Audio and sound reinforcement Flashcards

1
Q
What we hear as sound is 'a class of
physical kinetic energy called \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
A

acoustical energy

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2
Q

What is acoustical energy?

A

Acoustical energy consists of fluctuating waves of pressure in a physical medium - usually air.

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3
Q

What is the rate of air pressure fluctuation

called ?

A

frequency of the wave

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4
Q

What is the period of the wave?

A

The amount of time required for one complete cycle of a sound wave.

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5
Q

What does a single complete cycle of an acoustical pressure wave consists of ?

A

one half-cycle of compression (higher pressure) of the air molecules, followed by one half-cycle of rarefaction (lower pressure) of the molecules

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6
Q

In order to be classified as sound, waves
of pressure in air must fluctuate at a
rate between _____ and _______ complete
cycles per second (cps)

A

20 and 20,000

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7
Q

A wave’s period is expressed in _____ ___ ____

A

seconds per cycle

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8
Q

What musical attribute does frequency correspond with?

A

pitch

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9
Q

What is the equation for a waves period?

A

Period =1 / Frequency

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10
Q

True or False

The lower the frequency the higher the pitch?

A

False

The higher the frequency the higher the pitch

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11
Q

What is the unit of measurement of frequency?

A

Hertz

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12
Q

What is the equation of wavelength?

A

Wavelength = speed of sound/ Frequency

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13
Q

At what speed does sound wave travel through air?

A

Sound waves travel through air at the speed of 1130 ft/sec (344 m/sec) at sea level on a standard temperature day (which is 59 degrees Farenheit or
15 degrees Celsius).

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14
Q

What is wavelength?

A

The physical distance covered by one
complete cycle of a given frequency
sound as it passes through air is called
the wavelength.

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15
Q

The amplitude, or strength, of an audio signal is called the _____ ____.

A

signal level

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16
Q

What is an audio signal?

A

An audio signal is an electrical representation of a sound, in the form of a fluctuating voltage or current

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17
Q

What is the phase of signal?

A

The time relationship of a sound wave (or an audio signal) to a known time reference

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18
Q

The speed of sound is _________ of frequency

A

independent

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19
Q

What is phase expressed in ?

A

Degrees

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20
Q

Level (acoustical or electrical) is specified in

A

decibels

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21
Q

One complete cycle of a sine wave equals

A

360 degrees.

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22
Q

Why is phase need to be controlled?

A

It affects how sounds add together

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23
Q

What is a sound system?

A

A sound system is a functional arrangement of electronic components that is designed to amplify (increase the strength of) sound.

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24
Q

What is a sine wave?

A

A sine wave is a pure tone, a fundamental frequency with no harmonics (representing something like the sound of a flute).

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25
Q

Sound systems amplify sound by converting it into _______ -________

A

electrical energy

26
Q

What is the fluctuating current/voltage in a input transducer is known as?

A

audio signal

27
Q

What is a transducers?

A

In audio electronics, devices that convert energy from one form into another

28
Q

Describe a Air Pressure or Velocity Microphones ?

A

convert sound waves traveling in air into an audio signal traveling in the mic cable.

29
Q

What are the 3 reasons for sound systems?

A

A) To help people hear something better.
B) To make sound louder for artistic reasons.
C) To enable people to hear sound in remote locations.

30
Q

What is a input transducer?

A

converts sound into a fluctuating electrical current or voltage which is a precise representation of the sound

31
Q

What are signal processors?

A

Devices that change one or more aspects of an audio signal

32
Q

What is Woofer loudspeakers?

A

designed specifically to reproduce low frequencies (usually below 500 Hz). Woofers sometimes are used to reproduce both low frequencies and some mid frequencies (normally not higher than 1.5 kHz)

33
Q

________ ______ convert fluctuating waves of induced magnetism into an audio signal. Found on
electric stringed instruments. This describes what input transducers?

A

Magnetic Pickups

34
Q

What are Phonograph Pickups (cartridges)?

A

convert physical movement of a stylus (“needle”) into an audio signal. I

35
Q

What is the output transducer?

A

converts the amplified or otherwise processed audio signal back into sound.

36
Q

convert fluctuating magnetic fields (imprinted on

magnetic recording tape) into an audio signal. This describes

A

Tape Heads

37
Q

Which output transducer was formerly called “squawkers?

A

Midrange loudspeakers

38
Q

What are Contact Pickups?

A

convert sound waves in a dense medium (wood, metal, skin) into an audio signal.

39
Q

______ full-range transducers designed to fit snugly

on the ears. Some designs block out ambient (external) sound, while others do not

A

Headphones

40
Q

What is Monitor loudspeakers?

A

full range loudspeakers that are pointed at the performer on stage, rather than out into the audience

41
Q

What are Laser Pickups?

A

Convert imprinted patterns on a compact disc

into a digital data stream that is then translated by a DAC (Digital to-Analog Converter) into an analog audio signal.

42
Q

Describe the Midrange loudspeakers

A

designed specifically to reproduce mid frequencies

typically above 500 Hz

43
Q

What are Contact Pickups?

A

convert sound waves in a dense medium (wood, metal, skin) into an audio signal.

44
Q

_______ _______ convert variations in the density or transparent area of a photographic film into an
audio signal.

A

Optical Pickups

45
Q

Which input transducer is found on electric stringed instruments?

A

Magnetic Pickups

46
Q

_______ ______ are sometimes used on acoustic

stringed instruments such as guitar, mandolin, violin,

A

Contact Pickups

47
Q

What are Optical Pickups typically used in?

A

Used for most motion picture sound tracks

48
Q

Describe the usage of woofers.

A

Woofers sometimes are used to reproduce both low frequencies and some mid frequencies (normally not higher than 1.5 kHz).

49
Q

______ ______integrated systems incorporating

woofer and tweeter (and, if used, midrange) drivers in a single enclosure.

A

Full-range loudspeakers

50
Q

Tweeter loudspeakers are designed to reproduce the ______1_____ (normally __2__ than
__3___, and usually above 6 kHz).

A
  1. highest frequencies
  2. higher
  3. 1.5 kHz
51
Q

What are Super-tweeter loudspeakers?

A

used to extend the range of full range systems in the highest frequencies (usually above 10 kHz)

52
Q

Describe the use of full-range loudspeaker

A

As the name implies, they are designed to reproduce the full audio range (more or less).

53
Q

____ ____ full range loudspeakers that are pointed

at the performer on stage, rather than out into the audience

A

Monitor loudspeakers

54
Q

What is the professional name for foldback?

A

Monitor loudspeakers

55
Q

What type of drivers are used in subwoofer loudspeaker?

A

Cone-type drivers are used nearly exclusively, and typically measure from 15 to 24 inches in
diameter, although a few special units are available with cone diameters approaching 5 feet.

56
Q

What is the range of full-ranger loudspeakers?

A

their range rarely extends below about 60 Hz.

57
Q

Typically, _________ drivers are used as woofers, measuring from 8 to 18 inches in diameter

A

cone-type

58
Q

What occurs when audio signals are mixed in a
console, or when sound waves mix in
the air?

A

they add algebraically

59
Q

What is a sine wave?

A

A sine wave is a pure tone, a fundamental frequency with no harmonics

60
Q

What are the uses of monitor loudspeaker?

A

They are used to return a portion of the program to the performer, to help him or her stay in tune and in time