National ITE Certificate in Technology DIGITAL & AUDIO PRODUCTION DIGITAL AUDIO PRODUCTION (IT3038PA) CHAPTERS 1 - 6 THEORY PAPER

1 HOUR MAY 2014

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES 1 2 Do not open this question paper until you are told to do so. Write your NRIC No./FIN clearly at the top right-hand corner on the required pages of this question paper. This paper consists of 30 multiple-choice questions. Attempt all questions. Choose the correct answer and shade the appropriate box on the separate answer sheet. Show the working for all calculations and provide diagrams related to your answers where possible. Return this question paper at the end of the exam.

3 4 5

This question paper consists of 7 printed pages (excluding this page)

2013, Institute of Technical Education, Singapore

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark per question) Answer all the questions. 1 The definition of DAW is Digital Audio (A) (B) (C) (D) Work. Workflow. Workstation. Workprogram.

The technical term to describe the difference between the peak pressure and normal air pressure is (A) (B) (C) (D) Hz. dB. SPL. dB SPL.

Danny is an acoustic architect and needs to calculate how far a given frequency can travel in a building he is designing. Which one property of sound waves does this deal with most? (A) (B) (C) (D) Frequency. Phase. Velocity. Wavelength.

Directly attached to the inside of the diaphragm in a dynamic microphone is a (A) (B) (C) (D) Magnet. Backplate. Metal Grill. Coil of Wire.

Overtones are also referred to as (A) (B) (C) (D) Frequencies. Fundamental. Harmonics. Harmonies.

Shi Hao is a freelance sound recordist whom was asked to record an opera on stage unobtrusively. The microphone he should ideally choose for the job would be a (A) (B) (C) (D) Lapel Microphone. Dynamic Microphone. Condenser Microphone. Pressure-zone Microphone.

On some audio recording devices, phantom power is also labeled as (A) (B) (C) (D) -48 V. +48 V. -44.1 V. +44.1 V.

Figure 8 The equipment shown in Figure 8 is referred to as a (A) (B) (C) (D) Zeppelin. Wind Gag. Wind Sock. Shaggy Dog.

Farhan is a live sound engineer. During a sound check, he decides to add some effects to the back up vocalists channel. He does with the help of which audio mixer section? (A) (B) (C) (D) Insert section. Fader section. Master section. Auxiliary section.

10

Which one of the following is NOT a category for audio signal level: (A) (B) (C) (D) Mic-level. Line-level Monitor-level. Loudspeaker-level.

11

Razi is looking to purchase a new audio mixer to replace his old one. One of his main criteria is to buy a mixer that does NOT only measure average sound levels. With the criteria, a mixer with which type of meter should he purchase? (A) (B) (C) (D) VU Meter. Limiter Meter. Audio Gain Meter. Peak Program Meter.

12

In a sound recording that is clipped, during playback it will (A) (B) (C) (D) be too quiet. sound distorted. have no noticeable effect. cancel itself out; out-of-phase.

13

How many channels is TDIF audio cable able to support? (A) (B) (C) (D) 1 channel. 2 channels. 8 channels. 16 channels.

14

Which one of the following is an example of hardware parts of the DAW? (A) (B) (C) (D) Auxiliary. Fader. Interface. Master.

15

You are sitting one meter away from your speakers while your friend is sitting two meters away from the speakers. If the speakers are replaying your mix at a level of 63 dB, at what SPL will your friend hear the mix? (A) (B) (C) (D) 51 dB 57 dB 63 dB 69 dB

16

In digital audio, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz and 192 kHz are examples of (A) (B) (C) (D) Levels. Resolutions. Sampling Rates. Quantization.

17

Which one of the following is NOT a Pro Tools edit mode? (A) (B) (C) (D) Shuffle. Slide. Slip. Spot.

18

Of the four sound monitoring systems, which offers excellent spatial positioning? (A) (B) (C) (D) Headphones. Small Speakers. Far-field Monitors. Nar-field Monitors.

19

Which one of the following audio cables uses the same XLR connector that you see on microphone cables? (A) (B) (C) (D) AES/EBU. Lightpipe. TDIF. Toslink.

20

In location sound recording, when a sound is recorded below the zero point (A) (B) (C) (D) no sound is actually recorded. background sound is not recorded. hiss and noise will not be recorded at all. it does not have a good signal-to-noise ratio.
4

21

The drummer of a jazz group plays his drums using brushes. To be able to pick up the precision of the brushes, which microphone would be the most suitable? (A) (B) (C) (D) Condenser. Dynamic. Omni. PZM.

22

During location sound, recording a subject off-axis occurs when the microphone (A) (B) (C) (D) has its Off-Axis button switched on. is accidentally switched off while recording. does not receive the phantom power it requires. is turned to one side from the direction of the sound source.

23

Figure 23 In the envelope graph shown in Figure 23, the section labeled III is referred to as (A) (B) (C) (D) Attack. Decay. Release. Sustain.

24

Which one of the following is a disadvantage of a condenser microphone? (A) (B) (C) (D) It does not withstand high levels of SPL. It does not capture transients accurately. It does not capture high frequencies well. It does not require power in order to work.

25

A sound recordist is working on a production set. She needs to record the sound of footsteps from far away. What microphone polar pattern would you suggest she use to best capture the sound? (A) (B) (C) (D) Bidirectional. Cardioid Supercardioid. Omnidirectional.

26

You are trying to record a voice over for a commercial but construction renovations from the floor below are causing your microphone to pick up unwanted vibration noise. What can you do to prevent this? (A) (B) (C) (D) Employ the use of a pop shield. Attach a shock mount to the microphone. Change the polar pattern of the microphone. Use a microphone stand that is much heavier.

27

Figure 27 The plug and input socket of what type of audio cable connector is shown in Figure 27? (A) (B) (C) (D) ADAT. BNC. RCA. TDIF.

28

Clicking on the R button in your desired track in Pro Tools will (A) (B) (C) (D) arm your track for recording. allow your track to remain mute. remove your track for the track list. replace your track with a new recording track.

29

The Automatic Gain Control (AGC) of a video camera (A) (B) (C) (D) changes the gain according to the location. ensures no pauses occur in quiet moments. constantly records all audio at zero dB on the VU meter. continually sets the gain to below zero dB on the VU meter.

30

Which of the following is an advantage of small speakers? (A) (B) (C) (D) Excellent spatial positioning. Generally difficult to blow out. Room acoustics do not interfere. Mimics non-linearalities of broadcast products.

*** End ***

Institute of Technical Education

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Institute of Technical Education, Singapore. Institute of Technical Education has made every effort to trace copyright holders, but if we have inadvertently overlooked any, we will be pleased to make the necessary arrangements at the first opportunity.