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Midterms Flashcards

Covers EQ, Signal chains, Basic Control Room Acoustics, and Dynamic Processing (71 cards)

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1
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

What is a signal chain?

A

It is the sequence of audio components and processes through which an audio signal passes from its source to the output.

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2
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

The signal chain is essential in maintaining what?

A

The integrity of the audio signal.

The quality of each component and how they interact determines the clarity, tone, and overall quality of the final sound.

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3
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

Which different medias can you find signal chains?

A

Music production, film and television, radio & podcast, gaming

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4
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

What is the typical signal flow?

SIGNAL CHAIN

A

INPUT STAGE - PROCESSING STAGE - OUTPUT STAGE

  • Source
  • Preamp
  • Processing units
  • Mixer/console
  • DAW
  • Output device
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5
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

What are two things that can help mainin the integrity of the signal?

A

Balanced cables with the right length & proper grounding and proper gain staging because it ensures the levels of each component is balanced.

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6
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

Key roles in audio production

A
  • Producer
  • Audio engineer
  • Mixing engineer
  • Master engineer
  • Sound designer
  • Talent
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7
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

What are invisible energies?

A

Electrical signals & acoustic signals

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8
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

What are electrical signals?

A

Electrical signals are the representation of sound waves in electrical form. They start as sound waves captured by microphones and are then converted into electrical signals.

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9
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

What are the two main different types of microphones?

A
  • Dynamic Microphones: Use an electromagnetic induction process.
  • Condenser Microphones: Use a capacitor to convert sound into electrical signals.
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10
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

What do pre-amplifiers do?

A

Boost the low-level signals from the microphone to a stronger, usable level.

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11
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

What do equalizers do?

A

Adjust frequency levels to shape the sound.

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12
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

What do compressors do?

A

Control the dynamic range by adjusting the volume of the signal.

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13
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

What do effects units do?

A

Add reverb, delay, or other effects to shape the sound.

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14
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

How can you solve EMI or Electromagnetic Interferance?

A

Use shielded cables and proper grounding to minimize interference.

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15
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

How do you maintain signal integrity?

A

Monitor levels carefully and avoid overloading any part of the signal path to prevent distortion.

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16
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

What is acoustic energy?

A

It refers to the sound waves traveling through the air and how they interact with the environment. It involves how sound waves propagate, reflect, and absorb within a space.

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17
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

What is direct sound?

A

The sound that travels directly from the source to the receiver.

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18
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

What is reflected sound?

A

The sound that bounces off surfaces (walls, floors, ceilings) and reaches the receiver after the direct sound.

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19
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

How can room size and shape affect room acoustics?

A

Larger rooms can create more echoes, while smaller rooms might lead to excessive reflections.

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20
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

How can materials affect room acoustics?

A

Hard surfaces (like glass or concrete) reflect sound, while soft materials (like curtains or carpets) absorb sound.

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21
Q

SIGNAL CHAIN

How can acoustic treatment affect room acoustics?

A

Using bass traps, diffusers, and absorbers can help control unwanted reflections and improve clarity.

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22
Q

BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS

Why is good room acoustics important?

A

Because they are essential for accurate monitoring, allowing audio professionals to create good mixes on any playback system.

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23
Q

BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS

What are standing waves?

A

Low-frequency resonances that can cause certain bass frequencies to be exaggerated or diminished.

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24
Q

BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS

What are reflections?

A

Early reflections from walls, ceilings, or floors can interfere with the direct sound from the monitors, causing phase issues.

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25
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What are flutter echoes?
They occur **when sound bounces back and forth between parallel surfaces**, leading to a **ringing sound** that can obscure detail in the mix.
26
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What are three key acoustic concepts?
Absorption, reflection, diffusion
27
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What is absorption?
Sound energy being **absorbed** by materials, **reducing reflections.**
28
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What are reflections?
Sound bouncing off surfaces like walls or ceilings.
29
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What is diffusion?
**Scattering of sound in different directions**, preventing **echoes and dead spots.**
30
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What is RT60?
RT60 is the **time** it takes for **sound to bounce around in a room** and fade away by 60 decibels **after the sound source has stopped.**
31
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What is the typical RT60 of a studio?
0.2 to 0.4
32
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What is the typical RT60 of a concert hall?
1.5 to 2.5
33
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What are absorbers and where do you place them?
Absorbers **reduce sound reflections** by converting sound energy into heat. **They reduce flutter echoes and excessive reverberation.** Typically placed at **first reflection points.** These are often behind and beside the mixing position, as well as on the ceiling.
34
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What are two kinds of absorbers?
Broadband & narrowband
35
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What are bass traps and where do you place them?
Bass traps are designed to **absorb low-frequency sound waves**, which tend to build up in corners and cause issues like **boomy or muddy low-end.** Typically placed in the **corners of the room**
36
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What are two types of bass traps?
Panel bass traps & corner bass traps
37
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What are diffusers and where do you place them?
Diffusers **scatter sound waves in different directions,** helping to control reflections without deadening the room. Often placed on the **rear wall behind the listening position** or on the **ceiling** to break up sound waves that would otherwise create harsh reflections.
38
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What are two types of diffusers?
Quadratic residue diffuser & skyline diffuser
39
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What are ceiling clouds and where do you place them?
Ceiling clouds are **absorbers designed to reduce reflections from the ceiling**, which can interfere with the direct sound from studio monitors. Mounted on the **ceiling above the mixing position,** usually where the first reflection points are identified.
40
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** Explain the equalateral triangle method
1. Place your monitors and listening position so they form an equilateral triangle, where each side of the triangle is of **equal length.** 2. The distance between each monitor should be the **same as the distance from each monitor to your ears.** 3. The **tweeters** (high- frequency drivers) of the monitors **should be at ear level** when you’re in the listening position. This ensures that you hear the full frequency spectrum as intended.
41
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** Expain the mirror method
The mirror technique is a way to **identify reflection points in a studio** and place acoustic panels to cover them. The goal is to **create a reflection-free zone** in front of the listening position. 1. Sit in your listening position. 2. Have someone move a mirror along the side walls. **The point where you can see the monitors in the mirror is a reflection point** where sound reflects directly toward you. 3. Treat these spots with absorptive materials (**like acoustic panels**) to reduce early reflections and improve clarity.
42
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** Whats an SPL meter and what does it do?
It is a **sound pressure level (SPL) meter** and is used to measure the **loudness** of your monitors.
43
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What noise do you play to calibrate your monitors?
**Pink noise.** Each monitor should be outputting at the same level, typically around **75-85 dB SPL.**
43
# **BASIC CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS** What kind of response are you aiming for when adjusting the EQ frequency response of your monitors?
A **flat frequency response**, where all frequencies are represented equally.
44
# **EQ BASICS** What are frequencies?
The **rate** at which **sound waves vibrate**, measured in **hertz**. The X axis talks about time and the Y axis talks about energy.
45
# **EQ BASICS** What is the range of frequencies the human ear can hear?
20-20,000 hertz
46
# **EQ BASICS** What is equalization?
Its the process of adjusting the volume of different frequencies within an audio signal.
47
# **EQ BASICS** What does a low cut/highpass filter do?
It removes all frequencies **below** a specified cut off point.
48
# **EQ BASICS** What does a high cut/low pass
It removes all frequencies **above** a specified cut off point.
49
# **EQ BASICS** What does a low shelf filter do?
Attenuates or boosts frequencies **below** a specific frequency point.
50
# **EQ BASICS** What does a high shelf filter do?
Attenuates or boosts frequencies **above** a specific frequency point.
51
# **EQ BASICS** What does a bell curve filter do?
Attenuates or boosts frequencies **around** a specific frequency point.
52
# **EQ BASICS** What does a bandpass filter do?
**Cuts** the range of frequencies **around** a specified center frequency point.
53
# **EQ BASICS** What does a notch filter do?
**Cuts** the range of frequencies **around** a specific point. Its like a bandpass filter but inverted.
54
# **EQ BASICS** What does a frequency knob do? | **PARAMETER**
Selects the central frequency of a filter
55
# **EQ BASICS** What does gain do? | **PARAMETER**
It controls how **loud or soft** a specific sound frequency is.
56
# **EQ BASICS** What does resonance/q factor do? | **PARAMETER**
It controls **how narrow or wide** the boost or cut is around a specific frequency. High Q (narrow): A small range around the frequency is affected, making it more focused and pronounced. This can create a more noticeable effect. Low Q (wide): A larger range of frequencies is affected, creating a smoother, more subtle change.
57
# **EQ BASICS** What does filter slope do? | **PARAMETER**
Filter slope refers to **how quickly** the low cut or high cut filter reduces the volume of frequencies outside of its target range.
58
# **EQ BASICS** What does filter type do? | **PARAMETER**
Allows you to choose the filter shape.
59
# **EQ BASICS** What are the characteristics of a semi-parametric EQ? | **TYPES OF EQ**
1. **Fixed resonance** 2. **Fixed bandwith curves** which do a good job of boosting or attenuating wide frequency range. 3. Most **don't** have an **interactive display** with an analyzer.
60
# **EQ BASICS** What are the characteristics of a graphic EQ? | **TYPES OF EQ**
1. It can boost or attenuate a range of **fixed evenly spaced frequencies.** 2. Has **sliders** 3. Can have up-to 31 or more bands for higher accuracy.
61
# **EQ BASICS** What are the characteristics of a parametric EQ? | **TYPES OF EQ**
1. Most **common and versatile type of EQ** used in music production. 2. Multiband equalizers offer more **accurate and adjustable** frequency bands. 3. **Excellent at surgical EQ** because every parameter is customizable.
61
# **EQ BASICS** What are the characteristics of a shelving EQ? | **TYPES OF EQ**
1. Most basic type of EQ 2. Usually has a fixed wide Q 3. Good at sweetening and deepening full mixes
62
# **EQ BASICS** What frequencies are low-end rumbles?
**20-80 hz** Often due to the proximity effect & unwanted artifacts.
63
# **EQ BASICS** What frequencies are core vocals?
**100-300 hz** Too much leads to **boominess**, too little **thins** out the sound.
64
# **EQ BASICS** What frequencies are the "box" region?
**350-600 hz** Too much can sound **boxy** and too little can sound **hollow**.
65
# **EQ BASICS** What frequencies are the mid-bite range?
**1-4k hz** Busy area where guitars and synths usually are. Pay attention to **harshness**.
66
# **EQ BASICS** What frequencies are the sibilance zone?
**5-8k hz** Its suggested to **try broader Q curves** to have better control of the brightness in this area.
67
# **EQ BASICS** What frequencies are considered the air zone?
**10-20k hz**
68
# **EQ BASICS** What is the fletcher munson curve?
The Fletcher-Munson curve shows **how our ears perceive loudness across different frequencies.** At low volumes, we hear low (bass) and high (treble) sounds less clearly, while mid-range sounds are more noticeable. **This means that to hear all frequencies equally, we need to adjust the volume.**
69
# **EQ BASICS** What is the proximity effect?
When a sound source, like a voice, is **closer** to the mic, the **lower frequencies become more pronounced,** making the sound fuller and warmer. This can be useful for adding depth, but it can also cause distortion if you're too close.

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