Mixing Basics

Question 1

What do the Fletcher Munson curves tell us?

Answer 1

we do not hear the extreme high and low frequencies well, but we hear mid range very well

Question 2

Why do we need to listen at all levels?

Answer 2

the louder music is played, the more highs and lows we hear

Question 3

What is summing?

Answer 3

combining audio signals

Question 4

What are the three main functionalities mixing consoles offer?

Answer 4

summing, processing, and routing

Question 5

What are the 2 sections of all mixing consoles?

Answer 5

master section and channel section

Question 6

What is the master section responsible for?

Answer 6

central control over the console and global functioning

Question 7

What is the channel section?

Answer 7

collection of channel strips, usually mono input

Question 8

What is a bus?

Answer 8

common signal path to which multiple signals can be mixed

Question 9

What is a processor?

Answer 9

device, electronic circuit, or software code used to alter the input signal and replace it with a processed output signal

Question 10

What are some examples of processors?

Answer 10

EQ, compressor, limiter, expander, gate, ducker, distortion, pitch corrector, fader, pan pot

Question 11

What do effects do?

Answer 11

add something to the original sound; take input signal and generate new signal based on that input

Question 12

What are some examples of effects?

Answer 12

reverb, delay, chorus, flanger, pitch shifter, harmonizer

Question 13

What is the difference between the dry signal and the wet signal for effects?

Answer 13

dry signal: unaffected original input signal

wet signal: new signal that effects unit produces

Question 14

What is the difference in how effects and processors are connected to the input signals?

Answer 14

processors usually connected using insert points, effects connected using aux sends

Question 15

What is the basic signal flow of a mixing console?

Answer 15

1. ) faders, pan pots, cut switch
2. ) line gains, phase invert, clip indicators
3. ) onboard processors
4. ) insert points
5. ) aux sends
6. ) FX returns/aux returns

Question 16

What does line gain do?

Answer 16

lets us boost or attenuate level before it enters the channel path (optimize signal level)

Question 17

What are the local aux controls?

Answer 17

level control, pre/post fader switch, pan control, on/off switch (mute)

Question 18

What is the main principle for correct gain structure?

Answer 18

set the optimal level of something as early in the signal chain as possible so reduce boosting noise

Question 19

What is a mixer strip in software mixers?

Answer 19

used instead of a channel, created in the mix window of a DAW when we create a new track

Question 20

What 3 main types of tracks are there in a DAW?

Answer 20

audio, aux, and master

Question 21

In a DAW, what is an audio track?

Answer 21

raw tracks and their audio regions (references to audio files on hard drive)

Question 22

In a DAW, what are aux tracks?

Answer 22

used for audio grouping and to accommodate effects as part of the aux send setup

Question 23

In a DAW, what is a master track?

Answer 23

main stereo bus

Question 24

What are the 4 sections in a mixer strip in a DAW?

Answer 24

input selection, output selection, insert slots, and send slots

Question 25

What is dither and why do we use it?

Answer 25

dither: low level random noise
- makes any rounding/truncating errors random, so that we de-correlate the errors from the signal and eliminate distortion caused by rounding

Question 26

What is the frequency range of human hearing?

Answer 26

20Hz-20kHz

Question 27

What is the dynamic range of human hearing?

Answer 27

0-130dBSPL

Question 28

What is the duration limit of human hearing?

Answer 28

20 microseconds-10 minutes

Question 29

What is masking?

Answer 29

two sounds happen and one is covered

Question 30

How does masking work in relation to level?

Answer 30

we will hear the loudest sound, and there is a period of time afterward that we can’t hear softer sounds

Question 31

What level difference does it take for the same sound at the same level playing from L and R speakers to sound like it is only coming from one speaker?

Answer 31

15 dB between speakers

Question 32

What time difference (delay) does it take for the same sound at the same level playing from L and R speakers to sound like it is only coming from one speaker?

Answer 32

1.12 ms to sound like it is on one side (if delay is on the left side, the source will sound to the right)