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Music Technology > Recording Media > Flashcards

Recording Media Flashcards

(57 cards)

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1
Q

How many tracks does a cassette tape contain?

A

Four

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2
Q

How are the tracks on a cassette tape arranged?

A

As 4 lanes on the tape

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3
Q

What do the 4 tracks on a cassette tape represent?

A

Left and right for the A and B sides of the cassette

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4
Q

What effect does the width of multitrack tape have?

A

The wider the tape and the faster it runs, the higher the quality of audio reproduction

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5
Q

What size was the tape in domestic tape recorders?

A

0.25”

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6
Q

What sizes were the tapes used in studio and multitrack machines?

A

0.5”, 1”, and 2”

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7
Q

What is an overloaded magnetic tape said to be?

A

Saturated

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8
Q

When does tape saturation occur?

A

When the signal is too loud when entering the record head, and an increase in the input volume cannot produce an equivalent increase in magnetisation

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9
Q

What does slight tape saturation sound like?

A

Mild compression

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10
Q

In the 1960s, how were edits made on analogue tape?

A

The tape was physically cut and spliced

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11
Q

When was digital tape used for recording?

A

1980s and 1990s

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12
Q

When were hard disk recorders used?

A

1990s

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13
Q

In what decade were DAWs first introduced?

A

1990s

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14
Q

What were early DAWs in the mid-1990s limited by?

A

The hard disk technology of the time

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15
Q

Why has the development of the DAW accelerated since 2000?

A

Because of improvements in computer processor speeds, and increasing amounts of RAM and hard disk space

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16
Q

When were vinyl records first popular?

A

In the 1950s

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17
Q

What does pressing a record involve?

A

Engraving a copy of an acoustic waveform onto vinyl

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18
Q

Why does EQ have to be applied when playing a vinyl record?

A

Because low frequencies had to be reduced on the record to prevent the stylus moving too much

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19
Q

Some enthusiasts argue that vinyl sounds ______

A

Warmer

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20
Q

What do some DJs still use vinyl for?

A

To beat-match and scratch

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21
Q

True or false: Record sleeve artwork is still appreciated by many fans

A

True

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22
Q

Why can the sound quality of a vinyl record deteriorate towards the record’s centre?

A

Because of the turntable’s constant rotation speed

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23
Q

What causes the needle to jump with vinyl records?

24
Q

Why do vinyl records get dusty?

Study These Flashcards
A

Because they create a static charge that attracts dust

25
What effect does dust have on the sound of a vinyl record?
It causes crackle
26
What are vinyl records prone to doing when exposed to heat?
Warping
27
In what decade were cassette tapes first introduced?
1970s
28
What do the polarisation of the Iron oxide particles on the surface of a cassette tape represent?
The audio signal
29
What does the playback head of a cassette tape player do?
Reads the magnetic information and converts it back into an electrical signal for amplification
30
What does the erase head of a tape recorder use to reset the polarisation of the iron oxide particles
A strong permanent magnet that is placed near the tape
31
What were initially more expensive, vinyl or cassette tapes?
Vinyl
32
Why are cassette tapes now more expensive than vinyl?
Lack of demand
33
Why is a cassette tape difficult to scratch or damage?
It's protected in a case
34
What are the recording times of a cassette tape like compared to vinyl
They're longer
35
Why did tape recorders need to be cleaned with a head cleaner cassette?
The oxide had a tendency to rub off the tape
36
What happens to the quality of a recording on a cassette tape with each playing?
It degrades
37
Cassette tape recordings were prone to print through. What is print through?
When the music is heard as an echo before it actually plays
38
What does CD stand for?
Compact Disc
39
How does a CD store data?
It stores data as pits on a disk which are read by a laser
40
What length of stereo audio can a CD hold?
74-80 minutes
41
How much data can a CD hold?
700mb
42
What is cheaper to manufacture: Vinyl, Cassette tape, or CD?
CD
43
What has a better signal-to-noise ratio: Vinyl, Cassette tape, or CD?
CD
44
What has a wider dynamic range: Vinyl, Cassette tape, or CD?
CD
45
What has a better frequency response: Vinyl, Cassette tape, or CD?
CD
46
Why is it quick and easy to access tracks on a CD?
Because of track indexing
47
What can scratches do to a CD?
Cause issues with a large amount of data and render sections of discs unplayable
48
What do some enthusiasts consider the sound of CD to be?
Brittle and unmusical
49
Since which decade have compressed digital audio formats become more prevalent?
1990s
50
What is the pay-off in regards to compressed digital audio formats?
Some frequency content and dynamic detail is lost
51
When were better file compression formats, such as MP4/AAC, which offer improved sound quality over MP3, introduced?
Early 2000s
52
How does lossy audio compression reduce the file size?
By losing some frequency content and dynamic detail
53
What is the difference between lossy and lossless audio compressions?
Lossless audio files are larger than lossy ones, but no data is lost
54
What issues can data loss from lossy audio formats introduce?
Issues with the stereo field on a recording and mask effects, whilst also introducing unwanted artefacts
55
True or false: lossy audio formats can have increased noise and an uneven frequency response?
True
56
What is the most common format for compressed digital audio?
MP3
57
What extra processing do many online steaming services add to music?
Volume normalisation and limiting

Music Technology (25 decks)

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