Final Exam Spring '24

1. When working in an application, when do you save your work?

2. Describe the difference between “open” and “proprietary” file formats and how that plays into “digital obsolescence." What is a “proprietary” music notation file format? What is an “open” music notation file format?

3. Define and describe the difference between HTML, CSS, and Javascript.

4. Define the following analog synthesis terms = Oscillator, Amplitude, Envelop (must use the term "ADSR"), Filter, and Modulation (must use the term "LFO")

   • modulation is what controls tremolo and vibrato

5. What is proper gain staging (or proper gain structure) for live sound? (talk about the steps you would take to find the proper level for each part of the system — from mic to speaker)

   • *First* turn off amplifiers (main speakers and stage monitors are often "active" which means they have amplifiers inside the speaker)

   • on the mixer

     • set channel volume faders and main outs to Unity (ØdB)

     • set the preamp gain knob to lowest setting

     • with headphones (or just visually) set proper gain structure for each channel:

       1. press PFL/SOLO button on the channel

       2. engage HPF if source has no low end (always engage for vocals)

       3. slowly bring up preamp gain knob as performer sounds into the mic until the VU meter averages around -18dB and never peaks at higher than -6dB

       4. unSOLO the track and perform the three steps above with the next channel, etc.

   • *Last* (after all channels have been setup individually) have everyone perform together and with volume knob of amplifiers (main speakers and stage monitors) turned all the way down, slowly turn up volume knobs on amplifiers until you reach the desired volume in the space.

6. What is feedback and what are some ways to avoid/lesson it?

   • reasons for feedback:

     • mic too close to PA speaker

     • mic too far from source being amplified

     • too many mics

   • ways to minimize feedback issues:

     • experiment with the placement of a microphone

       • the closer the microphone is to the source the more the preamp gain can be lowered

     • placing the speakers between the microphone and the audience (speakers along the front of the stage) can greatly lesson feedback issues because the microphone will not pickup its own amplified signal

     • use directional mics to isolate sounds being picked up

     • add acoustic treatment (absorption) to especially "live" rooms with many hard surfaces

     • add an audience! (rooms without an audience sound very different than rooms with no audience)

     • use a spectral analyzer to identify feedback frequencies and fine tune EQ

7. Explain analog to digital conversion using the terms "sample rate" and "bit depth" AND list what sample rate and bit depth I suggest you use when recording.

8. Discuss the difference between a MIDI file and a WAV file. What type of information is stored in each file?

9. How do the acoustics and noise present in the recording space effect mic placement when recording? (For instance: Where would you place the mic if you didn’t like the space and didn’t want the characteristics of the space to be apparent in the recording?)

10. Explain proper gain structure (or staging) in the recording process. What two levels are you looking for on the level meter when you are recording?