|
| |
Answers to the
Final Exam
Time to see how you did!
Keep in mind this was a hard test for
a newbie. Take the test again
Multiple Choice Section
1.
MIDI data is different than audio data because
a. it is the audio that comes from a MIDI
keyboard
b. it is highly compressed audio data and is smaller
c. because it contains instructions for
sequencers when to play notes, change programs, and turn knobs
d. you guys are dumb, MIDI is Audio!
e. B and C are true
remember that MIDI is only made up of
instructions for devices to play sounds--not sounds themselves
|
2. A Hardware compressor
has the following uses
a. It
compresses audio back to MIDI data
b. it can make your mix smooth like on the radio
c. is used as an effect when producing rock drum tracks
d. destroys dynamic range
e. B, C, and D are true
f. Only D is false.
Compressors can mess up a signal as easily as
they can improve it. By nature, they destroy dynamic range, but hopefully
in a good way
|
3. When you are recording
a vocalist who
is a "screamer" you could
a. use
a -10 pad on the mic
b. tell them to scream more quietly
c. set the compressor to infinity:1
d. Tell them to take a step back before the scream
e. Use a dynamic mic instead of a condenser
f. all are true except B
g. a, d and e are true
If the compressor was set to 2:1 or 4:1, C
would be true too
|
4. The best way to connect
a 4 bus mixer to a 4x4 audio interface is
a. to connect the mixer's main outs to input 1 and 2
b. to connect the control room outs to input 1 and 2
c. use a midi interface to connect them
d. Use the subgroup or bus outs
e. use the tape in/outs
You could also use direct outs to connect to a
soundcard
|
5. You can convert an
unbalanced audio connection to a balanced connection if
a. You use an adapter
b. You use a cable with a TRS plug on both ends
c. You connect the unbalanced cable
to a direct box
d. You use a patchbay
e. A mixer with balanced inputs automatically does this electronically.
Remember it is the Gear that has to be
balanced, not just the cable
|
6. The following is true
of Latency when using software synths
a. Is due to using a USB midi interface
b. Refers to the time elapsed in
microseconds that it takes a synth to sound after you press a key
c. 30 ms is acceptable latency, in fact is rather good
d. Latency is doubled when you go from a sample rate of 44.1 to 96khz
because there is more data for the cpu to crunch.
e. all are true
f. B and D are true.
Latency is halved when you double the
sample rate
|
7. Which Windows soundcard
driver (API) has better latency overall?
a. Windows MME drivers
b. Direct Sound Drivers
c. ASIO and WDM drivers
d. ADAT and T-DIF drivers
ADAT and T-DIF are not drivers, but methods of
distributing multichannel audio in digital format
|
8. When clicks an pops
occur in your audio you might
a.
Reboot
b. Reformat your hard drive
c. Reinstall windows
d. Send a nasty letter to Microsoft
e. Check for updated drivers
f. Stop using so many plugins and softsynths
g. A, E and F sound good.
Hehe, some guys reformat and reinstall windows
thinking it will cure clicks and pops. Don't laugh too loud, these guys are just
short of being driven mad. Rarely works. Its usually a driver issue.
|
9. Insert jacks on a
mixing board
a. are always
balanced connections
b. are always unbalanced connections
c. can be accessed with a TRS to dual mono cable
d. are sometimes connected to a patchbay then to a compressor
e. Are only for connecting compressors
f. A, D and E are true
g. B,C and D are true
Remember that inserts are never
balanced. TRS plugs do not automatically mean the connection is balanced
|
10. Phantom Power refers
to
a. A slogan made up by Roland
to sell Fantoms
b. Is a standard for powering
condenser mics from the Mixer's power supply
c. All mics with XLR cables need phantom power
d. all mixer's with mic preamps have phantom power
e. B and D are true
Newbly One: Be careful on this point. Some gear
has mic preamps but does not have phantom power, and many quality mics--most, in
fact, require it.
|
11. MIDI Time Code
a. Contains tempo information
b. Can control the starting and stopping of once sequencer from another
c. Is transmitted by all professional software sequencers
d. requires only one midi cable
e. all are true
|
12. The predecessor to
modern digital delays are
a.
anechoic chambers
b. 3 head reel to reel recorders
c. Chamber reverbs
d. Plate reverbs
e. all are true
|
13. Mastering is:
a. the art of leveling, equalizing and
effecting all the various sources from many tracks down to a stereo Mix
b. the process of taking the stereo
mix and putting it in the final album-ready form.
c. Part of the process loosely known as "pre production"
d. requires a large mixing board with a channel for every track.
e. B, C and A are correct
f. Only B and C are correct
|
14 Which of the following
is not a digital audio input/output standard
a. s/pdif
b. Optical
c. Toslink
e. T-DIF
f. R-Bus
g. AES/EBU
h. ADAT Sync
|
15. Sends and returns on
mixers
a are typically for patching
effects boxes
b. If nothing is plugged into the send, it will automatically route back to
the return
c. allows your mixer to receive email and driver updates (and Spam).
d. Are a pathway out and in to a specific mixer channel.
e. You can connect synths and other
line level devices to returns
f. all are false
g. a and e are true
|
16. Local Off
a. refers to Tweaks that get into fist
fights at local pubs
b. Is typically a setting on the
MIDI keyboard that makes the keyboard only respond to external midi data.
c. Sends an "all notes off" command to the sequencer
d. Is set when you want to play away from the computer.
e. B and C are true.
|
17. A subwoofer
a. may lead you to put less bass in your
mix
b. is only used when mixing for surround sound
c. is a less-than complimentary name for previous significant others
d. automatically will make your mastered CD have more bass
e. if it does not have power, must be connected directly to a mixer.
Never call the current
significant other a subwoofer. Your studio could be put a a gear
restricted diet.
|
18. To get rid of hum in
your studio , which is not important?
a. put all devices on the same house circuit within specified
limits
b. Use all balanced connections
c. Make sure audio cables and a/c adapter cables are separated
d. Use direct boxes
e. Make sure MIDI cables are the
best quality
|
19. Which is false about impedance?
a. -10 signals are always balanced
b. +4 signals are always balanced
c. +4 signals are always unbalanced
d. If you fail to match the signals, you mixer may be damaged and might even
explode!
e. all are false except B
f. All are false
Impedance is totally separate from the matter
of balanced and unbalanced, though unbalanced signals often tend to be -10 and
balanced tends to be +4 because there is a loose agreement that this works best.
You can often switch between +4 and -10 on many pieces of gear and this switch
does nothing to the balanced or unbalanced nature of the signal.
|
20. When a synth has 4
voice polyphony that means
a. it
will work on 4 midi channels simultaneously
b. it can separate an a capella 4 part harmony vocal from a
commercial mix
c. you can only hear 4 sounds simultaneously no matter how many notes are
triggered
d. C is only true if 1 oscillator=1
voice.
e. refers to the number of LFOs
|
21. The formula for
latency is
a. the number of samples in the
buffer divided by the sample rate
b. the sample rate divided by the Nyquist coefficient
c. dependent on the MIDI interface
d. dependent on the audio interface driver
e. all are false
|
22. The "Audio Red Book
standard" refers to
a. a rule
that says all CDS should be recorded at 16 bit resolution
b. A Microsoft 16/44.1 .Wav file is compliant with this standard
c. Can only be realized at a mastering lab
d. the manual that comes with the Focusrite "red" preamp
e. A and B are true
|
23. Igor Stravinsky said
the process of musical inspiration was
a. a message from the gods
b. purely a function of mathematical counterpoint
c. an accident
d. came in a the form of a single melody
|
24. Which is true of
Software mixer automation
a.
Can be done with a Control Surface
b. Is not as clean as an analog mix
c. Requires a multi channel audio-interface
d. Requires a digital mixer or a control surface
|
25. Which piece of gear
does all of the following: 1. Record the sound as audio
2. Map the sound, 3. Alter the sound
with typical synthesizer controls, 4. Layer the sounds
freely, and 5. Playback the sound either
live or in a midi sequencer environment.
a. A sequencer
b. Fruity Loops
c. A hardware or software sampler
d. A mic preamp
e. a compressor
|
26. An Arpeggiator
a.
strings notes you are momentarily holding down into a cadence
b. exists on all keyboards
c. refers to vocal pitch-intonation correction
d. Is not a MIDI thing, it's an audio thing (get it straight!)
e. Are useless throwbacks to the '70s that no one uses today
|
27. Which mixer is most
appropriate for those recording bands of the ones listed here:
a. Any stereo line mixer and soundcard
b. An 8 bus analog Mixer like a
Mackie 32-8 and a multi-channel audio interface
c. a 4-bus mixer
d. You can do this with a 2x2 soundcard and 8 mic preamps
e. A control surface
f. The Pro Tools LE software mixer
|
28. Which of the following
is not a type of synthesis found in synthesizers
a. FM synthesis
b. Sample playback
c. Virtual analog (modeling)
d. Vocoding
e. Roland SRX synthesis
|
29. The Shure SM57 is a
a. Compressor
b. Condenser Microphone
c. Ribbon Microphone
d. Dynamic Microphone
|
30. An Omni-directional
Mic
a. Picks up sound only from
the front
b. Picks up sounds in all directions
c. has a cardioid polar pattern
d. B and C are true
|
31. Typical uses of Mixer
Busses are
a. when you can't
afford a car to transport your gear
b. Connect Synths, Mics, Guitars
c. to send channels of audio to
compressors, multi-track recorders, sound cards and audio interfaces
d. are only for connecting compressors and vocoders
|
32. When recording in
stereo with mics, the ORTF technique is:
a to apply 3:1 compression
b. where the mics cross each other
ay a 110 degree angle
c. also known as the X-Y technique
d. a sure-fire way to create phase cancellation in your mix
|
33. In terms of writing a
song, the "hook" is:
a. The first few seconds of the song
b. The third verse
c. The
basis of the chorus (in Hip Hop Music)
d. The climax
e. Both a and c can be considered correct
34. A synth Rom Expansion board allows
a. User samples to be loaded into keyboards
b. Turns a 76 key synth into an 88 key synth
c. Gives the keyboard more sounds
d. loads sounds for those too lazy to learn SysEx.
e. C and A are true
|
True or False Section
| 1. CDs made from an
analog mix sound warmer because they don't pass through a digital audio
converter.
FALSE--CDs are
digital audio and at some point have to go through a digital audio
converter
2. All TRS connections are stereo
FALSE--TRS
connections on most audio interfaces are balanced MONO
3. ReWire lets you use VSTi soft
synths in sequencers
FALSE--Rewire lets
you use 2 sequencers and have them share the same mixer and transport
4. You connect a compressor before
the preamp.
FALSE You can't
plug a mic into a compressor
5. Dynamic mics tend to resist
breakup at high Sound Pressure levels (SPLs)
TRUE
6. To use a computer to record MIDI,
the computer has to be as fast as possible.
FALSE Even an
ancient commodore 64 could do multi-track MIDI compositions with
external synths
7. When sampling Drums, compression
is a good idea. |
TRUE Drums are weak when sampled due to the spiky nature of the drum waveform |
Take the test again
| Your Grade
41 questions
(F)0-10 You can go back to watching TV.
(D-)10-14 Might be best suited for
government work
(D+)15-19 Read it again if you are serious
(C)21-30 You are on your way. Keep up the good work.
(B)30-35 You did very well, better than many who claim experience!
(A)36-40 You have a solid understanding
of studio concepts
(A+)41 You are a master of the home
studio If you got around all my trick questions and got them all right, I
am amazed.
|
Report your Test scores at studio-central
Thank you for reading Tweak's Guide.
Enjoy the rest of the site!
Sincerely,
Rich
|
Cool Quote:
Our observation of nature must be diligent, our reflection profound, and
our experiments exact. We rarely see these three means combined; and for this
reason, creative geniuses are not common.
Diderot (1713 - 1784)
|
|
