Audio Engineering Quiz

What is the basic physical process that creates a sound wave?

• A) Electrons vibrating through magnetic fields.

• B) Air molecules compressing and expanding in a pattern called compressions and rarefactions.

• C) Static electricity transferring energy across distances.

• D) Light waves bouncing off objects and being converted into sound.

What is the generally accepted range of human hearing?

• A) 2 Hz to 2,000 Hz

• B) 200 Hz to 20,000 Hz

• C) 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz

• D) 20 Hz to 200,000 Hz

What key concept is demonstrated by the Equal Loudness Curves?

• A) All frequencies are perceived at the same loudness at any volume.

• B) Our ears respond equally to all frequencies, regardless of their loudness.

• C) We do not hear all frequencies with the same sensitivity, especially at different volumes.

• D) Frequencies below 1000 Hz are always heard louder than higher frequencies.

How do Equal Loudness Curves show the effect of volume on our hearing?

• A) As overall volume increases, we hear all frequencies exactly the same.

• B) At lower volumes, midrange frequencies become harder to hear.

• C) Our perception of bass and treble changes depending on how loud or soft a sound is played.

• D) Louder volumes make high frequencies disappear entirely.

Why is hearing protection especially important at very high volume levels, based on what we know from Equal Loudness Curves?

• A) Loud sounds cause low frequencies to completely disappear from our hearing.

• B) At high volumes, all frequencies are naturally balanced and less harmful.

• C) Our ears become more sensitive to low frequencies at high volumes, making them more dangerous.

• D) Extremely loud sounds across all frequencies can cause permanent hearing damage because our ears flatten out their sensitivity at high levels.

Why are balanced cables commonly used in professional audio equipment?

• A) They are lighter and easier to carry than unbalanced cables.

• B) They double the volume output by combining two signals.

• C) They help reduce unwanted noise and interference over longer cable runs.

• D) They are required for all microphones to work at standard recording levels.

Which statement best describes an unbalanced audio cable?

• A) It uses two conductors (signal and ground) and is more prone to picking up noise over long distances.

• B) It uses three conductors to actively cancel noise picked up during transmission.

• C) It completely eliminates any chance of interference regardless of length.

• D) It boosts the audio signal strength to professional line levels automatically.

In typical audio setups, where are balanced and unbalanced cables most commonly used?

• A) Balanced cables are used in professional studio gear; unbalanced cables are often used for consumer audio and instruments like electric guitars.

• B) Both balanced and unbalanced cables are used equally for microphones.

• C) Balanced cables are mostly used for headphones, while unbalanced cables are used for speakers.

• D) Unbalanced cables are the only option for high-end recording studios.

Which sequence correctly describes how audio signal levels typically progress through a recording or sound system?

• A) Speaker level → Line level → Microphone level → Instrument level

• B) Instrument level → Line level → Speaker level → Microphone level

• C) Microphone/Instrument level → Preamp boosts to Line level → Amplifier boosts to Speaker level

• D) Line level → Preamp → Microphone level → Speaker level

What is the main difference between consumer audio gear and professional audio gear in terms of signal level?

• A) Consumer gear operates at +4 dBu, while professional gear operates at -10 dBV.

• B) Professional gear operates at higher signal levels (+4 dBu), while consumer gear operates at lower levels (-10 dBV).

• C) Both consumer and professional gear use the exact same signal levels.

• D) Consumer gear requires balanced cables to match professional signal strength.