wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Sound Engineering & Production Exam (SHORT QUESTIONS)

Total questions: 12

Worksheet time: 3hrs 0mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Name 4 controls common to all mixing desks

a)

Distortion, Mute, Sub group faders, Envelope shaper

b)

Gain, EQ, Mute, phantom power

2.

Name one advantage of using balanced cables

a)

Is better at deflecting interference due to having two signal wires and a ground wire

b)

Is better at deflecting interference due to having one signal wire and a ground wire

3.

What is the main advantage of building a multi-track recording of instruments at different stages as opposed to recording all the instruments at the same time in the same room?

a)

No instruments will bleed into other microphones. E.g. The drums won't be heard in the guitar microphone. This means that the mixing process will be easier as you will only be effecting the correct instrument.

b)

The process takes longer meaning that there is more time spent on the project

4.

In a studio communications scenario, what is the purpose of ‘talkback’?

a)

To discuss what instruments the musician would like to hear in their headphones for the recording time

b)

To discuss if the musician would like a click track or not

c)

To discuss how much amplitude/level the musician wants of a certain instrument in their headphones

d)

All of the above

5.

What is the purpose of phantom power? What microphones commonly require phantom power?

a)

To supply backup power in case the main power supply gets cut. Used for Dynamic mics

b)

To supply extra power to the pre-amp built into the microphone. Used for Dynamic mics

c)

To supply extra power to the pre-amp built into the microphone. Used for condenser mics

d)

To supply power to the computer monitor in a studio setting

6.

If a waveform has a low amplitude and high frequency how will it sound? Use the terms loudness and pitch in your answer.

a)

Its loudness will be loud and it will have a low pitch

b)

Its loudness will be loud and it will have a high pitch

c)

Its loudness will be quiet and it will have a low pitch

d)

Its loudness will be quiet and it will have a high pitch

7.

What is the purpose of using a pop shield in front of a microphone when recording a vocalist?

a)

It will block out wrong notes being sung during a recording

b)

It will block out spit from getting on the microphone

c)

It will block out blasts of air from the vocalist when they sing words beginning with 'p', 'b' or 's'. This keeps the recording cleaner and easier to mix

d)

It will help block out background noises from spilling into the recording

8.

What is the typically stated range of human hearing? What is the unit measurement for frequencies?

a)

50Hz to 12Khz. Frequencies are measured in decibels (dB)

b)

20Hz to 20KHz. Frequencies are measured in Hertz (Hz)

c)

20Hz to 17KHz. Frequencies are measured in Volts (V)

d)

200Hz to 21KHz. Frequencies are measured in Hertz (Hz)

9.

Why are absorption panels and bass traps installed in studio live rooms? How does this treatment affect the soundwaves in the room?

a)

To control the frequencies being emitted from an instrument within the studio. This ensures that a recording is being done in a controlled environment and that soundwaves are being received as a linear frequency response

b)

To control the frequencies being emitted from an instrument within the studio. It makes any sound within the room extremely loud

c)

To control the frequencies being emitted from an instrument within the studio. It means there will be no echoes at all and will increase the amount of high frequencies received

d)

To control the frequencies being emitted from an instrument within the studio. It means there will be no echoes at all and will increase the amount of low frequencies received

10.

What is meant by sound reflection? What is the difference between a ‘direct’ sound and a ‘reflected’ sound?

a)

Sound reflection is the repetition of the soundwave bouncing off multiple surrounding boundaries.


A direct sound is a sound heard before it reflects off a surface. A reflected sound is only heard after it is reflected off a surface

b)

Sound reflection is the repetition of the soundwave bouncing off multiple surrounding boundaries.


A direct sound is a soundwave that never reflects off a surface.

A reflected sound is a soundwave that only bounces off multiple boundaries

11.

Briefly explain the term ‘Phase’

a)

Phase is the way a soundwave travels in comparison another soundwave. It can be constructive or destructive.

Constructive means the crests and troughs of one soundwave occur at the same time in the other soundwave resulting in double the amplitude

Destructive means they occur at different times in both soundwaves resulting in no sound

b)

Phase is the time it takes for a higher frequency soundwave to travel a certain distance in comparison to a lower frequency soundwave

12.

In sound wave characteristics, explain the terms ‘diffusion’ and ‘reflection’

a)

Reflection is the soundwave being heard after hitting one boundary

Diffusion is the path the soundwave takes when is reflects off multiple surfaces

b)

Reflection is the soundwave bouncing off multiple boundaries until it is heard after the original sound finishes.

Diffusion is the difference between the areas of high and low pressure in a soundwave. A crest is an area of high pressure. A trough is an area of low pressure