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. 12.33 GB; DS/ML






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






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






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






5. Waveform of a pure tone showing simple harmonic motion






6. 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






7. 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






8. 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.






9. 1.) Taking a series of evenly- spaced measurements 2.) Signal contains no frequency components higher than half the sample rate






10. The loudest point of a Full Scale system






11. Reference voltage determined by summing the voltage values of a predetermined number of previous samples; Numbers of 1 in row = waveform peak; Numbers of 0 in row = waveform trough; Basis of Sony's Direct Stream Digital (DSD)






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






13. 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






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






15. Full Scale; Type of metering that measures level in digital recording system; Recording and Mixing levels should NEVER exceed 0dB FS in digital audio or clipping will occur






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






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






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






19. CBR; Codecs encodes data at a constant rate regardless of density of the audio file






20. High Pressure - Part of a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are close together






21. Father of modern information theory; Solidified the Nyquist Theory by adding the concept that bits per second (binary representation of audio signals) must be at equal intervals to accurately represent data






22. A sample- by- sample operation on two signals






23. Same as 'aliasing'






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






25. AES






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






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






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






29. Stores only one copy of a stereo signal and assigns it to both channels in order to save 50% of original bandwidth






30. Signal that uses variable voltage to create continuous waves resulting in an inexact transmission






31. 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






32. Reduces the percieved distortion due to quantization error; Low level white noise source is introduced to make the profile of the quantization 'noise' more irregular; Useful when reducing the number of bits per word in a signal (i.e. when converting






33. VBR; Most common & best data reduction technique; Codecs that encode data by determining how dense or sparse areas of the audio are; Can result in buffering issues






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. Process of building a complex tone by starting with the fundamental frequency and adding pure tone harmonics






36. 1st commercially successful AoE format for the transmission of digital audio - video - and control signals over 64- channel 100Mbps Ethernet networks






37. Signal conversions are mixed with playback tracks resulting in near-zero latency






38. 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






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






40. 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'






41. Eight channel digital surround sound system by Dolby






42. Visual graph that shows how loud a sound is at different frequencies






43. Deviation from a normal - steady pulse or tick of a clock that contributes to misrepresentation of a signal; Result of small timing irregularities that become magnified during the transmission of digital signals as the signals are passed from one dev






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






45. Measure of sound pressure over the frequency spectrum - for which a listener perceives a constant loudness when presented with pure steady tones






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






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






48. EBU






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






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