Week 8

Question 1

Reverb

Answer 1

Short for reverbaration, reverb is an effect added to a signal which imitates the reflections of a sound from the space around it (e.g. a stage, room, or cathedral). Most commonly used in mixing to bind tracks together and control apparent front to back placement of the instruments.

Question 2

Roll-off

Answer 2

A filter used to cut low or high frequencies. For example, some microphones have a roll-off switch to cut all signals below as certain frequency (e.g. 75Hz) to reduce noise or ‘rumble’. Named after the shape of the frequency response chart after the point where it ‘rolls off’.

Question 3

Sample / Sample rate

Answer 3

1. The process of converting an analog audio signal to digital data - one sample is the smallest section of audio that is analysed. Sample rate refers to the number of samples per second. In CD quality audio, the sample rate is 44.1kHz
2. Recording an individual sound or a short section of some music.

Question 4

Sequencer

Answer 4

A sequencer records and stores a series of MIDI messages and the plays them back to control an instrument. Both the instrument and the sequencer can be software or hardware.

Question 5

(Audio) signal

Answer 5

A flow of electrical current that represents a sound as it passes through audio equipment.

Question 6

Sound module

Answer 6

A MIDI instrument that is played by a sequencer but does not have a keyboard and cannot be played directly.

Question 7

SPL

Answer 7

Sound Pressure Level. Very loud sounds produce high levels of air pressure and can damage equipment and hearing. For example, a sensitive microphone could be damaged by the high SPL from a kick drum.

Question 8

Stereo

Answer 8

An abbreviation of ‘stereophonic’. A sound reproduction technique using two loudspeakers to create the effect of left and right placement of individual sounds.