Chapter 4: Output formats, connections and gear

Question 1

Name Three Digital Storage formats. (Not file types, the storage method)

Answer 1

Compact Disc/CD, Digital Versatile Disc/DVD, Blu-Ray, Super Audio Compact Disc/SACD, DVD-Audio/DVD-A.

Question 2

Name two un-compressed file types. (Full names if possible)

Answer 2

WAV - Waveform Audio File Format (can be compressed)
AIFF - Audio Interchange File Format
CAF - Core Audio Format (No size limit)

Question 3

Name three compressed file types. (Full names if possible)

Answer 3

MP3 - MPEG-1 audio layer 3 (Uses a CODEC to compress)
AAC - Advanced Audio Coding (Better quality than mp3)
WMA and RA - Windows Media Audio and Real Audio
FLAC - Free Lossless Audio Codec
OGG Vorbis - Breakaway from FraunHofer

Question 4

Which of the following file types use Lossless compression? MP3, AAC, WMA/RA, FLAC, OGG Vorbis

Answer 4

FLAC is the only one. All the others are Lossy.

Question 5

What are the 4 Digital Connection systems(/Interfaces) we have learnt about?

Answer 5

AES and EBU - Allows data communication via XLRs
S/PDIF -Sony/Phillips Digital Interface Format
TOSLINK - Toshiba’s optical fibre connection sytem
ADAT Light-Pipe - Optic fibre port that transfers data through 8 channels via Toslink
A Wordclock signal is used to synchronise these devices together

Question 6

What 4 Digital Data Connections have we talked about?

Answer 6

Firewire, USB, Thunderbolt and MADI/Multichannel Audio Digital Interface.

Question 7

What is an advantage of having/using an audio interface?

Answer 7

• Latency is reduced
  (because) -The sound-card is better
• It allows you to record instruments directly in
• It allows monitors to be connected.

Question 8

Name The Three basic types of monitor.

Answer 8

Infinite Baffle (Sealed Box)
Reflex (ported)
Transmission Line

Question 9

Describe the three monitor types.

Answer 9

Infinite baffle - Sealed to reduce phase issues between waves from the front and back of speaker, handles less power, LF distortion and comprised LF response.
Reflex - Enclosure with a small vent which lets emits the out of phase wave from the back (in-phase after reflection) to enforce the sound, better acoustic output and bass response.
Transmission Line- Combines both aspects, using a large diameter tube that is heavily treated

Question 10

What three types of headphones are there? (More stylistic than design)

Answer 10

In Ear - Lower quality listening headphones. Cheap and widely used
On Ear - Medium quality listening headphones. medium price, fairly widely used.
Over ear - High quality mixing headphones, large and expensive.

Question 11

How should your monitors be set-up?

Answer 11

• 60 degree angle pointing at listener
• In an equilateral triangle
• 1/3rd or 38% of the rooms length (facing down the length)
• Tweeters at ear height
• On stands or some form of decoupling material
• At least a metre from the wall behind, 0.6m for small rooms

Question 12

What can be done to measure the frequency response of your room?

Answer 12

Software such as fuzz measure could be used
Using your ears
Using an online calculator

Question 13

What other measurements of the room can be taken?

Answer 13

Reverberation Time, Envelope time curve (ETC) and Impulse Response.

Question 14

Name the three pieces of equipment needed to measure factors of a room.

Answer 14

• Software e.g. Logic, Fuzzmeasure, Room EQ wizard
• A microphone
• Monitors

Question 15

Give a few basic acoustic treatment tips.

Answer 15

-Bass Traps in the corners of a room
-Diffuser on the wall behind the listening position
-First reflection points should be treated (side walls and roof)
Treatment should be placed behind the speaker.