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