The Final Exam
Your proctor: The TweakHead Himself, the immutable icon of TweakMeistering, the one and only Rich the Tweakmeister
Alright, don't even think about cheating. All the top contributors at studio-central are watching. Someday I may make it a requirement to pass this test to get into the forums.
I suggest you open a text file and write down your answers. Or print this page and circle your answers. When you are done, click the hand for the answer page
Multiple Choice Section
Instructions: Select the answer which is most true?
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
b. Direct Sound Drivers
c. ASIO and WDM drivers
d. ADAT and T-DIF drivers
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 audio2. 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
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
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
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
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
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
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: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
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
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
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.
2. All TRS connections are stereo
3. ReWire lets you use VSTi soft synths in sequencers
4. You connect a compressor before the preamp.
5. Dynamic mics tend to resist breakup at high Sound Pressure levels (SPLs)
6. To use a computer to record MIDI, the computer has to be as fast as possible.
7. When sampling Drums, compression is a good idea.
OK, times up! Get the answers!
