
towards the speaker. Oftentimes has a button that can toggle the microphone on and off to
keep confidential conversations from appearing on the record.
Low profile boundary Microphone - Answer Lay flat on desk or table and are commonly no
more than an inch or two thick. have a solid base which rests on a desk or table. This type of
mic tends to pick up a lot of ambient noise and parties tend to place papers on top of them.
