Master of Music Production Self-Assessment Part 1: Audio Engineering Assessment, Audio and Recording Fundamentals

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1. When recording a spaced pair of overhead microphones, which method will best keep the snare drum centered in the stereo image?

Set the small faders to unity gain and adjust the mic preamp gain for the same peak level on both channels.

Set the two mics equidistant to the snare drum by measuring with a cable or tape measure.

Use mic cables of the same length and color.

Set the gain of the mic preamps to the same nominal level, then balance by ear using the small faders.

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2. Which of the options below best describe XY stereo microphone technique?

Two coincident cardioid mics, diaphragms at 90º to one another and 45º to the sound source

Two figure-8 mics, 3 feet apart, parallel to one another and to the sound source

Two condenser mics, diaphragms at 45º to one another and 90º to the sound source

Two coincident cardioid mics, diaphragms at 180º to one another and 90º to the sound source

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3. What has been the maximum number of microphones you have recorded simultaneously?

16+

None yet

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4. Unity Gain is defined as when input level equals output level as it passes through a device.

True

False

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5. Compare the two waves depicted below. Identify what changed from M to N.

amplitude

frequency

phase

wavelength

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6. Omnidirectional microphones have the most severe proximity effect.

True

False

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7. Some condenser mics can be operated without DC (phantom or battery) power.

True

False

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8. A typical passive direct box (DI) will...

convert an unbalanced signal to balanced.

Increase a microphone level signal to line-level.

convert a low impedance signal to high impedance.

require phantom power.

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9. On a VU meter, what does “VU” stand for and why?

Volume in dBU; the meter represents loudness in decibels

Volume Units; the meter represents human loudness processing

Voltage Units; the meter represents the electrical signal in volts

Voltage Utilization; the meter represents how electrical current is converted into loudness

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10. Why are Equal Loudness (Fletcher-Munson) Curves important to consider? How can your raised awareness of this concept improve your own recordings and mixes?

Because understanding how humans perceive location and panning is crucial to good recording and mixing. By allowing engineers to make more informed decisions on the spatial distribution of a mix and its "translatability" to other playback systems.

Because understanding how humans perceive frequencies differently across the spectrum at different playback levels is crucial to good recording and mixing. By allowing engineers to make better informed decisions on the frequency content of lower-frequency instruments and prompting them to check their mixes at different playback levels.

Because understanding how humans hear the low extremes of the frequency spectrum is crucial to good recording and mixing. By allowing engineers to make more informed decisions on the frequency masking issues of a mix and its "translatability" to other playback systems.

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100% of survey complete.

Question Title

* 1. When recording a spaced pair of overhead microphones, which method will best keep the snare drum centered in the stereo image?

Question Title

* 2. Which of the options below best describe XY stereo microphone technique?

Question Title

* 3. What has been the maximum number of microphones you have recorded simultaneously?

Question Title

* 4. Unity Gain is defined as when input level equals output level as it passes through a device.

Question Title

* 5. Compare the two waves depicted below. Identify what changed from M to N.

Question Title

* 6. Omnidirectional microphones have the most severe proximity effect.

Question Title

* 7. Some condenser mics can be operated without DC (phantom or battery) power.

Question Title

* 8. A typical passive direct box (DI) will...

Question Title

* 9. On a VU meter, what does “VU” stand for and why?

Question Title

* 10. Why are Equal Loudness (Fletcher-Munson) Curves important to consider? How can your raised awareness of this concept improve your own recordings and mixes?

1. When recording a spaced pair of overhead microphones, which method will best keep the snare drum centered in the stereo image?

2. Which of the options below best describe XY stereo microphone technique?

3. What has been the maximum number of microphones you have recorded simultaneously?

4. Unity Gain is defined as when input level equals output level as it passes through a device.

5. Compare the two waves depicted below. Identify what changed from M to N.

6. Omnidirectional microphones have the most severe proximity effect.

7. Some condenser mics can be operated without DC (phantom or battery) power.

8. A typical passive direct box (DI) will...

9. On a VU meter, what does “VU” stand for and why?

10. Why are Equal Loudness (Fletcher-Munson) Curves important to consider? How can your raised awareness of this concept improve your own recordings and mixes?