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. Defines the number of sample per second taken from a continuous signal to make a discrete signal; Governs the frequency response of digital audio






2. Subtract place values from the decimal number and place ones or zeros in the correct places






3. 'Capturing' part of digital audio; Never captures a signal perfectly






4. Rate at which energy is drawn from a source that produces a flow of electricity in a circuit; Expressed in volts






5. A situation where a calculated value cannot fit into the number of digits reserved for it






6. Discrete incremental distinctions made between the value of one sample and the next; Breaks down bit depth into a series of evenly spaced intervals






7. Circuit that seizes voltage values with each tick of an A/D device's internal clock






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






9. Describes acceptable data - performances both offered and essential for a disc player - and the complete user experience






10. Data reduction technique that does not effect quality of original audio; No effect on original quality; Typically around 50% reduction; Exact reconstruction of digital code for the audio signal






11. Data is transmitted over fiber optic lines; Uses a TOSLINK connecter instead of an RCA type; Can transmit multi- channel audio; Not susceptible to ground hum and loops; Able to support far higher rates of data transfer over greater distances than coa






12. 1st commercially successful AoE format for the transmission of digital audio - video - and control signals over 64- channel 100Mbps Ethernet networks






13. 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






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. Only 2 digits used; The value of each place (ones - hundreds - etc.) are as follows from greatest to least: 128 - 64 - 32 - 16 - 8 - 4 - 2 - 1






16. A method of representing real numbers using a mantissa and an exponent






17. 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






18. How Loud (Y-Axis) & How Fast (X-Axis)






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






20. Lossless Format; Can hold up to 25GB on a single- layer disc and 50GB on a dual- layer disc






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






22. The frequency range that is allowed through a filter






23. 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.






24. The set of rules that computers use to move files from one computer to another on an internet






25. A frequency specified for a filter (digital or electronic) the marks the point at which the frequency content of a signal is altered +/- 3dB






26. 8- in/8- out on one cable; 25- pin D- sub connector






27. Voltage -> Dither -> Anti-Aliasing (Low Pass Filter) -> Sample & Hold Circuit -> Successive Approximation/Quantizer --) 100111010 (PCM Audio File)






28. Increases D/A sample rate from nominal rate to oversampling rate by turning series multi- bit PCM samples into 1- bit samples; (ex. => 44.1kHz sample rate converted to 2.8MHz and simultaneously converts multi- bit samples to 1- bit); Low Pass Filter






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






30. Splits the input signal and mixes it with an analog copy so that no latency is present






31. Signal voltage is relayed to a register from sample- and - hold circuit; Holds reference frequencies in binary form that decrease in value; Finds approximated value & assigns binary number accordingly






32. Sample Rate x Bit Depth x # of Channels






33. Have odd numbered harmonics






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






35. Twice as many samples as the highest frequency at minimum; Sampling rate totally controls frequency response






36. Based on Full Scale (dB/FS); -6dB represents a loss of one bit so account for this when calculating






37. The number of compressions or rarefactions in one second; The higher the frequency the more compressions & rarefactions per second; Measured in Hertz






38. Digital and analog processing capability is combined on a single microchip allowing for 1- bit resolution at high sample rates






39. Leaving space at beginning and ending of song for data crunching during mastering; Last step in mastering process






40. (Amplitude Based) Amplitude: Voltage; Quantization; Bit Depth; Quantization Intervals; Quantization Noise; [Signal:Quantization Noise Ratio]; Dither; Dynamic Range






41. Digital Word -> Series of Resistors (each with assigned charges) -> Sample- and-Hold Circuit -> Anti-Imaging Filter (Smoothing Filter) -> Reconstructed Sample






42. Accuracy with which an electronic system reproduces the sound or image of its input signal






43. The continuous loss of signal strengths as a signal travels through a medium






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






45. A network communications protocol that specifies how machines will exchange data; Uses a broadcast system in which one machine transmits its message on the communication medium and the other machines listen for messages directed to them






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






47. Eight channel digital surround sound system by Dolby






48. Electromagnetic receptor that detects the radiation known as visible light






49. The elapsed time it takes for a packet of data to arrive at its destination; Lagging or pause of an audio signal as digital processing occurs; Can be managed utilizing several forms of 'audio monitoring'






50. Samples are duplicated and the playback sampling rate correspondingly increased; Significantly raises the Nyquist limit to a range well beyond human hearing; Processing 'pushes' the distortion resulting from quantization error into these higher frequ