Week 1 Quiz 1 Flashcards
As the vibrating mass moves inward from it’s normal resting state, an area with a lower than normal atmospheric pressure will be created, in a process call what?
Rarefaction
Sound arrives at the ear in the form of periodic variations in an atmospheric pressure called____
Sound Pressure Waves
Any mechanical or electrical device that changes one form of energy into another corresponding form of energy, is called what?
A transducer
What is amplitude?
The distance above or below the centerline of a waveform which represents the aplitude level of that signal
Describe frequency
The rate in which an acoustic generator, electrical signal or vibrating mass repeats within a cycle of positive and negative amplitude.
What is the HZ range of human hearing?
20hz to 20,000hz
Describe wavelength
The wavelength of a waveform is the physical distance in a medium between the beginning and the end of a cycle.
What is phase shift?
A term that describes one waveform’s lead or lag time with respect to another. Basically a time delay between tow (or more) waveforms.
What is sine wave>
Is composed of a single frequency that produces a pure sound at a specific pitch.
Partials that are higher than the fundamental frequency are called___ or ____
Partials or overtones
Overtone frequencies that are whole number multiplies of the fundamental frequency are called___
Harmonics
What are complex waves?
Represents practically all other sounds that are produced in music and nature. They almost never repeat and often are not symmetrical about the zero line.
Envelope is composed of 4 sections which are?
ADSR
Attack
Decay
Sustain
Release
What is logarithm?
A mathematical function that reduces large numeric values into smaller more manageable numbers
What is logarithmic?
Logarithmic values are used to express the differences in intensities between two levels.
The log of the number 2 is…
0.3
When a number is an integral power of 10(e.g, 100, 1000, 10,000) the log can be found by
Simply adding up the zeros in that number
Numbers that are greater than 1 will…
Have a positive log value
Numbers that are less than 1 will…
Have a negative log value
The decibel (db) is a logarithmic value that
expresses differences in intensities between two levels
Voltage can be thought of as
the pressure behind electrons within a wire
1 db change is
noticeable to most ears (but not by much)
Turning something up by 3 db will
double the signals level but it will only be perceived as being 1 1/4 times as loud
Turning something down 3 db will
Halve the signals level
What are beats?
Two tones that differ only slightly in frequency and have approximately the same amplitude will produce an effect known as beats
Combination Tones…
Results when two loud tones differ by more than 50 hz
Masking is…
The phenomenon by which loud signals prevent the ear from hearing softer sounds
3 types of reflections are commonly generated within an enclosed space which are
- Direct Sound
- Early reflections
- Reverberation (reverb)
Abffusor
An acoustic panel offering both absorptive and reflective properties
Absolute Pitch
The ability of a person to accurately determine the exact pitch of a musical note
Absorption
In acoustics the conversion of sound energy (pressure) to heat
Absorption Coefficient
The fraction of sound energy that is absorbed by any surface.
Measured between 0-1
The count of 0.63 represents 63% of absorption
ACETATE
A very thin plastic film, used as a base material in the production of magnetic recording tape
Acoustic Baffle
Any partition, designed to be an acoustic obstruction
Acoustic Centre
Is an imaginary point from which a sound wave or program material appears to originate
Acoustic Lens
A high frequency speaker attachment system
Designed to increase the radiation angle of the high frequency speaker or horn
Acoustic Suspension System
A sealed loud speaker cabinet in which the enclosed volume of air acts as an acoustic resistance to the speaker cone
Acoustics
The science of sound and the effect it has on a given environment
Active Crossover
A crossover which splits frequencies at low levels, before the power amplifier
Active Device
A network or circuit capable of supplying a voltage gain
Address
A time or location point within program material often selected as a “go to” for machines via time code
Address Bits
In SMPTE time code, a bit group assigned to various time, sync, or user defined functions
AES
Audio Engineering Society
AES/EBU
An interface format for digital signals, using a balanced 110 ohm microphone cable terminated
AFL
After Fade Listen A recording studio console feature
AFM
Advanced frequency Modulation
An improved version of frequency modulation
AIRY
Spacious, open
Instruments sound as they are surrounded by a large space
Algorithm
A sequence of well defined rules and instructions describing a procedure to solve a particular problem
ALIASING
The creation of incorrect or “alias” frequencies
Alignment
The adjustment of an electronic or mechanical device to bring up to manufacturers specifications
Alignment Tape
A tape containing a series of test tones at a standard reference level
Is used to verify the performance of the tape recorder’s playback system
Ambience
The distinctive acoustical characteristics of a given space
Ampere
Unit of measurement for current (A)
Amplifier
A electronic circuit designed to boost an electrical signal with the least amount of distortion
Amplifier line
An amplifier designed to operate at intermediate levels its output is usually on the order of one volt
Amplitude
The maximum height of a waveform at any given point
Amplitude distortion
A distortion of the wave shape of a signal
Analog
An electrical signal whose frequency and level vary continuously in direct relationship to the original electrical signal
Analog Recording
The method of recording in which the recorded waveform is an analog of the acoustical electrical source signal
ex: analog multitrack tape recorder
A/D Converter
A device which converts (encodes) a analog signal (continuous) into a digital word
ANECHOIC
Without any form of echo
Used to measure acoustic performances of various devices
ANECHOIC CHAMBER
A room designed to provide a reflection free (acoustically dead) environment for acoustic evaluation of loudspeakers and microphones
ARTICULATION
A quantitative measure of the intelligibility of speech
The percentage of speech items correctly perceived and recorded
Artificial Reverberation
Reverberation generated by electrical or acoustical means to simulate that of concert halls large rooms or similar
ASA
Acoustical Society of America
Assemble Editing
An editing mode, where the main erase head removes everything that’s already on tape
The VCR records all incoming video, audio and control track information onto the tape replacing completely any previously recorded signals
Assembly
The first process of editing
Usually applied to film
When the various shots are joined together in a rough order to produce a rough cut
Assign
To send or route an audio signal to a channel or tape recorder track
Attack
The beginning of a sound
The initial transient of a musical note
Attack Time
The time it takes devices such as compressor, to react to a change in level of the input signal
ATTENUATE
To reduce the amplitude or intensity of a sound
ATTENUATION PAD
A resistive network inserted in aline to lower the level by a specified number of decibel (db)
Attenuator
A device with variable resistance, used to control the level of an electrical signal
Audio Frequency
An acoustical or electrical signal of a frequency that falls within the audible range of the human ear
20hz to 20khz
Audio Spectrum
The sound spectrum between 20hz to 20kHz
Auditory Area
The sensory area lying between the threshold of hearing and the threshold of feeling or pain
Auditory Cortex
The region of the brain receiving nerve impulses from the ear
Auditory System
The human hearing system made up of the external ear. the middle ear, the inner ear, the nerve pathways, and the brain
Auto Locator
A tape recorder remote control unit which provides the operator with most of the tape recorder functions
Aux Send
Auxiliary Send
A feature found in studio or live consoles
Usually used to send signal to effects or headphones
Axial Mode
The room resonances associated with each pair of parallel walls
Azimuth
The angular relationship between the head gap and the tape
Azimuth Alignment
The mechanical adjustment of the record or playback head to bring it into proper alignment with the tape path
Back Coating
A thing coating applied to the back of a magnetic recording tape, generally to reduce both slippage and the build up of static charges
Back Plate
The fixed rear element in the capacitor/diaphragm of a condenser microphone
Back Time
The calculation of a start point by first finding the finish point and subtracting the duration
This can relate to edit point or the recording of narration
Backline
A term used in live music referring to equipment amps and drums all musicians and backing singers excluding the lead vocalist
Baffle
A movable barrier used in the recording studio to achieve separation of signals or it refers to the surface upon which a loudspeaker is mounted
Balance
The relative level of two or more instruments in a mix as determined by the producer
Balanced Line
A method of sending a signal via two wires neither of which are directly tied to the earth of the system
Balancing Engineer
The person responsible for the balance and technical supervision of a recording or mix down session
Ballistics
A physical property of a meter movement referring to its ability to precisely respond to the envelope of the signal being measured
Bandpass Filter
A filter that attenuate signals both below and above the desired pass band
Bandwidth
the frequency ranged passed by a given device or structure
Basic Tracks
In multi task recording those tracks that are recorded first
In general the rhythm tracks (guitars, bass, drums)
Basilar Membrane
A membrane inside the cochlea that vibrates in response to sound, exciting the hair cells
Bass
The lower range of audible frequencies
Bass Boost
The increase in level of the lower range of frequencies
Bass Reflex Enclosure
A loudspeaker enclosure
with an open port cut into the front baffle
Also called a vented enclosure
BAUD
Is the transmission rate of a digital signal measured in seconds
BCD
Binary Coded Decimal
BEATS
Periodic fluctuations that are heard when sounds of slightly different frequencies are superimposed
BEL
A relative measure of sound intensity or volume
Bi Amplification
The separate amplification of the audio spectrum which has been split into two regions (by the use of crossover)
Bi-Directional Microphone
A microphone that is sensitive to front and rear originating sounds, and relatively insensitive to side originating sounds
Bi-Phase Modulation
The encoding scheme employed in the SMPTE time code
Bias Beats
An audio frequency signal that may be created if two slightly different bias frequencies are combined
Bias Frequency
The frequency of the applied bias signal generally about 120 to 180Khz
Bias Oscillator
A fixed frequency oscillator built into the tape recorder to supply the bias current
Bias Trap
A filter designed to block the bias frequency thus preventing it from overloading the record or playback amplifiers in a tape recorder
Binary Digit
Any one of the two digits (0,1) used in Binary Numbering System
Binary Coded Decimal
A decimal number in which each digit is encoded into its binary equivalent
Binaural
A situation involving listening with two ears (stereo)
Binder
The medium in which magnetic particles are suspended to form the oxide coating in magnetic recording tape
