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. The more bits allocated during quantization - the more accurate the measurement






3. 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)






4. 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






5. More accuracy in low amplitudes and less in higher amplitudes






6. 16-Bit; 44.1 kHz; PCM; Stereo






7. CobraNet; EtherSound; Dante; AVB (currently under development)






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






9. 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.






10. Measurement at regular intervals of the amplitude of a varying waveform (in order to convert it to digital form); There must be a minimum of 2 samples for each cycle in a waveform






11. Having a repeated succession of waves or curves as in a sound waveform






12. Method of representing an acoustic quantity with a series of binary numbers; Can have only specific individually distinct values






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






14. Based on psychoacoustics - these are the basis of frequency analysis for a perceptual codec;






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






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






17. Measuring equipment in A/D conversion that processes voltage and provides a value for that voltage






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






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






20. Reduces A/D sample rate from the oversampled rate to nominal rate by turning series of one- bit samples into a series of multi- bit PCM samples; (ex. => 2.8MHz sample rate converted to 44.1kHz and simultaneously converts 1-Bit samples to multi- bit);






21. Serial Copy Management System; main difference between AES3 & S/PIDF






22. Series of dots and dashes representing the letters of the alphabet; Most common letters are represented by the shortest dots and dashes; Example of entropy coding






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






24. Pertaining to hearing or sound; Combination of the intensity of air pressure molecules with amplitude






25. The process of reducing the space required to store data by efficiently encoding the content.






26. The loudest point of a Full Scale system






27. Eliminates frequencies above the Nyquist limit from becoming samples; Occurs prior to quantization






28. 1.) Bit Rate x Sample Rate (you'll get b/sec) 2.) Multiply by 60 if converting seconds to minutes 3.) Divide by 8 to convert bits to Bytes and get B/min 4.) Divide by 1 -024 to get KB/min and keep doing it until you get desired bit rate specification






29. More aggressive lossy data reduction techniques that require further manipulation of the stereo field; Examples are 'Intensity' & 'M-S'






30. 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






31. The art of deciding where to place a processor in signal flow based on how that processor will be influenced by the other processors in the path






32. AES






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






34. Computer program or device capable of encoding and/or decoding a digital data stream with the end result being a reduced file size






35. Low Pressure; Part in a longitudinal wave where the particles are spread apart






36. Have odd numbered harmonics






37. Joint-Stereo Technique; Since the human brain is unable to localize sounds at high frequencies well sounds above 9 kHz threshold are encoded in mono






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






39. The difference between the analog value and the approximated digital value due to the 'rounding' that occurs while converting the analog signal to digital






40. The ability of a digital system to perform complex DSP without running into problems with overflow or loss of resolution






41. Branch of psychology concerned with the subjective perception of sound






42. DAW's and software must buffer when converting or bouncing and this latency can add up if not monitored






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






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






45. Number of bits used to represent the smallest unit of information in an audio file; Greater bit depth = better quality audio






46. Softest sound that can be heard by the average human ear (0 dB)






47. 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






48. Built into DAWs; Bits are added when signals are mixed together to avoid clipping






49. 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






50. 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