Audio System Basics

Question 1

analog signal definition

Answer 1

electrical current flowing through a device or cable, that directly represents sound vibrations in air.

Question 2

Basic Analog Signal Flow: Stage Inputs

Answer 2

instrument, di box, (amp), stagebox, FOH mixer

Question 3

Basic Analog Signal Flow: PA Outputs

Answer 3

mix outputs (returns), crossover, LF amp, HF amp, monitors/speakers

Question 4

gain staging

Answer 4

• Maintaining optimal gain at each stage of the signal chain to minimize noise and distortion
• as much signal to noise ration as possible

Question 5

distortion occurs when…

Answer 5

the signal exceeds the maximum level of any

amplifying stage.

Question 6

SNR means…

Answer 6

Signal to Noise Ratio

Question 7

Signal levels: 3 types

Answer 7

mice level, line level, speaker level

Question 8

types of mics

Answer 8

dynamic, condenser, ribbon, Electret-condenser microphones

Question 9

Phantom Power

Answer 9

Power supplied to microphones through a balanced microphone cable

Question 10

which devices require phantom power

Answer 10

Needed by condenser mics, electret-condenser mics, and some other devices such as D.I. boxes.

Question 11

which mics ignore phantom power?

Answer 11

dynamic mics

Question 12

which mics get damaged by phantom power?

Answer 12

ribbon mics

Question 13

which cable has 1 signal carrying conductor?

Answer 13

unbalanced cable

Question 14

which cable has 2 signal carrying conductors/

Answer 14

balanced cable

Question 15

how long can a balanced cable be?

Answer 15

up tp 100m

Question 16

how long can an unbalanced cable be?

Answer 16

shorter than 10m

Question 17

Common Mode Rejection

Answer 17

This is the ability of an amplifier to reject the effect of voltage applied to. both input terminals simultaneously.

Question 18

high impedance means…

Answer 18

high likely hood of picking up noise

Question 19

anything that changes the signal level is called a…

Answer 19

gain stage

Question 20

distortion is..

Answer 20

anytime you change the audio (tone, equalization, normally negative change)

Question 21

headroom

Answer 21

difference between our signal level and the maximum limitation of our sound system

Question 22

dynamic range

Answer 22

difference between the and the softest possible useful signal

Question 23

dBu is used to…

Answer 23

measure differences in signal level

Question 24

what does the “u” on mixing consoles refer to?

Answer 24

unity; zero decibels, will cause no change in signal level

Question 25

difference between sm57 and 58

Answer 25

58 is more for vocals and 57 is more for instruments

Question 26

AKG D112 is used more for

Answer 26

low frequency instruments

Question 27

Sennheiser MD421 is good for…

Answer 27

both vocals and instruments

Question 28

sm7b is a…

Answer 28

broadcast microphone

Question 29

2 different types of condenser mics

Answer 29

• large diaphragm condenser mics

- small diaphragm condenser mics

Question 30

high frequency response means…

Answer 30

being able to pick up a large range of frequencies

Question 31

can balanced signal jacks accept unbalanced signals

Answer 31

yes, it just won’t have any advantage of a balanced system

Question 32

an example of a balanced and unbalanced cable

Answer 32

xlr and trs cable