Sound & Hearing Flashcards
1
Q
Control Room
A
Where majority of engineer’s tools are kept
e.g. console, control surface, outboard gear, power amps, computer systems, multitrack machines, etc1
2
Q
How is the Control Room built?
A
To be acoustically isolated from other parts of the studio (tracking rooms), including outside surroundings
3
Q
What is the Control Room for?
A
Critical listening
4
Q
What are the Two Recording Processes?
A
Real-time & Multitracking
5
Q
What is Real-time recording?
A
With 1 or 2 mics, the musicians & artists would be positioned and play all together, recording live on one track - mixing is done at the same time
6
Q
What is Multi-track recording?
A
All artists & musicians can be recorded on their own track, either at the same time or separate times, or even both - this allows endless mixing possibilities
7
Q
What are the steps of pre-production?
A
- budget
- type of artist
- how many songs
- how many tracks for each song
- what format being recorded to
- how much studio time has been booked
- what is the goal of the project
8
Q
3 Main steps to Recording
A
- Recording (tracking, basic tracks)
- Overdubbing - basic tracks are played over headphones and additional tracks are recorded to either fix, add, re-record an entire take
- Mixing (mixdown) - panning, balancing levels, eq, dynamic processing, time-based effects, etc
9
Q
What is the definition of engineering?
A
The application of scientific & mathematical principles to achieve an end result
10
Q
Transducer
A
Any device that changes one form of energy into another CORRESPONDING form of energy
11
Q
Examples of Transducer
A
Microphones, speakers, guitar pick-ups, OUR EARS
12
Q
3 Electrical levels & their measurements
A
- Mic level - millivolts
- Line level - 1.23 volts
- Speaker level - 1-50 volts
13
Q
Subjective sound v. Objective sound
A
Subjective sound implies that a brain is required for sound
- Objective sound asserts that just because a brain may not be present, sound waves were still made, therefore, there is sound
14
Q
Subjective sound
A
Brain’s perception & interpretation of vibration of a physical stimulus causing sound pressure waves to propagate through air
15
Q
Objective sound
A
Repetitive vibrations of a physical object will produce variations in barometric/atmospheric pressure, aka sound pressure waves
16
Q
What causes sound pressure waves?
A
Compression and rarefaction
17
Q
Compression
A
Greater than normal atmospheric pressure
18
Q
Rarefaction
A
Less than normal atmospheric pressure
19
Q
List the 7 waveform characteristics
A
- Wavelength
- Amplitude
- Velocity
- Envelope
- Frequency
- Phase
- Harmonic Content
20
Q
What direction do low frequencies travel in?
A
Omnidirectional
21
Q
What direction do high frequencies travel in?
A
Unidirectional
22
Q
Wavelength
A
The actual physical distance between the beginning and end of a cycle
23
Q
Complex
A
Waves that are not necessarily symmetrical and don’t necessarily repeat
24
Q
Waveform
A
A graphic representation of a signal’s sound pressure level or voltage level over time
25
Phase Shift
The difference in time between two waveforms
26
Amplitude
The distance above or below the centerline of a waveform
27
Producer
The person who helps the artist and/or record label create the best possible recorded performance and final product, and is also in charge of the entire session
28
Propagation
The process of sound pressure waves "travelling" through the air
29
Phase
A time relationship between two or more waveforms
30
Engineer
This person's job is to interpret and capture the sonic and creative vision of the producer, artist, and record label through a recording and/or mix
31
Decibel (dB)
The unit of measurement for sound pressure level (SPL), voltage level, etc.
32
Fundamental
The note being played
33
Assistant Engineer
This person's job is to run the tape machine, Pro Tools, setup and tear down session, document the session, and make sure the session runs smoothly
34
Peak-to-peak value
Distance from max positive value to max negative value
35
Peak-Amplitude value
Distance from centerline to max positive, or centerline to max negative
36
RMS (root-mean-square)
Average of all peak-amp values
37
Frequency
The measurement of the number of cycles that occur in one second of time/ cycles per second; unit is Hz
38
Variations in atmospheric pressure
Sound pressure waves
39
Sine wave
Simple wave; pure tone
40
Omnidirectional frequencies
Low frequencies
41
Unidirectional frequencies
High frequencies
42
Average range of human hearing
20Hz - 20kHz
43
Range of frequencies humans hear best
1kHz - 4kHz
44
Formula for Wavelength
W=Velocity / Frequency
45
Wavelength is measured in __________
Feet per cycle
46
What is the velocity of a sound wave at room temperature (70°F)?
1130 feet per second
47
1.1 feet per second
Velocity increases by this much for each degree increase, or decreases by this much for each degree decrease
48
Amplify
Increase in amplitude
49
Attenuate
Decrease in amplitude
50
Cycle
The completion of a wave 360°
51
Amplitude measurement
Decibels (dB)
52
Period
The time it takes to complete one cycle
53
The absolute positive and negative values in a wave form
Polarity
54
Envelope
The attack, decay, sustain, and release of a waveform
55
Fundamental
The frequency of the note being played
56
Harmonics
Whole-number multiples of the fundamental
57
When the frequency is doubled, that harmonic is called:
An octave
58
Sound reflects off a surface boundary at an angle _____ & ______ to its original angle of incidence
Equal and opposite
59
Diffraction
Sound pressure wave's ability to "bend" around an object
60
Floating scale (dB)
Designed to measure one value against another
61
The best dB SPL for listening?
85dBSPL
62
Masking
When loud sounds cover up softer sounds, so we can't hear them
63
Bell Labs engineers who established the Equal Loudness Contours of the human ear
Fletcher and Munson
64
How would you find the 3rd harmonic of 250Hz?
Multiply 750Hz by 3
65
How would you find the 1st octave of 500Hz?
Multiply 500Hz by 2
66
How would you find the 2nd harmonic of 1500Hz?
Multiply 1500Hz by 2
67
How would you find the 2nd octave of 200Hz?
Multiply 200Hz by 4 (200x2=400 (1st octave) then 400x2=800Hz (2nd octave))
68
Wavelength of a 1000Hz wave?
1130 feet/sec(velocity)/1000Hz cycles/sec(frequency)= 1.13 feet/cycle
69
Wavelength of a 20Hz wave?
1130 feet/sec(velocity)/20Hz cycles/sec(frequency)= 56.5 feet/cycle
70
List 4 things that could be done during mixdown?
1. Combine tracks
2. Balance levels
3. Panning
4. EQ & dynamic and time-based processing
71
Nominal level
The best operating for audio devices
72
What is nominal level in dB?
0dB
73
Area between nominal level and distortion
Headroom
74
Ratio of wanted signal and the noise floor
Signal to noise ratio
75
Crosstalk
Unwanted leakage between channels on a console or tracks on an analog tape
76
4 possible console inputs
1. Mic
2. Line
3. Tape/Monitor
4. Group Signal on the I/O
77
What are the 2 paths of a console?
1. Channel path
| 2. Monitor path
78
2 types of console layouts?
1. In-line
| 2. Split Monitor
79
MTR must be in ______ to receive signal & in ______ to record signal
Input & record ready
80
2 common ways to send signal to MTR?
Multitrack Bus (MTB) & Direct Out
81
Buss
A common signal line
82
Which fader sends signal to the MTR?
Source fader
83
Which fader receives signal from the MTR?
Return fader
84
Which fader receives signal from a MTB?
Group fader
85
Patchbay
The central location for all the audio wiring in a control room and studio
86
Mult
A passive bus that allows us to make multiple copies of an audio signal in parallel on a patchbay
87
Half-normal
Breaks at the input
88
Full-normal
Breaks at the input and output
89
Signal flow: Microphone leads to
Mic pre
90
Signal flow: Mic pre leads to
Source fader
91
Signal flow: Source fader leads to
Track pan
92
Signal flow: Track pan leads to
MTB
93
Signal flow: MTB leads to
Group fader
94
Signal flow: Group fader leads to
MTR
95
Channel path consists of:
Mic Pre, Source fader, Track pan
96
Direct Out jumps from _____ to ______
Source fader to MTR
97
Signal flow: MTR leads to
Monitor path input
98
Signal flow: Monitor path input leads to
Return fader
99
Signal flow: Return fader leads to
Stereo pan
100
Monitor path consists of:
Monitor path input, Return fader, Stereo pan
101
Signal flow: Stereo pan leads to
SB (stereo bus)
102
Signal flow: SB leads to
Master fader
103
Signal flow: MDR leads to
Control Room level
104
Signal flow: Control Room level leads to
Power amps
105
Signal flow: Power amps lead to
Speakers
106
2 types of Dynamic microphones
1. Moving coil
| 2. Ribbon
107
Dynamic microphones operate by using ______
Electromagnetic induction
108
Condenser microphones operate by using ______
Electrostatic principle
109
ICA
Impedance Conversion Amplifier
110
What does an ICA do?
It lowers output impedance of the mic, and amplifies output voltage to mic level
111
PAD
Pre-attenuation device
112
What does PAD increase?
The mic's max SPL
113
3 types of ribbon microphones?
1. Passive
2. Active
3. Tube
114
Does the ICA require power?
Yes
115
What powers the ICA?
+48vDC (phantom power)
116
Should you send phantom power to a tube mic? Why?
No, tube mics have their own power supply
117
Pressure operated
Technical term for omnidirectional
118
Proximity effect
An increase in bass response as a directional mic is brought closer to the sound source
119
Transient response
Measure of how quickly a microphone's diaphragm will react to an acoustic waveform
120
Rumble
3Hz - 25Hz frequencies that are transmitted through a building's structure to the mic, causing unwanted noise floor
121
3 types of unidirectional polar patterns
1. Cardioid
2. Supercardioid
3. Hypercardioid
122
Figure 8
Bidirectional polar pattern
123
Null point
The area where a microphone rejects the most amount of sound
124
On-Axis
The point where a microphone picks up the most amount of sound?
125
Matched pair
A pair of mics tested by the manufacturer to be exactly the same
126
Which type of mic has the fastest and most accurate transient response?
Condenser mics
127
High pass filter / roll off
Attenuates low frequencies entering the mic
128
Things to employ to help dismiss Rumble
1. Roll off / High pass filter
| 2. Shockmount
129
Front address
The capsule inside the mic that captures sound pressure waves is facing upward
e.g. typical handheld dynamic mic
130
Side address
The capsule inside the mic that captures sound pressure waves is facing sideward
e.g. typical condenser mic (yours)
131
3 sections of the recording console
1. Input
2. Output
3. Monitor
132
In a Direct Out signal flow: Source fader leads to
MTR
133
Decibel uses a ______ scale
Logarithmic
134
dBSPL
Decibels referenced to Sound Pressure Level
135
0dBSPL
The softest sound a human can hear
136
dBu/dBv
Decibels referenced to 0.775 volt
137
0dBu
0.775 volts
138
dBFS
Decibels referenced to Full Scale (digital)
139
0dBFS
CLIPPING
140
dBVU
Decibels referenced to Volume Units (analog)
141
0dBVU
Nominal level in analog
142
Attack
The time taken for the amplitude to build up to it's max peak
143
Decay
The initial decline after the attack
144
Sustain
Changes in amplitude as the note is held out
145
Release
The final bit of sound produced as the note is finished being played
146
Frequency determines ______
Pitch
147
Velocity
Speed of sound
148
Harmonic Content
Tone/timbre of the fundamental frequency
149
Normals
Something pre-wired/connected to each other
150
Timbre
A component of harmonic content that allows a C played on a piano to sound different than a C played on a guitar
151
What kinds of power can a condenser microphone use?
+48vDC, external power supply, battery power
152
What makes up a capsule?
Diaphragm and back plate
153
In condenser microphones, what does +48vDC power?
The capsule and the ICA
154
FET
Field Effect Transistor
155
What kind of condenser mic wouldn't need phantom power?
Tube: A condenser that uses a vacuum tube instead of a FET
156
Voice coil
The copper wire that is the moving coil in dynamic microphone
157
Mylar is part of what?
Diaphragm
158
Between the diaphragm and the back plate, which is fixed and which is moveable?
Diaphragm - moveable; Back plate - fixed
159
By default, dynamic ribbon mic are which directional?
Bidirectional
160
Pressure-gradient microphones
Directional microphones; they respond differently depending on where sound pressure waves come from
161
Signal flow: Master fader leads to
MDR
