Quiz 1

Question 1

Acoustics

Answer 1

Science that deals with the behavior of sound and sound control;
The properties of a room that affect the quality of sound

Question 2

Ambience

Answer 2

Sounds such as reverberation, noise, and atmosphere that form a background to the main sound

Question 3

Amplifier

Answer 3

a device that increases the amplitude of an electric signal

Question 4

Amplitude

Answer 4

The magnitude of a sound wave or electric signal, measured in decibels, experienced as loudness

Question 5

Bandwidth

Answer 5

Range of frequencies that the ear, a microphone, or a piece of electronic equipment can hear, pick up, or amplify

Question 6

Clipping

Answer 6

Audible distortion that occurs when a signals level exceeds the limits of a particular device or circuit

Question 7

Compression

Answer 7

The drawing together of vibrating molecules, producing a high-pressure area

Question 8

Decibel

Answer 8

A dimensionless unit used to compare the ratio of two quantities usually in relation to acoustic energy, sound as sound pressure, and electric energy, such as power and voltage

Question 9

Elasticity

Answer 9

The capacity to return to the original shape or place after deflection or displacement

Question 10

Fader

Answer 10

A device containing a resistor that is used to vary the output voltage of a circuit or component, aka gain

Question 11

Frequency (cycles per second)

Answer 11

The number of times per second that a sound source vibrates, expressed in hertz (Hz); formerly expressed in cycles per second (cps)

Question 12

Human hearing range

Answer 12

20 to 20,000 Hz

Question 13

Impedance

Answer 13

The measure of the total resistance to the current flow in an AC circuit, expressed in ohms

Question 14

In the mud

Answer 14

Sound level so quite that it barely “kicks” the VU or peak meter

Question 15

In the red

Answer 15

Sound level so loud that the VU meter “rides” over the 100% of modulation

Question 16

Narrative sound

Answer 16

Sound effects that add more to a scene than what is apparent and so perform an informational function

Question 17

Microphone

Answer 17

A transducer that converts acoustic energy into electric energy

Question 18

Mixer

Answer 18

A small, highly portable device that mixes various elements of sound, typically coming from multiple microphones, and performs limited processing function

Question 19

Mixing board

Answer 19

Electronic device that amplifies, balances, processes, and combines input signals and routes them to broadcast or recording

Question 20

Noise

Answer 20

Any unwanted sound or signal

Question 21

Ohm

Answer 21

A unit of resistance to current flow

Question 22

Off-mic

Answer 22

Not being within the optimal pickup pattern of a microphone; off-axis

Question 23

On-mic

Answer 23

Being within the optimal pickup pattern of a microphone; on axis

Question 24

Pitch

Answer 24

Psychologically perceived frequency

Question 25

Rarefaction

Answer 25

Temporary drawing apart of vibrating molecules, causing a partial vacuum to occur

Question 26

Sound envelope

Answer 26

Changes in the loudness of a sound over time, described as occurring in four stages: attack, initial decay, sustain, and release (ADSR)

Question 27

Sound pressure level (dB-SPL)

Answer 27

A measure of the pressure of a sound wave, or sound-pressure level (SPL), expressed in decibels (dB)

Question 28

Sound wave

Answer 28

A vibrational disturbance that involves mechanical motion of molecules transmitting energy from one place to another

Question 29

System noise

Answer 29

The inherent noise that an electronic device or a system generates

Question 30

Threshold of hearing

Answer 30

The lowest sound-pressure level at which sound becomes audible to the human ear. It is the zero reference of 0 dB-SPL

Question 31

Threshold of pain

Answer 31

The sound-pressure level at which the ear begins to feel pain, at about 120 dB-SPL

Question 32

Transducer

Answer 32

A device that converts one form of energy to another

Question 33

Transient

Answer 33

A sound that begins with a sharp attack followed by a quick decay

Question 34

Velocity

Answer 34

The speed of a sound wave: 1,130 feet per second at sea level and 70 degrees F. Velocity increases with air temperature

Question 35

Waveform

Answer 35

A graphic representation of a sound’s characteristic shape displayed, ex, on test equipment and computer editing systems

Question 36

Wavelength

Answer 36

The length of one cycle of a sound wave. Wavelength is inversely proportional to the frequency of a sound, the shorter the wavelength

Question 37

XLR connector

Answer 37

Common male and female microphone plugs with a three-pin connector