Practice Paper Radio Star

Question 1

1a
Name 2 production processes that have been used on the lead vocal in the first verse.

Answer 1

*Compression
*EQ

Question 2

1b
What instrument plays at 0:09 seconds.

Answer 2

*Fretless Bass

Question 3

1c
How has the’ far away’ feel been achieved on the backing vocals at 2:34.

Answer 3

*Wide Reverb, wet increased original signal set low

Question 4

1d
On the outro, a second backing vocal is layered over the first by the same singer. What is this technique called.

Answer 4

Multi tracking

Question 5

1e
Unusual for the eighties, which percussion instrument is mixed prominently at 0:34 seconds.

Answer 5

Bass/Kick Drum

Question 6

1f
State four reasons why this track could not have been recorded in the 1950’s

Answer 6

*Use of synthesisers
*Use of sequences
*Various effects on vocal parts
*Use of delay

Question 7

2a
Which elements of disco are incorporated into this track

Answer 7

*drum machine
*sequencer
*Synths
*4/4 dance beat

Question 8

2b
How are the vocals thickened on the chorus

Answer 8

lead vocal double tracked with second voice an octave lower

Question 9

2c
What gives the first instrumental break (2:00) its unusual feel.

Answer 9

It goes into 7/4 for first three bars. Alternates between 4/4 and 3/4.

Question 10

2d
This track was recorded before MIDI. What does MIDI stand for and how could it have been used on the sequencer and drum machine parts.

Answer 10

*Musical Instrument Digital Interface
*On the sequencer and drum machine parts
*Sync the sequencer and drum parts together

Question 11

3a
This track was recorded in 1951. Explain two characteristics that support this.

Answer 11

*This recording is mono (1) because only one track tape was available (1)
*No effects other than reverb (1) because they had not been invented until the 1960s (1)

Question 12

3b
Explain three processing techniques that could be applied during mastering to give this song a more contemporary sound.

Answer 12

*Apply EQ (1) to make instruments thicker (1)
*Apply a high pass filter (1) to remove plosives on vocals (1)

Question 13

4a
The introduction features a Mellotron. Explain how a Mellotron worked.

Answer 13

The Mellotron had a bank of magnetic audio tapes inside, each lasting approximately eight seconds and containing a range of pre-recorded sounds.
This was triggered by the keys on the keyboard.

Question 14

4b
What problems may you have encountered using a Mellotron and what could you use today to achieve a similar effect.

Answer 14

*flutter and speed variations on the tapes
*pitch wobble
*dissonance when playing chords
*A sampler, loaded samples, Vst technology, synthesis, preset sound banks.

Question 15

6. Van Halen : I’m the One
   The electric guitar has come a long way. Name the various effects, innovations and techniques in this song that confirm it could not have been recorded in the 1950’s

Answer 15

A03:
* Use of phaser, delay, hi gain distortion/ fuzz.,
* locking tremelo system (Floyd Rose),
* lighter string gauges, and smaller frets,
* cut away’s for higher neck reach.
* Dive bombs,
*harmonics, trills, tapping,
* palm muting,
* tremolando picking,
* whammy bar tricks, legato runs,
* hammer ons, pull offs.

A04:
* The development of modern effects meant more accurate rates of phase and
timed delays to create more exact repeats.
Digital distortion can create a high gain sound with a much better signal to noise
ratio.
*Humbucking pick-ups for reduced hiss and fatter sound,
The creation of a locking tremolo system (Floyd Rose) meant a wider array of
musical effects can be made without fear of tuning issues.
* Lighter string gauges, smaller frets and more accurate intonation make for
faster playing,
* Cut awav’s for higher neck reach and thus the development of 24 and even 27
fret necks.
* Solid bodies removed any unwanted feedback howls.