Gain Staging And Amplification

Question 1

What is the function of a DI box?

Answer 1

To boost instrument level to mic level, to attenuate line level to mic level.

Question 2

An engineer should always use a passive DI box with a passive instrument. True or False?

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Who invented the first working PNP transistor?

Answer 3

John Bardeen, William Shockley, Walter Brittain.

Question 4

What sonic characteristic do solid state amplifiers have?

Answer 4

Clean

Question 5

What is the KMG standard for nominal level for headroom?

Answer 5

-6dBFs

Question 6

What does a transformer use to function?

Answer 6

Electromagnetic Force

Question 7

An engineer should always use an active DI box with a passive instrument. True or False?

Answer 7

True

Question 8

What sonic characteristic does tube amplifiers have?

Answer 8

Warm

Question 9

Tube amplifiers produce what type of harmonics?

Answer 9

Even

Question 10

What is rail voltage?

Answer 10

Rail voltage refers to the maximum amount of voltage an audio device can handle before it begins to clip.

Question 11

What is the function of a mic preamp?

Answer 11

Mic preamps boost a mic level signal to line level, Supply DC voltage for phantom power.

Question 12

Analog headroom is what?

Answer 12

Forgiving

Question 13

Which is a solid state amplifier?
Diode
OpAmp
Transformer
Transistor
Triode

Answer 13

Transistor, Transformer, and OpAmp

Question 14

An active DI box needs what to function?

Answer 14

A battery, Phantom power, and a DC power source

Question 15

How does an OpAmp function?

Answer 15

An operational amplifier is a DC-coupled high gain electronic voltage amplifier with a differential input and, usually, a single ended output. (Flips one wave in order to amplify)

Question 16

Explain how a tube functions.

Answer 16

One tube in the signal chain is used to boost the signal in two amplification stages. The power amp tube is used to boost the signal even more and then is sent to an output transformer which powers the speaker.

Question 17

Explain what Gain staging is.

Answer 17

Gain staging is the act of setting the gain for each amplification stage in a sound system to achieve a target system volume that minimizes noise and distortion.

Question 18

Explain what headroom is.

Answer 18

In digital and analog audio, headroom refers to the amount by which the signal-handling capabilities of an audio system exceed a designated nominal level.

Question 19

Explain how a transistor functions.

Answer 19

Transistors are made of a semi conductive material such as silicone. The silicone is lightly “doped” with a more conductive material such as boron which changes how the electrons flow through it. The device is used to amplify or switch electronic signals and electrical power.