Short Answer Flashcards
What does compression do?
Compression reduces and controls the dynamic range of a signal
What are the common knobs found on a compressor?
Threshold, Attack, Release, Ratio, Input Gain, Output Gain
Name 5 Tube Compressors
LA-2A, CL 1B, Manley Elop, Manley Varimu, Fairchild 660
Name 5 Solid State Compressors
1176, Neve 33609, Distressor, Fatso, 1178
What is EQ used for?
EQ is used to manipulate the tonality of a sound by cutting and boosting frequencies
Types of EQ
- Tone Control
- Sweepable
- Graphic
- Semi-parametric
- Parametric
Tone Control EQ
Simple (think car stereo), preset frequency adjustments, just turn up and down depending on preferences
Sweepable EQ
Ability to fine tune frequency control by using a continuous knob instead of a notched knob
Graphic EQ
fixed frequency EQ, using sliders horizontally to adjust the gain of each frequency
- used more in live settings
Semi-parametric
controls gain and frequency of a source
Parametric EQ
control the gain, frequency, and Q of a source
What is Q control?
Q control adjusts the bandwith of a frequency, from a wide bell to a narrow bell or how sharp or sloped the curve is for a shelf or filter
What is serial processing?
processing occurs in a single chain of signal flow. the processing choices affect the signal itself, usually using an insert on the console
What is parallel processing?
processing occurs to a copy of a signal (either through a send or a bus). the original source material remains unchanged, usually this is used through a parallel effect (compression), or an aux send and is then blended together with the orignal “dry” signal
How does Blackbird arrange their inputs and outputs on their patch bays?
Outputs over inputs
Describe signal flow from source to DAW
Source > PreAmp > Processing (comp/eq) > AD Converter > DAW
Describe signal flow from DAW to monitors
DAW > DA Converter > Processing (comp/eq) > Monitors
What is the BBA Tube Mic Setup Procedure
- Shock Mount in stand & place power supply near wall
- Run cable from stand to power supply (don’t plug in!)
- Place mic in shock mount
- Dress mic stand with cable and plug in to mic then power supply
- Plug in XLR and IEC cable to power supply, then wall and turn on
What microphones require phantom power?
FET Condensers and Active Ribbons
What microphones do not require phantom power?
Tube Condensers, Passive Ribbons, and Moving Coil Dynamics
What does a polarity switch do?
flips the positive and negative values of a waveform upside down on a signal
What is phase?
Phase is the position of a waveform plotted over time. In Phase (audio): multiple waveforms have no wave offset and are not canceling each other out
Out of Phase (audio): multiple waveforms have a wave offset and cancel out each other’s signal
