Week 2 - Using Control Signals in Sound Design

Question 1

In thinking about experimenting and creating synthesis sounds, how can you help the synthesizer sound become more musically useful? How can you generally make a sound more interesting?

Answer 1

To help make the synthesizer sound become more musically useful, we need to shape it over time. To do this, we add modules that control parameters in the audio signal path so that the basic elements of sound will change over the course of the note.

Question 2

What is an example of a module outputs a control signal?

Answer 2

The envelope generator

Question 3

When creating block diagrams or setting up rack modules, where should audio signal path modules be placed?

Answer 3

Audio signal path modules should be placed at the top, and arranged from left to right.

Question 4

When creating block diagrams or setting up rack modules, where should control signal generators appear?

Answer 4

Control signal generators should appear below the audio path

Question 5

What is the musical term for a controller that is used to turn sound on and off?

Answer 5

A gate

Question 6

How does a gate work in terms of a musical keyboard

Answer 6

A gate signal allows the sound to be heard while a key is depressed and closes it off when the key is released. Sound is heard while the gate is open, and not when closed.

Question 7

What type of effect is a gate considered?

Answer 7

A gate is considered as a very simple type of envelope generator

Question 8

True or False: A typical audio signal path will contain at least one low-frequency oscillator.

Answer 8

False

Question 9

Which of the following is a common control signal path device?
1. Oscillator
2. Filter
3. Envelope Generator
4. Amplifier

Answer 9

3. Envelope Generator

Question 10

When an envelope generator is used to control a VCA, we generally hear a change in:
1. Timbre
2. Pitch
3. vibrato
4. Loudness

Answer 10

4. Loudness

Question 11

Which of the following settings for an envelope generator is not a function of time:
1. Attack
2. Decay
3. Sustain
4. Release

Answer 11

3. Sustain

Question 12

If an envelope generator is used to control a filter, we should hear a change in:
1. Pitch
2. Timbre
3. Vibrato
4. Loudness

Answer 12

2. Timbre

Question 13

True or False: A note-on message triggers the release segment in an envelope generator.

Answer 13

False

Question 14

True or False: Vibrato is generally the result of using an LFO to control an oscillator

Answer 14

True

Question 15

True or False: A trill is produced by routing an LFO to an amplifier.

Answer 15

False

Question 16

True or False: A bipolar signal changes between on and off.

Answer 16

False

Question 17

Keyboard tracking may be used to control which of the following parameters?
1. Pitch
2. Timbre
3. Loudness
4. All of the above

Answer 17

4. All of the above

Question 18

Velocity is a term used to describe which of the following measurements:
1. The speed of a key depression
2. The loudness of a sound
3. The pressure applied to a key
4. The attack time of an instrument

Answer 18

1. The speed of a key depression

Question 19

Aftertouch is a term used to describe which of the following measurements?
1. The speed of a key depression
2. The pressure applied to a key while a note is held
3. The loudness of a sound
4. The attack time of an instrument

Answer 19

2. The pressure applied to a key while a note is held

Question 20

Block diagrams are used to:
1. Plot frequency against time
2. Plot amplitude against time
3. Plot the signal path for a synthesized sound
4. Plan home remodeling project

Answer 20

3. Plot the signal path for a synthesized sound

Question 21

In block diagrams, audio signal path modules are shown:
1. With signal flow up from the module
2. With signal flow rightward from the right of the module
3. With signal flow down from the bottom of the module
4. With signal flow rightward from the left of the module

Answer 21

2. With signal flow rightward from the right of the module