Test your basic knowledge |

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. Self contained computerized synthesizer developed in 1975; Playback system records patterns that you play on keyboard






2. POLY Pressure + Channel (S) => Note # (D1) => Amount (D2)






3. Metronome; Prerecorded track of electronic metronomic clicks used to ensure proper timing of music to be recorded; Essential in music scoring sessions; Sets composition tempo






4. MIDI message used to change sound patches on a remote module or the effects patch on a MIDI effects unit






5. Note that alternates rapidly with another note a semitone above it






6. Buzz in audio or hum bar in video signal caused by slightly different grounds that are interconnected by a wire (interconnecting equipment that's plugged into different power sources)






7. Circuits on a synth that determine the character of the attack and release of a tone can be controlled; Controls how sound changes over time; Most commonly on amplifier circuit






8. Conveys the amount of overall (average) pressure on ALL the keys at a given point






9. Audio interface that includes 8 mic preamps - a sophisticated DSP cue mixer - and a comprehensive array of digital I/O; Allows one to record 24- bit audio at up to 192kHz.






10. Defines the lowest and highest note on a keyboard that an individual part is active






11. Advantages: Higher memory (RAM) & samples are saved and recalled with the session; Disadvantage: Lower stability






12. +5 Bias Voltage; Provides +5V to 1's in binary code data






13. Rackmount version of the Triton used as a sound module rather than a complete workstation; Able to store up to eight EXB boards containing additional sounds; Features a built- in S/PDIF digital output






14. Using an envelope generator on a filter does this...






15. A device that 'conditions' the electrical supply to take out spikes and surges.






16. Digital sampling but sounds are divided into small pieces of sound lasting from 1 to 50 milliseconds; Sounds are layered on top of one another and can be adjusted by speed - phase angle - and volume






17. Actual audio files (.WAV - .AIFF - etc.) that we hear when playing a sampled instrument






18. Software; Computer- based MIDI recorders that can be used for other functions (word processing - web browsing - etc.); Offers high resolution (480+ PPQN) and expanded editing facilities - but have lower stability and lack portability






19. Data






20. Where samples are recorded or loaded when playing back from within a sampler; Erased when sampler is turned off so sounds must be stored on removable media; Static/






21. Determines the layout of MIDI channels for each of the multitimbral parts






22. Another term for 'Channel Enable/Disable'






23. Device receives only on an assigned selectable data; Ability to play ONLY one note at a time






24. Ability of audio equipment to reproduce fast changes in amplitude; Measured in volts per microsecond; Low slew rate 'softens' the attack of a signal; High frequencies change in amplitude the fastest so slew rate is critical






25. Determines the highest frequency to be captured






26. Space






27. Device receives on any and all channels but merges all the data together to one specific channel and then plays all notes received as the one sound assigned to that channel; Ability to play MORE than one note at a time






28. Least Significant Bit - the right- most bit in a binary whole number or code






29. Digital recordings triggered by MIDI






30. Controls an instruments voices or 'sounds'






31. Positional numbering system represents numerical values using only two symbols - 0 and 1






32. Parts Per Quarter Note; Measurement of timing resolution of a sequencer; Points on a sequencer grid that lie between quarter notes; Higher the PPQN the better its timing; Referred to as ticks






33. Message sent when note is played (key pressed)






34. Define the attenuation of high pass and low pass filters; Sound will slowly dissipate in a filter at a predetermined interval (usually 12 or 24dB)






35. Smooth gliding from one note to another (as in singing or string playing)






36. In MIDI - a sequence of 8 bits (enough to represent one character of alphanumeric data) processed as a single unit of information






37. Same as square; Odd numbered multiples of harmonics - but the amplitude is decreasing more rapidly






38. Digital Signal Processing; Provides for the ability to adjust levels - do equalization - dynamic processing - create special effects - and mix digital audio data






39. Uses powerful digital signal processing algorithms and equations to simulate the properties of a natural instrument; Very customizable






40. Voltage Controlled Amplifier; Controls Amplitude






41. Determines the point at which a filter begins altering harmonics or frequencies






42. Two or more instruments with note ranges that do not overlap






43. High Resolution; 14- bit parameter; (Coarse Tune X Fine Tune = 16 -384 Steps of resolution






44. Permanent; Original placement of notes is lost and only the quantized version remains






45. CRedited with being the first to create and transmit music electronically; 'Singing Telegraph' (1867)






46. Sony-Philips digital interface format






47. The first drum machine to use digital samples of acoustic drums






48. The industry benchmark for beat production; Features a 32- voice drum/phrase sampler with up to 128MB RAM and extensive editing capabilities; 100 -000- note - 64- track sequencer; 4 MIDI Outputs; Internal sounds reside in flash memory and can easily






49. One of the first affordable samplers; Contained only 2 samples; Very limited functionality






50. Operating system made sense to most musicians; Became very popular because of its accessibility