Recording Media Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

How many tracks does a cassette tape contain?

A

Four

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2
Q

How are the tracks on a cassette tape arranged?

A

As 4 lanes on the tape

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3
Q

What do the 4 tracks on a cassette tape represent?

A

Left and right for the A and B sides of the cassette

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4
Q

What effect does the width of multitrack tape have?

A

The wider the tape and the faster it runs, the higher the quality of audio reproduction

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5
Q

What size was the tape in domestic tape recorders?

A

0.25”

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6
Q

What sizes were the tapes used in studio and multitrack machines?

A

0.5”, 1”, and 2”

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7
Q

What is an overloaded magnetic tape said to be?

A

Saturated

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8
Q

When does tape saturation occur?

A

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

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9
Q

What does slight tape saturation sound like?

A

Mild compression

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10
Q

In the 1960s, how were edits made on analogue tape?

A

The tape was physically cut and spliced

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11
Q

When was digital tape used for recording?

A

1980s and 1990s

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12
Q

When were hard disk recorders used?

A

1990s

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13
Q

In what decade were DAWs first introduced?

A

1990s

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14
Q

What were early DAWs in the mid-1990s limited by?

A

The hard disk technology of the time

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15
Q

Why has the development of the DAW accelerated since 2000?

A

Because of improvements in computer processor speeds, and increasing amounts of RAM and hard disk space

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16
Q

When were vinyl records first popular?

A

In the 1950s

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17
Q

What does pressing a record involve?

A

Engraving a copy of an acoustic waveform onto vinyl

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18
Q

Why does EQ have to be applied when playing a vinyl record?

A

Because low frequencies had to be reduced on the record to prevent the stylus moving too much

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19
Q

Some enthusiasts argue that vinyl sounds ______

A

Warmer

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20
Q

What do some DJs still use vinyl for?

A

To beat-match and scratch

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21
Q

True or false: Record sleeve artwork is still appreciated by many fans

A

True

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22
Q

Why can the sound quality of a vinyl record deteriorate towards the record’s centre?

A

Because of the turntable’s constant rotation speed

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23
Q

What causes the needle to jump with vinyl records?

A

Scratches

24
Q

Why do vinyl records get dusty?

A

Because they create a static charge that attracts dust

25
Q

What effect does dust have on the sound of a vinyl record?

A

It causes crackle

26
Q

What are vinyl records prone to doing when exposed to heat?

A

Warping

27
Q

In what decade were cassette tapes first introduced?

A

1970s

28
Q

What do the polarisation of the Iron oxide particles on the surface of a cassette tape represent?

A

The audio signal

29
Q

What does the playback head of a cassette tape player do?

A

Reads the magnetic information and converts it back into an electrical signal for amplification

30
Q

What does the erase head of a tape recorder use to reset the polarisation of the iron oxide particles

A

A strong permanent magnet that is placed near the tape

31
Q

What were initially more expensive, vinyl or cassette tapes?

A

Vinyl

32
Q

Why are cassette tapes now more expensive than vinyl?

A

Lack of demand

33
Q

Why is a cassette tape difficult to scratch or damage?

A

It’s protected in a case

34
Q

What are the recording times of a cassette tape like compared to vinyl

A

They’re longer

35
Q

Why did tape recorders need to be cleaned with a head cleaner cassette?

A

The oxide had a tendency to rub off the tape

36
Q

What happens to the quality of a recording on a cassette tape with each playing?

A

It degrades

37
Q

Cassette tape recordings were prone to print through. What is print through?

A

When the music is heard as an echo before it actually plays

38
Q

What does CD stand for?

A

Compact Disc

39
Q

How does a CD store data?

A

It stores data as pits on a disk which are read by a laser

40
Q

What length of stereo audio can a CD hold?

A

74-80 minutes

41
Q

How much data can a CD hold?

A

700mb

42
Q

What is cheaper to manufacture: Vinyl, Cassette tape, or CD?

A

CD

43
Q

What has a better signal-to-noise ratio: Vinyl, Cassette tape, or CD?

A

CD

44
Q

What has a wider dynamic range: Vinyl, Cassette tape, or CD?

A

CD

45
Q

What has a better frequency response: Vinyl, Cassette tape, or CD?

A

CD

46
Q

Why is it quick and easy to access tracks on a CD?

A

Because of track indexing

47
Q

What can scratches do to a CD?

A

Cause issues with a large amount of data and render sections of discs unplayable

48
Q

What do some enthusiasts consider the sound of CD to be?

A

Brittle and unmusical

49
Q

Since which decade have compressed digital audio formats become more prevalent?

A

1990s

50
Q

What is the pay-off in regards to compressed digital audio formats?

A

Some frequency content and dynamic detail is lost

51
Q

When were better file compression formats, such as MP4/AAC, which offer improved sound quality over MP3, introduced?

A

Early 2000s

52
Q

How does lossy audio compression reduce the file size?

A

By losing some frequency content and dynamic detail

53
Q

What is the difference between lossy and lossless audio compressions?

A

Lossless audio files are larger than lossy ones, but no data is lost

54
Q

What issues can data loss from lossy audio formats introduce?

A

Issues with the stereo field on a recording and mask effects, whilst also introducing unwanted artefacts

55
Q

True or false: lossy audio formats can have increased noise and an uneven frequency response?

A

True

56
Q

What is the most common format for compressed digital audio?

A

MP3

57
Q

What extra processing do many online steaming services add to music?

A

Volume normalisation and limiting