Test your basic knowledge |

Digital Audio

Subject : engineering
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Splits the input signal and mixes it with an analog copy so that no latency is present






2. HD Audio format; Lossless Compression; 24- bit/96 kHz; 5.1 Surround or 24- bit / 192 kHz stereo sound






3. Psychoacoustic model of data reduction used for general audio compression that aims to transmit only features perceptible to the human ear; Useful for mastering streaming media






4. The loudest point of a Full Scale system






5. The mathematics - algorithms - and the techniques used to manipulate signals after they have been converted to digital form






6. Each bit in the bit depth is equal to a _____ increase in dynamic range






7. Uses entropy coding as the basis; Computer data compression algorithm that packages files such as .ZIP & .RAR






8. AAC (Advanced Audio Coding); MP3; RA; WMA; OGG Vorbis; Dolby Digital/AC-3; DTS; ADPCM






9. Root Mean Square; Refers to taking the square root of all instantaneous amplitudes; Takes the average of those squares; (-6 Peak Level is approximately equal to -20 RMS)






10. Used as the main disc from which other discs are made; Composed of ground glass with a very fine photoresistor layer; An imaging laser burns pit and land patterns in preparation for duplication






11. A time regulator that makes all samples and bits to align when working with interconnected digital devices; Basically a signal that all of the digital devices refer to when operating.






12. Most significant lossless coding technique in current use; Measure of disorder in which long strings of data are represented by short symbols and uses the shortest symbols to represent the most common repetitive audio data maximizing data reduction






13. ADPCM; Pulse code modulation that produces a digital signal with a lower bit rate than standard PCM; Records only the difference between samples






14. Channels are processed one at a time and the results are stored on multiple CPU buffers that alternately send data as DAW requests the data for playback; First few seconds are relayed to the buffer prior to processing and playback and it continuously






15. Specific set of instructions for carrying out a data reduction technique that determines how to 'save' binary data information efficiently






16. Level above which audible sounds are painful (125 - 130 db)






17. Represents the amplitude component of the digital sampling process; Technique of incrementing a continuous analog event into a discrete set of binary digits (bits)






18. High channel count; 64 channels on one cable; Coaxial cable with BNC connector or fiber optic with ST1 connector






19. Governs the frequency response of a digital system; The highest- frequency component that can be captured with a sampling rate; always 1/2 of sampling rate; Also called the limiting frequency






20. Ratio of magnitude of the analytical signal to the magnitude of the background noise signal






21. Cable used to transmit data; Inner cable is surrounded by a plastic insulator - which is surrounded by a wire mesh conductor that insulates the internal signal wire from external interference and an outer casing that functions as a ground






22. 8.75 GB; DS/SL






23. Difference in brightness between land and pit on a CD Physical Format






24. In order to play multiple channels at one time data is buffered as read to disk; Latency happens between play command & beginning of playback






25. Multi-Bit Words; (Pulse Code Modulation)






26. Also known as equal loudness curves; Graph that indicates the average ear sensitivity to different frequencies at different SPL levels (as volume increases - these curves flatten out)






27. EDL; Final list of samples used in the audio editing process; Identified by time code






28. Sum of all harmonics; Sum of sine and cosine waves which have frequencies f - 2f - 3f - 4f...






29. (AES/EBU); 110O - 2- channel balanced digital audio cable with an XLR connection; NOT a mic cable!!






30. Allowance of noise floor below that which is required for the final product






31. Circuit that interprets the meaning of the symbols as they were chosen and arranged by the encode






32. Sony sigma- delta modulation based technology that bypasses the decimation and interpolation steps found in PCM converters






33. Found that aliasing was always a problem no matter how fast you sample; Less data recorded but more accurate; 2 samples per wave length.






34. Data transmission protocol over which computer network traffic travels; Poorly suited to real- time transmission but numerous attempts have been made to harness the technology because of its flexible routing; Uses simple Cat5 cabling; Resists interfe






35. Very selective method of lowering buffer levels by halting different levels of audio processing






36. Inner ear component that attaches to the stapes and helps to decrease the amplitude of vibrations; Causes the masking phenomenon






37. Sony and Philips optical disc format; Utilizes sigma delta DSD to offer higher resolution; 1- bit; 2.8224 MHz; 6-Channel






38. Snippets of time in which frequency analysis takes place in a perceptual codec






39. Single- pin RCA cable or fiber- optic TOSLINK connector used for digital transfer; 75O coaxial - 2- channel unbalanced; 'Consumer' format of AES3






40. Fractional part of a floating- point number; Also called the mantissa; Defines precision






41. (Time Based) Frequency: Aliasing; Anti-Aliasing Filter; Sample Rate; Nyquist Limit






42. Measures the highest levels of a signal being recorded or mixed; Monitors for clipping - which occurs at 0dBFS); Does not always reflect perceived volume of signal






43. Roughly around 1 -130 ft/s






44. The difference in volume between the loudest and quietest sounds of a source






45. If a signal is sampled at a rate higher than twice the highest significant signal frequency and at evenly spaced intervals - then the samples contain all the information of the original signal






46. 1st commercially successful AoE format for the transmission of digital audio - video - and control signals over 64- channel 100Mbps Ethernet networks






47. RAM holds in memory audio data before it is transferred to the memory controller; Certain amount of data is processed before large amounts of data are streamed to prevent latency






48. Describes various optical disc characteristics including the size and shape of the disc - the size of pits - the speed at which the disc spins - and a multitude of aspects regarding the specifications of the player itself






49. Sample Rate x Bit Depth x # of Channels






50. MPEG; Standardizing body of audio coding