Audio Engineering 101_2 Flashcards
What is the difference between Analog and Digital?
Analog - A wave file that passes through air. Analog recording uses methods to replicate the original sound.
Digital - A sampled wave file that has been electrically converted bits of 1s and 0s, via DAW, ie.,
What is Analog to Digital Conversion?
Electronic process of taking an analog wave signal and converting it into signal bits of 1s and 0s, as for example through a DAW, replicating the original sound.
What is a breakout box?
A panel where a bundle of any kind of cables can be broken into individual lines/wires and plugged in into individual inputs/outputs.
What is a Direct box? And what is it used for?
Break converts an unbalanced signal to a balanced signal.
What is a Patch Panel? and what is it used for?
A centralized hub that connects all of the inputs and outputs of the outboard gear.
What is the typical signal flow and connectivity in a studio design?
- instrument/mic
- breakout box
- patch panel
- pre-amp
- DAW or console
What is a Hybrid mixing studio environment?
Set-up uses both analog and digital equipment and thus gets the best of both worlds.
Two different types of microphones
Dynamic microphones
Has a lower frequency response.
Uses a transducer, diaphragm and coil that sits between a magnetic field
They are typically used for instruments and snare drums.
Condenser microphones
Use a capacitor to translate audio vibrations into an electrical signal and are typically used for vocals.
Have the ability to capture high EQs and are able to run long distances.
Have bigger ribbon
Needs a 48v phantom power supply
What is a XLR cable used for and why?
Usually used for transmitting microphone or balanced line-level signals over long distances.
The cables are shielded, with a balanced mono signal.
Have less unwanted noise from outside electrical interference
What is a ¼’ cable used for and why?
Delivers unbalanced, mono signal.
Commonly used on headphones, amplifiers, instruments, speakers - that don’t require long cables.
Susceptible noise to unwanted noise from outside electrical interference, especially over long distances.
What are the two main foundation instruments in the mix?
Drums and bass
What are the two most important elements when recording instruments?
Play in time
In phase
Why is microphone placement important when recording drums or amplifiers?
Will cause the waves from the source to reach both mics at the same time
What is ProTools?
A DAW - Digital Audio Workstation.
What/why are plugins used for in ProTools?
EQs, compression, reverb and delay as some examples.
Why do we consolidate tracks in ProTools before exporting them?
So that when the tracks are imported they all fall at zero so that the different instruments fall into place where they originally recorded.
What are typical frequencies that we make EQ space for with Drums and Bass in a mix?
At the lowend - typically absolutely no lower no lower than 20 hz and no higher than 200 hz
Mixing theory / When someone sends you a song
L P / P E M V E P A
MIDI
- Musical Instrument Digital Interface
- Allows you to trigger virtual instruments in your computer
Automation - 2 types
Draw in
Real-time
Why automation
Why:
Less people needed a the console
Saves time, efficient
What are the most important things that contribute to getting a good mix?
Acoustics treatment in the room: sound Acoustics - panels, absorption glass
Having good monitors / speakers
Explain Mastering
- Taking your final stereo mix that you bounced out of the DAW and applying a finalization to that stereo mix.
- Final little adjustments - frequencies, compression, etc.,
**Most important is that mastering evens out the entire track and testing the track on all sorts of different media
Steps of Adding Effects
L - listen to track and decide if it Needs effects
T - Timing. Aligning the effect tempo of the song tempo
H - How many/much. Dry/Wet, feedback, how many affects
W - Which tracks? Auxiliary or track? Group or separately?
W - Where placement in the chain?
H - How much to apply hardware effects; Dry/wet on console auxiliary bus
L T H W W H
Why EQ?
To carve out space.
Cleaner mix
What are the two most important elements when recording instruments?
Play in time
In phase
Two different types of microphones
Dynamic microphones
Dynamic microphones
Consists of a diaphragm, coil and magnet that sits between a magnetic field.
When sound waves reach the diaphragm it vibrates the coil, converting the analog signal into an electrical signal.
Have a lower frequency response.
They are typically used for instruments and snare drums.
Condenser microphones
Consists of a capacitor that translates audio vibrations into an electrical signal when charged.
When charged it generates an electrical field as sound waves hit the diaphragm.
Requires a 48v phantom power supply
High frequency response
What are typical frequencies that we make EQ space for with Drums and Bass in a mix?
At the lowend - typically absolutely no lower no lower than 20 hz and no higher than 200 hz
What is the goal of compression?
Reduce the dynamic range - Make the largest parts quieter And the quietest parts louder Without clipping
*Makes the sound more uniform and loud.
What is the goal of EQing?
Carve out space in the frequency spectrum
Cleaner sounding mix
What is the first thing you do when given a mix? (4 things within the very 1st step)
1) Is it a demo? Radio quality?
2) Listen to the whole song through so you know what you’re dealing with (buy car example)
* *Pay extra attention the foundation. Drums and bass
- Listen to each individual track separately to test the sound quality you have to work with
3) What will you have to edit
4) How much work will be involved
The better the quality - way easier to deal with the track later
Then Give the price
Mixing Theory [L OT/IP EMVEPA L]
L OT/IP EMVEPA
1) Listen to song and and each track
2) Playing On time/In phase
3) Editing - mistakes, white noise, add fades
4) Mixing - EQ/Compression
5) Vocals - Lead guitar and vocal not playing over another (Singing)
6) Effects - Reverb./Delay, etc.,
7) Panning
8) Automation
9) Levels
Why is it important to have EQUAL DISTANCE FOR MICS!!
Allows the sound waves from the source to reach both mics at the same time
Mixing Theory [In Depth] - 8 Steps
1) Listen
Is it a demo? Radio quality?
Listen to the whole song through so you know what you’re dealing with
Listen to each individual track separately to test the sound quality you have to fall with. What will you have to edit
**Checking the foundations - drum and bass
2) Playing in Time / In phase?
3) EDITING (SCRUBBING - scrub out the noise)
Fix the mistakes
Edit out noise, the white space (SEE ABOVE)
Add Fades where needed
**Start/stop on time
Taking out the pop and clicks
Solo tracks - Which is to late/too early
4) Mixing
EQing - carving out space
Compression
5) VOCALS/(LEAD GUITAR)
Check that lead guitar doesn’t play over vocal
6) Effects - Reverb/Delay, etc.
Effects on Lead vocal last
7) PANNING
Very important - **can make/break the mix
Mixing a drum kit: **EQUAL DISTANCE FOR MICS!!
BG Vocals - WIDE STEREO (MID/SID STEREO)
**Mono harmony track - just slightly to the right or left of the lead vocal. Almost down to the center
8) Automation
9) Mixer Levels
Lead Vocal EQ area
Lead presence 2k - 5k
Fundamental/body 100-200 Hz
Important EQs to know
Kick: 45 - 100 punch; 300 - 500 boxiness; 3k - 10k clickiness
Bass: 60 - 100 weight; 500 - 1k growl;
Snare: 100 - 250 girth; 300 - 500 box;
Guitars: 200 - 500 girth; 1k - 3k presence
Lead presence: 2k - 5k
Hats/Cymbals: 5k - 20k
EXPLAIN THE EQ EXERCISE CHART (REFER TO CHART IN NOTES)
(REFER TO CHART IN NOTES)
Why is the timing of the effect important?
When effect get applied to the track, it must match the tempo of the song, otherwise the effect will sound off - and sound bad
Why is important to put the right amount of effects on. track?
Too much will sound like it’s swimming
Too little will sound dry
Which specific tracks do I want to apply the effects to?
Stereo auxiliary bus? Individual mono tracks?
1) individual mono tracks
2) TWO different mono tracks with different settings.
(ie. , Two guitar, one panned left, one panned right)
3) stereo track
Where in the mix chain do I want to apply the effect?
Apply the effects LAST
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
You don’t want the reverb to get compressed - it would squash out the frequencies
EQing the echo the echo the bad frequencies that you dont want
You want to apply the effects to an already controlled audio
