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. Contains harmoics and all odd and even harmonics; 6dB roll off between octaves; Same starting phases






2. 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






3. Inputs 2 frequencies; Outputs only the sum of and difference of the frequencies; Usually used with one simple - fixed oscillator tone - and a more complex sound like speech or singing to create 'talk box' effect






4. To create or shape






5. Multi Mode; Performance (Perf) Mode; Sequence Mode






6. Mark of the Unicorn; Runs on Mac only; Used for film scoring or sound design






7. Combination of layers and splits (Ex. => Assigning a piano sound across the entire length of the keyboard - but adding a string part only on upper octaves)






8. Enables the subtraction of frequencies from a basic waveform allowing shaping of desired content






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






10. This changes when keys are pressed above or below the key note; Alters the playback speed of the sample






11. Used as a modulation source; Usually below 20Hz (.01 - 10Hz); Most common waveform is the sine - though there is often a choice; Defines vibrato - tremolo - and wah; Allows periodic changes to sound






12. Subtractive; Additive; Resynthesis; Frequency Modulation; Phase Distortion; Wavetable; Pulse Code Modulation; Granular; Graintable Synthesis; Physical Modeling; Analog Modeling






13. Audio MIDI Setup; Utility designed to tell the computer what MIDI Interface and hardware is being used - as well as audio connections; Built into System Software of Mac OS 10.1 and up; Sequencers communicate with AMS for audio and MIDI routing and se






14. How long it takes for volume of sound to drop to Sustain Level






15. Voltage Controlled Filter; Voltage amount changes harmonic content






16. The transmission of an audio signal by using it to vary a carrier wave (amplitude of frequency)






17. Changes the sound envelope based on how high or low the pitch of the note






18. Receive






19. Boosts frequencies at and around the cutoff frequency; Emphasizes effect of filter






20. Pitch bend parameter that sets the range in semitones






21. A male 9- pin or 25- pin port on a computer system used by slower I/O devices such as a mouse or modem; Data travels serially - one bit at a time - through the port






22. Maximum number of notes an instrument can play at once; Most modern MIDI instruments have 128 notes of polyphony






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






24. Maximum of 3 MIDI Slave Devices can be wired past the Master Device according to the MMA; All MIDI IN Ports are optically isolated to prevent hum - buzz - ground looping - and RF interference.






25. 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.






26. Voltage Controlled Oscillator; Controls pitch






27. Determines dynamic range and signal- to- noise ratio






28. Electronic tape- based keyboard instrument featuring prerecorded sounds; Tape bank could be removed and loaded with different sounds






29. Determines which note on the MIDI keyboard will play the sample at its original pitch and speed; Almost always set to Middle C






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






31. Debuted in 1980; First sampling based instrument by Small Australian company






32. 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






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






34. Software ran on Atari; One of the first software based MIDI synthesizers






35. Resembles a large hardware sequencer- type display - but shows all MIDI data that has been recorded on a single page






36. Allows for the routing of output from individual parts to secondary (auxiliary) audio outputs rather than the main stereo outputs; EQ effects can be changed from those on main stereo outputs






37. Keys transmit to MIDI OUT Port ONLY bypassing any internal sounds; Internal sound engine receives MIDI via the MIDI IN Port allowing both a Master Device and Slave Device in one unit.






38. Connects computer to MIDI device; All MIDI routing and communication is handled by the computer






39. MIDI Out (Master) --> MIDI In (MIDI Interface) --> Travels via Dual Serial (USB) both to and from interface --> MIDI Out (MIDI Interface) --> MIDI In (Slave) --> Audio Out (Slave) --> Audio In (Mixer or Audio Interface) --> Audio Out (Speakers)






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






41. MIDI Message sent when key is released






42. Program Change + Channel (S) => Patch # (D1) => N/A






43. Dum machine that featured 12- bit sampling; 99- track sequencer with a 60 -000 note capacity; Debuted the familiar 4 x 4 grid of drum pads






44. Drum- style pattern recording in grid format with each horizontal line representing a different tone and each vertical line representing a beat of a predetermined bar






45. Measurement of how fast a note was pressed that enables samplers to be more dynamically expressive; Incoming note velocities are the player's variations in dynamics and they trigger different sets of samples






46. VCO -> VCF -> VCA -> Speakers; (LFO and Envelope Generator run to all of the 3 circuits)






47. Most common type; Oscillators generate all of harmonic content and filters are used to subtract overtones from the sound; Think sculpture reference (from block to statue)






48. How long it takes for sound to fade to silence






49. CMD+S






50. Smallest increments between beats; Coincide with the resolution in PPQN; MIDI data locks to these for start