Audio Study Review 1

Front 1

acoustical phase

Back 1

the time relationship between two or more sound waves at a given point in their cycles

Front 2

acoustics

Back 2

the science that deals with the behavior of sound and sound control, including its generation, transmission, reception, and effects. The properties of a room that affect the quality of sound.

Front 3

amplitude

Back 3

the magnitude of a sound wave or an electric signal, measured in decibels

Front 4

analog recording

Back 4

a method of recording in which the waveform of the recorded signal resembles the waveform of the original source

Front 5

binaural hearing

Back 5

hearing with two ears attached to and separated by the head.

Front 6

capacitor microphones

Back 6

a microphone that tranduces acoustic energy into electric energy electrostatically. (also called a condenser microphone)

Front 7

cardioid and super cardioid microphones

Back 7

a unidirectional microphone with a heart shaped pickup pattern

Front 8

compression

Back 8

1) reducing a signal's output level in relation to its input level to reduce dynamic range. 2) the drawing together of vibrating molecules, producing a high-pressure area

Front 9

constructive interference

Back 9

when sound waves are partially out of phase and partially additive, increasing amplitude where compression and rarefaction occur at the same time.

Front 10

decibel

Back 10

a relative and dimensionless unit to measure the ratio of two quantities.

Front 11

destructive interference

Back 11

when sound waves are partially out of phase and partially substractive, decreasing amplitude where compression and rarefaction occur at different times

Front 12

digital recording

Back 12

a method of recording in which samples of the original analog signal are encoded as pulses and then decoded during playback

Front 13

direct sound

Back 13

sound waves that reach the listener before reflecting off any surface.

Front 14

directional characteristics

Back 14

bi directional: front and back sound / omni: sound from all directions / uni: sound from one direction

Front 15

distortion

Back 15

the appearance of a signal in the reproduced sound that was no in the original sound

Front 16

dynamic microphones

Back 16

a microphone that tranduces energy electronmagnetically. Moving-coil and ribbon microphones are dynamic.

Front 17

echo

Back 17

sound reflection delayed by 35ms or more that are perceived as discrete repetitions of the direct sound

Front 18

frequency

Back 18

the number of times per second that a sound source vibrates, expressed in hertz (Hz); formerly expressed in cycles per second (cps)

Front 19

haas effect

Back 19

a sound reflection arriving up to 30 ms after the direct sound must be about 10 db louder to be audible, resulting in the direct and reflected sounds being perceived as one.

Front 20

harmonics

Back 20

frequencies that are exact multiples of the fundamental

Front 21

hertz

Back 21

unit measurement of frequency; numerically equal to cycles per second (cps)

Front 22

microphones

Back 22

a transducer that converts acoustic energy into electric energy

Front 23

noise

Back 23

any unwanted sound or signal

Front 24

octaves

Back 24

the interval between two sounds that have a frequency ratio 2:1

Front 25

phantom power

Back 25

operating voltage supplied to a capacitor microphone by an external power source or mixer, thereby eliminating the need for batteries

Front 26

pitch

Back 26

the subjective perception of frequency the highness or lowness of a sound

Front 27

proximity effect

Back 27

increase in the bass respose of some mics as the distance between the mic and its sound source is decreased. (also known as bass tip-up)

Front 28

psychoaccoustics

Back 28

the study of human perception of and subjective response to sound stimuli

Front 29

rarefaction

Back 29

temporary drawing apart of vibrating molecules, causing a partial vaccum to occur.

Front 30

reflected sound

Back 30

reflections of the direct sound that bounce off one or more surfaces before reaching the listener.

Front 31

reverb

Back 31

multiple blended, random reflections of a sound wave after the sound source has ceased vibrating. The types of reverberation in current use are digital, convolution, plate, and acoustic chamber.

Front 32

stereo

Back 32

one dimensional sound that creates the illusion of two-dimensional sound

Front 33

velocity

Back 33

the speed of a sound wave: 1,130 feet per second at sea level and 70*F

Front 34

volume

Back 34

human ears perception of loudness