Final Exam Review Audio Theory

Question 1

Acoustic Sound Pressure is measured in terms of sound pressure level (db-SPL)

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The ear perceives all frequencies at the same loudness if their amplitudes are the same.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

A studio should be designed to break up paths of sound waves, and reduce flutter echoes.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

When sound reaches a surface, in addition to being partially absorbed and reflected, it diffracts or spreads around the surface.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

Microphones are transducers that convert electrical energy into acoustic energy.

Answer 5

False. It is acoustic to electric.

Question 6

Threshold of human hearing - someone with perfect hearing can hear between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz.

Answer 6

True

Question 7

Timbre describes sounds tonal quality with transients, harmonics, and overtones.

Answer 7

True

Question 8

Near field studio monitoring should be setup as a isosceles triangle, relative to where you are sitting.

Answer 8

False

Question 9

“Sensorineural Hearing Loss” Occurs when the eardrum or middle ear is damaged by numerous possible factors.

Answer 9

False

Question 10

An out of “phase” sound wave is always because of the signal being out of “polarity”.

Answer 10

False

Question 11

The D in an ADSR Sound Envelope represents “Decay”.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

A dynamic mic can capture more high frequency information than a Condenser microphone.

Answer 12

False. A condenser microphone can capture more.

Question 13

A condenser microphone needs 48 volts of power to function and turn on.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

A super cardioid mic can pick up sound equally in all directions.

Answer 14

False

Question 15

“Frequency Response” refers to +3dB/-3dB where as “Frequency Range” refers to +10dB/-10dB.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

“Binaural Cues” refers to sources arriving from the side will reach the two ears with differences in time of arrival and intensity.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

Ribbon Microphones need “Phantom” power to function

Answer 17

False

Question 18

What are the three of the smallest bones in the body?

Answer 18

Malleus, Incus, and Stapes.

Question 19

A dynamic loud speaker can record sound if you plug it into a microphone input.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

Humans can recognize the pitch of sound between 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz.

Answer 20

False

Question 21

For recoding drums. If you only have 3 mics, use 2 overheads and an independent mic on the kick. If you only have 5 mics, use 1 on the kick, 1 on the snare, 1 on a tom, and 2 overheads.

Answer 21

True

Question 22

There is no right way of miking instruments only methods that have had success.

Answer 22

True

Question 23

Consoles are usually smaller and lightweight compared to mixers.

Answer 23

False

Question 24

An active mic mixer allows for the amplification to the speakers that it connects to.

Answer 24

True

Question 25

Sampling is a level component, and quantization is a time component.

Answer 25

False

Question 26

MIDI is only good for in-studio recordings.

Answer 26

False

Question 27

In acoustics, phase is the relationship between two or more sound waves at a given point in their cycle.

Answer 27

True

Question 28

Inverse square law: when the mic-to-source distance doubles, the sound drops 8 dB SPL.

Answer 28

False. It drops 6 dB SPL.

Question 29

When miking a piano, open the lid towards the back wall of the room.

Answer 29

False

Question 30

A central terminal that facilitates the routing of sound through pathways not provided in the normal console design is a Aux Send.

Answer 30

False

Question 31

A fader is typically used to regulate the panning of a channel.

Answer 31

False

Question 32

Clipping is a form of waveform distortion that occurs when an audio is overdriven and attempts to deliver an output voltage or current beyond its maximum capability.

Answer 32

True

Question 33

Jitter is natural in word-clock signals among digital devices

Answer 33

False

Question 34

Ambient miking technique is the technique of choice in studio recordings for most popular music genres.

Answer 34

False

Question 35

In audio, synchronization is two or more songs that have the same tempo.

Answer 35

False

Question 36

A pop filter helps to stop wind from vibrating/distorting the microphone.

Answer 36

False

Question 37

Low latency is badf for tracking live music in the studio.

Answer 37

False

Question 38

When two signals are out of Polarity, they are naturally 180 degrees out of phase

Answer 38

True

Question 39

44.1 kHz and 16-bit is CD quality. 96 kHz and 24-bit is high end lossless quality.

Answer 39

True

Question 40

2kHz -4 kHz Contributes to most of the intelligibility of speech.

Answer 40

True

Question 41

90-130 Hz is the Rumble zone.

Answer 41

False

Question 42

10 kHz and above is where open, airy, transparent, natural, and detailed frequencies are.

Answer 42

True

Question 43

Moderate boosting 5 kHz to 8kHz can add presence without undue harshness or sibilance.

Answer 43

False

Question 44

Boosting 180-250 Hz can add “woodiness” to acoustic guitar or bass. Subtractive EQ can reduce murkiness from excessive room tone.

Answer 44

False

Question 45

Boosting 60 Hz - 80 Hz Add punch, impact, size, power, and warmth (too much boost eats up headroom)

Answer 45

True

Question 46

Humans are most sensitive to 4 kHz - 5kHz.

Answer 46

False

Question 47

Moderate boosting 30 Hz - 40 Hz can add low-end punch to sound.

Answer 47

False

Question 48

1,000 Hz - 2,000 Hz Can make sound fat, thick, warm, or robust.

Answer 48

False

Question 49

500 Hz can add warmth and body to a thin mix.

Answer 49

False

Question 50

The cocktail party effect refers to the ability for the human ear to understand multiple sounds simultaneously.

Answer 50

False

Question 51

To help maintain definition and intelligibility in a mix, the various sounds should have similar sonic features.

Answer 51

False

Question 52

A high pass filter will reduce frequencies above a certain point.

Answer 52

False

Question 53

Subtractive EQing means to attenuate the opposite frequency range you want to normal add gain to, then raising the fader to bring up the overall level.

Answer 53

True

Question 54

A noise gate is an effect used to create ambient noise.

Answer 54

False

Question 55

A parametric EQ allows you to select between gain/attenuation, frequency, and the "Q" (slope/bandwidth).

Answer 55

True

Question 56

Compressors must be used on every track to "balance them out".

Answer 56

False

Question 57

Traditionally speaking, Reverb should be the last step in your signal chain of plugins.

Answer 57

True

Question 58

The difference between a Mixer and a Control Surface is that a mixer is mobile and control surface only works with your computer.

Answer 58

True