Music Production Test 1

What is a transducer

A device that converts one form of energy to another; sound into electric energy.

What's the "Good" Rule in recording

Good music

Good instruments

Good room

Good mics

Good (mic) placement

What are the types of microphones

Dynamic, condenser, and ribbon

Ribbon Microphone

- most human and warm sounding mic

- incredibly fragile

Dynamic Microphone

- most durable & affordable

- can handle loud sources with little distortion

- Stiff mylar diaphragm attached to finely wrapped wire coil/voice coil, which is suspended by magnetic thingy

Condenser Microphone

- considered to have the highest fidelity/most accurate sound quality

- needs 48v phantom power

A ribbon microphone is made up of...

A thin aluminum ribbon diaphragm suspended with a magnetic flux

A condenser microphone is made up of...

2 plates one thin movable diaphragm and one fixed backplate which together form a capacitor

A dynamic microphone is made up of...

Stiff mylar diaphragm attached to finely wrapped wire coil/voice coil, which is suspended by magnetic flux(?)

Which microphone needs phantom power?

Condensor

What is amplitude on a waveform

The vertical distance between the center line and wave

What is frequency on a waveform

The rate of vibration, how fast the wave makes a circle

What is Frequency measured in?

Hertz, Hz

What is the wavelength formula

λ = V/hz

wavelength = Velocity/frequency

What's the velocity of sound

1,130 ft/sec at 68 degrees F

What is phase

The timed relationship between 2 waveforms

What does it mean when two waveforms are "in phase"

It means they share the same shape, peak, amplitude, and frequency: they look identical

What does it mean when two waveforms are "out of phase"

it means 2 waveforms, identical frequency and amplitude, start at different points

What is the distance of phase measured in?

Degrees

What is phase shift?

Describes one waveforms lead or lag in time compared to another

What is an envelope?

It's how you describe the variations in amplitude that occur over the duration of a played note.

What are sections that an envelope consist of?

Attack

Decay

Sustain

Release

What is the A of ADSR

Attack - Time taken for a sound/note to reach its highest volume once it's initially played

What is the D of ADSR

Decay - how quickly a sound levels off to its sustain volume, after the attack

What is the S of ADSR

Sustain - the consistent ongoing sound after the initial Attack and Delay

What is the R of ADSR

Release - how quickly the sound depletes after the note is released/sustain ends

How is loudness measured?

Measured in decibels (dB)

What is loudness?

Changes in the sound pressure level

What's the "best" decibel level to mix?

85 dB/SPL

What are Fletcher Munson curves?

These indicate the range of different ranges one can perceive/sensitivity to loudness different at various levels

What is the theoretical range of human hearing?

20hz to 20,000hz

What unit is used to measure the range of hearing?

Hertz (hz)

What happens when two wavelengths are 180 degrees out of phase

The will cancel each other out and there'll be no sound

If there are two microphones placed at different distances from a singer what will happen?

They'll be out of phase and quality will be diminished

What type of microphone should you use at a live show?

A dynamic microphone

What is the figure 8 polar pattern?

looks like an 8, recording in front of and behind the microphone

What is the cardiod polar pattern?

Records everything to the side and infront of the mic, but not behind

What is the omni directional polar pattern?

Gets all of it, everything around the microphone

What is the "proximity effect"?

As you get closer to a microphone the more low frequencies you'll hear (gets more bass-y)

Describe the AB or Spaced pair technique

2 mics of the same make and model space them equidistant from your source; from a few to 30 feet

Describe the XY technique

Micing technique with 2 mics where the grills are placed as close as possible to each other without touching and make a 90 degree angle

Describe the ORTF technique

Micing technique with two mics making a 110 degree angle facing away from each other

Describe the Blumlein technique

2 figure 8 mics one straight up and the other straight down and on top (barely not touching) and turned 90 degrees, making an x if you saw it from above

Where should place a mic in front of a guitar amp

slightly off center; the further from center, the darker the sound

What does it mean for a mic to be "on axis"

this means its directly facing the sound source

Describe the mid-side technique?

Micing technique using one cardiod mic on axis and one figure 8 mic, perpendicular

what is the rate of speed that sound travels through the air at 68 F?

1130 ft per second.

knowing the velocity and speed what else can you deduce about sound

wavelength in feet. velocity/frequency

AB or spaced pair technique

placed infront of center of an instrument or ensemble. same height and position just placed apart.

XY technique

two mics of same type placed with their grills as close as possible without touching and facing 90 degrees of eachother. midpoint of the mics are facing sound source.

ORTF technique

two cardioid mics placed at a 110 degree angle from each other and 17cm apart.

blumlein technique

relative to xy technique but instead of cardioid mics it is 2 figure 8 mics placed diagonally so you get a 4 way polar pattern

decca tree technique

uses 3 omni mics on a t shaped bar pointed left right and center. used for orchestral recording.

mid side technique

one mic is designated the the mid position, typically cardioid pointed to sound source. there is a diff mic pointed sideways in figure 8 pattern for the "side". used for recording drums/piano. most phase coherent