Audio Engineering Final Exam Questions

Which of the following statements is true for close miking?

It is often used with multitrack recording It allows for a higher level of control of different instruments in a mix It may allow for effects to be placed on individual sound sources

Lossless compression works by:

encoding redundant information with symbols and equations that take up less space

The sensitivity of human hearing in relation to frequency is illustrated through the:

equal-loudness curve

A potential disadvantage of stage monitors is:

feedback

Hertz is a measurement of:

frequency

In a live sound production, this engineer is responsible for mixing the show that the audience hears:

front of house mixer

The lower frequency found in a complex tone, like a note played on a piano, is called a(n):

fundamental

In live sound, [...] is important because it allows us to [...]

intelligibility, clearly understand the source

Les Paul's "sound on sound" recording technique was revolutionary because:

it was the first time overdubbing multiple instruments and vocals was possible

Media that has a beginning, a middle, and an end are classified as:

linear media

Lower frequencies have [...] than higher frequencies.

longer wavelengths

A benefit of in-ear monitors is:

lower stage volume

The hiding of one sound by another is called:

masking

Premature hearing loss due to sound exposure can be avoided by:

minimizing hazardous sound environments ("turning it down"), taking frequent "quiet breaks", and wearing hearing protection (ear plugs)

In live sound reinforcement, the position where a mixer works to provide the best listening experience for the artist/band is called:

monitor world

In general, the most rugged and durable microphones are [...] microphones.

moving coil

The Shure SM57 is an example of a(n) [...] microphone

moving coil

Microphone selection and positioning depend upon the:

music genre, musician, instrument, and acoustic environment

Timbre is determined largely by:

overtones

The external structure of the ear is called the:

pinnae

The primary objective of the restoration engineer is to remove or correct:

pops and clicks, hum and buzz

This phase of a production occurs after the video has been shot, with things like ADR and Foley still needing to be added:

post-production

Audio archiving involves:

preservation of originals and public accessibility

The Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) has become the principal audio recording tool; the one most commonly used in the professional music recording and film industries in the U.S. is:

pro tools

Music being performed on screen is known as:

production source music

Current methods of obtaining digital music (downloads and streaming) rely primarily on:

proprietary file formats

In general, the most fragile (easiest to damage) microphones are:

ribbon

During the digital process, [...] means the number of measurements taken per second:

sample rate

The field of forensic audio involves:

scientific interpretation of audio recordings for formal civil or criminal proceedings

A single pure tone that contains no harmonics or overtones is known as a:

sine wave

When receiving direct sound and reflections less than 30 ms apart, a listener will still perceive them as one sound, and not as separate sounds (or "echoes"); this is called:

temporal fusion

One of the most significant advantages digital recording offers is:

the recording is identical from one copy to the next

Analog tape machines must run at [...] speed during recording and playback to maintain pitch, rhythm, and duration of program.

the same constant

[...] is a danger signal that the ears may have suffered PTS, or permanent threshold shift, identified by a ringing, whistling, or buzzing in the ears even though no loud sounds are present:

tinnitus

There are different categories of imperfections in sound recordings, including those called transient noise, such as:

tones

The microphone and loudspeaker are very similar in the sense that they both are:

transducers

In motion pictures, music that is recorded in a professional studio or sound stage to be used to enhance the content or atmosphere of a scene is called:

underscore

An example of foley in a boxing movie would include:

while watching a scene, hitting a bag of flour with a stick to stimulate the sound of a boxer hitting a punching bag on screen

Which of the following would likely have been directly involved in the development of the Johnson Center facilities?

Acoustic designer, audio equipment sales, and audio equipment installation and service

In video game sound design, what is typically looped?

Ambience and Underscore

You are a recording engineer in a studio. The producer makes a comment about the recording session you are working on. Based on the comment, choose the processor that would best correct the situation. The comment was "wow...that was a great vocal, but she went a little sharp on the first line of the bridge."

Auto-Tune

Typically, what is the polar response pattern of a ribbon microphone?

Bi-Directional

Which of the following formats is capable of holding the most data?

Bluray

Of the following formats, which one is considered the first digital consumer format?

CD

Which of the following comparisons is considered a step backwards in sound quality from the previous format?

CD to MP3

You are a recording engineer in a studio. The producer makes a comment about the recording session you are working on. Based on the comment, choose the processor that would best correct the situation. The comment was "can you make the vocalist sound like two people singing?"

Chorus

You are a recording engineer in a studio. The producer makes a comment about the recording session you are working on. Based on the comment, choose the processor that would best correct the situation. The comment was "the overall vocal sounds great in the mix, but there are a few spots where several phrases are too loud or too soft."

Compressor

Audio software design falls under what degree?

Computer Science

Phantom power is required to operate which of the following microphone types?

Condenser

What type of microphone is considered most appropriate to record soft (quiet) instruments?

Condenser

Put the following "manufacturing steps" in order from start to finished product.

Design/Concept Build "Mock Up" Testing Final Design Manufacturing Assembly C, D, E, F, B, A

Which category does coughing, eating, or kissing sound in movies belong to?

Dialogue

What microphone technique results in a natural blend of acoustic space with the direct sound?

Distant Miking

You are a recording engineer in a studio. The producer makes a comment about the recording session you are working on. Based on the comment, choose the processor that would best correct the situation. The comment was "the bass sounds a little muffled."

Equalizer

What is NOT an advantage of an installed sound reinforcement system (compared to a portable system)?

Equipment is easily taken out and moved to another location

You are a recording engineer in a studio. The producer makes a comment about the recording session you are working on. Based on the comment, choose the processor that would best correct the situation. The comment was "put an echo on that guitar."

Gate

What production features are convenient when using a typical console as seen in the recording workshop?

Headphone (cue) mixes, using multiple microphones, adding effects like reverb and delay, and overdubbing

Which of the following is industry standard file format for professional audio?

.wav

Threshold of hearing is defined as:

0 dB SPL

To create a 128-kbps MP3 file, the original file size will be reduced by a ratio of approximately:

10:1

The speed of sound at sea level in 70-degree Fahrenheit is:

1130 feet per second

Which bit depth provides the most accurate measurements?

24 bit

Surround sound 5.1 systems contain a total of [...] channels

6

In video game sound, what makes sounds more realistic?

ADR

Increasing a sample rate also increases:

audio bandwidth

Audio plug-ins, mobile apps, and music streaming are all examples of:

audio software

The range of affected frequencies in audio is called:

bandwidth

A switch built into some microphones to reduce the "proximity effect" is called a(n):

bass roll-off

The polar response pattern of this microphone is:

both bi-directional and figure-8

Two identical sound waves that are exactly 180-degrees out of phase will:

cancel

Significant problems encountered with various film/tape and CD/DVD media include:

chemical changes, physical damage, scratches, and pollutants

A sound wave is made up of a series of:

compression and rarefactions, increased and decreased air pressure

A(n) [...] acts to control the dynamic range of an audio signal:

compressor

The [...] network that divides the (audio) frequency spectrum into low and high frequency ranges before being sent to a separate speaker elements:

crossover

What is the ratio unit we use for measuring amplitude?

dB

Whether on a large-scale or small-scale, audio manufacturing usually follows the same steps in sequence:

design/concept, build mock-up, testing, final design, manufacturing, and assembly

The spoken elements in sound design are generally referred to as:

dialogue

As sound bends around an object or a surface, it is said to be:

diffracted

Plug-ins by their design are examples of:

digital processors

The ear and brain combine to determine information about the sound characteristics in an enclosed room; this perception of space includes [...], [...], and [...]

direct sound, early reflections, and reverberation

Lossy compression primarily works by:

discarding sounds that the human auditory system is less sensitive to

Increasing the bit depth also increases:

dynamic range and file size

Which of the following is good storage practice for any type of physical media?

Keep in a cool, dry, and stable climate Validate/migrate every 2-5 years Keep a minimum of two copies Keep copies in different locations

Sound check would occur during (or after) which stage of setting up a live sound system?

Load In

Audio-related jobs requiring an advanced study of physics may include:

Loudspeaker design Acoustical Design Microphone Design

Which of the following is an analog device?

Magnetic Tape Recorder and Loudspeaker

Which statement is true for computers in audio?

Middleware (such as FMOD) helps you become a sound designer without knowledge in C++

Which stereo microphone technique does this diagram represent?

Near Coincident Pair

In comparison to a DAW, what feature is not available for a magnetic tape?

Non-Destructive Editing

ADR for film is similar to which process in making records?

Overdubbing

What mixer or console function allows placing an instrument in the stereo field?

Pan/Panpot

Which of the following does NOT correctly relate to audio circuits?

Require use of programming languages

You are a recording engineer in a studio. The producer makes a comment about the recording session you are working on. Based on the comment, choose the processor that would best correct the situation. The comment was "uh, the snare sounds like it is in a closet and i want it to sound like it's in a big church."

Reverb

What is the process of finding a sound effect file and placing it in sync with a visual element?

Spotting

In forensic audio, which of the following statements is NOT a requirement for authenticity?

The recorded conversation was induced by one of the speakers

Which statement below describes the sampling theorem?

The sample rate must be at least twice the highest recorded frequency

What is the relationship between two tones in which one is an octave above the other?

Their frequencies differ by a factor of two

What type of processor is a digital delay?

Time/Spatial Processor

What is the three-to-one ratio for microphone setup?

When using multiple microphones, they must be at least three times further away from each other than the sources they are recording

Digital signal processing can be defined as:

applied mathematics to change (the sound of) a signal