Recording Media Flashcards
How many tracks does a cassette tape contain?
Four
How are the tracks on a cassette tape arranged?
As 4 lanes on the tape
What do the 4 tracks on a cassette tape represent?
Left and right for the A and B sides of the cassette
What effect does the width of multitrack tape have?
The wider the tape and the faster it runs, the higher the quality of audio reproduction
What size was the tape in domestic tape recorders?
0.25”
What sizes were the tapes used in studio and multitrack machines?
0.5”, 1”, and 2”
What is an overloaded magnetic tape said to be?
Saturated
When does tape saturation occur?
When the signal is too loud when entering the record head, and an increase in the input volume cannot produce an equivalent increase in magnetisation
What does slight tape saturation sound like?
Mild compression
In the 1960s, how were edits made on analogue tape?
The tape was physically cut and spliced
When was digital tape used for recording?
1980s and 1990s
When were hard disk recorders used?
1990s
In what decade were DAWs first introduced?
1990s
What were early DAWs in the mid-1990s limited by?
The hard disk technology of the time
Why has the development of the DAW accelerated since 2000?
Because of improvements in computer processor speeds, and increasing amounts of RAM and hard disk space
When were vinyl records first popular?
In the 1950s
What does pressing a record involve?
Engraving a copy of an acoustic waveform onto vinyl
Why does EQ have to be applied when playing a vinyl record?
Because low frequencies had to be reduced on the record to prevent the stylus moving too much
Some enthusiasts argue that vinyl sounds ______
Warmer
What do some DJs still use vinyl for?
To beat-match and scratch
True or false: Record sleeve artwork is still appreciated by many fans
True
Why can the sound quality of a vinyl record deteriorate towards the record’s centre?
Because of the turntable’s constant rotation speed