Music Tech > Mr Marks - Random (section A) > Flashcards

Mr Marks - Random (section A) Flashcards

(61 cards)

Study These Flashcards
1
Q

What is analog delay?

A

Type of delay effect that records an audio signal and then plays it back after a short time to create an echo like effect

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2
Q

What does analog delay sound like?

A
  • warm tone - high frequencies are often slightly rolled off, making repeats sound softer and less bright
  • natural decay - each repeat loses a bit of clarity and brightness, adding to a vintage character
  • less precise - repeats may drift slightly in timing and tone, which can add character and musicality
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3
Q

What is digital delay?

A

A time based audio effect that records an incoming signal, stores it digitally and plays it back after a set period

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4
Q

What does digital delay sound like?

A
  • crisp and clean repeats - every echo sounds nearly identical to the original sound
  • precise timing - you can set the delay time very accurately
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5
Q

Compare the delay time between analog and digital

A

Short in analog and long in digital

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6
Q

Name two things that can make things sound less mechanical and more human

A

1.swing quantise
2. Humanise

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7
Q

What is swing quantised

A

A timing adjustment tool thats shifts certain notes to create a “groovier” or more human feel

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8
Q

What is humanise?

A

A feature in DAWs that make programmed MIDI performaces sound more natural and expressive by introducing small random variations in:
- timing (slightly off the grid)
- velocity (how hard a note is played)

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9
Q

What is tremolo?

A

An audio effect that involves the rapid and repeated change in the volume of a sound

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10
Q

What does a slow and fas tremolo sound like?

A

Slow - a gently pushing or wavering effect
Fast - more of a buzzing or fluttering sound

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11
Q

3 ways in which Acoustic drum kit production techniques have changes since 1965

A
  • Have close miking and individual mics on kick, snare, toms, hi hats, plus overheads and room mics
  • use processing (gating, compression, EQ) use digital reverb and delay
  • not limited by the number of tracks you have individual control of each drum
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12
Q

How does spring reverb work?

A

Input signal is sent to a transducer, this vibrates a set of coiled springs under tension
The springs transmit the sound
A pickup at the other end captures the vibrations
The result is blended with the dry signal

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13
Q

What is a ambient synth?

A

A synthesiser that is designed to create atmosphere, space, and texture.

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14
Q

What is a multi band limiter?

A

A type of mastering tool that splits the audio signal into separate frequency bands and applies limiting independently to each band.

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15
Q

What are the benefits of using a multi band limiter when preparing for commercial release

A
  • you can limit specific frequency ranges without affecting the rest of the mix
  • if one frequency band is peaking too much you can limit just that band
  • you can push the overall level louder while keeping the mix dynamic
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16
Q

What does room reverb sound like?

A

Natural and intimate, like your playing in a living room or studio

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17
Q

What does hall reverb sound like?

A

Big, smooth, and spacious with a long decay

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18
Q

What does plate reverb sound like?

A

Bright, smooth, and dense with a shimmering quality

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19
Q

What does spring reverb sound like?

A

Metallic, “boingy” or splashy, with a unique character

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20
Q

What does chamber reverb sound like?

A

Warm and natural, with smooth decay

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21
Q

What is multi - tracking?

A

A recording technique where different parts of a performance are recorded separately on individual tracks and then mixed together

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22
Q

What does multi tracking sound like?

A
  • clarity
  • balance
  • layering
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23
Q

Describe how you might create the same effect ad multi tracking using digital technology

A
  1. Record individual tracks separately
  2. Duplicate and layer tracks
  3. Use panning for stereo width
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24
Q

What is bouncing down?

A

The process of combining multiple audio tracks into a single track. It is used to save space, simplify mixing, or prepare a final version of a song

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25
State three potential problems with bouncing down using analogue tape
1. Loss of sound quality 2. No way to undo or remix individual parts 3. Could be tape errors or alignment issues - produce unwanted noice, pitch changes, or timing problems
26
State how you would give a mono recording a stereo feel using a present day technology
- duplicate and pan - apply reverb or delay with stereo settings
27
Several vocal tracks have been routed to a single channel. List 4 benefits of this approach
1. Easier volume control - you can adjust the overall level of all vocals together with one fade 2. Unified processing - you can apply effects like EQ, compression, reverb to the group instead of each track 3. CPU efficiency - using one set of plugins on a group uses less processing power 4. Simplifies automation - you can automate volume, panning or effects on all at the same time.
28
List 5 considerations a producer might have to take into account when selecting a samples
1. Audio quality - is the sample clean and clear? 2. Musical key and tempo compatibility - does the sample match the key? 3. Genre and style suitability - does the sample fit the style and mood of the track 4. Licensing and legal use - is the sample royalty free, cleared or purchases legally 5. Creative potential and uniqueness - can the sample be manipulated creatively
29
Things to listen too/talk about when there is a question: analyse the production techniques that have been used between…
1. Instrumentation / layering - what has been added or removed - is the texture thicker or thinner 2. Dynamics and automation - is the section louder or softer - are effects like filter sweeps or risers used to build energy 3. Panning and stereo width - are sounds spread across the stereo field? 4. Effects and processing - what effects are used? - reverb, delay, distortion, phaser, flanger, pitch shifting. - are effects more intense or pulled back in certain sections 5. Rhythm/groove changes - has the drum pattern or groove changed? More complex in the chorus? 6. Harmonic / melodic changes - has the chord progression changed? Are melodies more prominent or layered?
30
What is a filter sweep?
A production technique where a filters frequency is gradually adjusted over time to create a dynamic change in the sound - commonly used to build tension, transition between sections, or add movement in a track
31
What does a filter sweep sound like
- a rising filter sweeps - often creates a build up effect - a falling sweep can make it fell like the sound is fading away
32
What is distortion?
Distortion intentionally clips the audio signal adding grit, crunch or saturation
33
What does distortion sound like?
Dirty, aggressive, fuzzy, or crunchy
34
What is a phaser?
A phaser creates a swirling, whooshing sound by splitting the audio and shifting the phase of one part - then combines both signals, causing peaks and dips in the frequency spectrum
35
What does a phaser sound like?
Swirly, spacey, liquid - like
36
What is a flanger?
Similar to phaser but more intense - it mixes the original signal with a slightly delayed version of itself, and the delay time modulates
37
What does a flanger sound like?
Jet engine, metallic swoosh, or a deep “sucking” effect
38
What does a low pass filter sound like?
Makes the sound duller, muffled, or underwater
39
What does a high pass filter sound like?
Makes the sound thin, tinny or light - like its coming from a phone or a small speaker
40
How to spot reverb in music?
A sound feels farther away or more spacious
41
How to spot if EQ has been added
A brighter sound has more high EQ
42
How to spot layering in music?
- a sound (like snare or vocal) sounds thinker or more complex than one source
43
How to spot side-chain compression in music
- a pumping or ducking effect, often in EDM - sounds like the music is “breathing” with the beat
44
How to spot sampling in music?
- usually looped, chopped or pitched
45
When asked to analyse production techniques, talk about?
- what the technique is - where it happens - why its used (the musical or emotional impact)
46
What is drum sequencing?
Process of programming or arranging drum beats using a sequencer rather than recording the live drums
47
Identify one characteristic of that suggests that this performance was recorded in a single continuous take?
- mistakes / imperfections - no audible cuts
48
Identify three limitations of 1940s recording technology heard
- mono recording - poor balance - lack of multi-tracking - distortion
49
Describe two ways in which a 1940s recording engineer could add reverb to a recording
1. Natural reverb captured at the time of recording - using a distant mic in a room 2. Chamber reverb added after recording using a speaker and a microphone
50
State two methods of removing unwanted noise from historical master recordings
- low pass filter - remove high frequencies - high pass filter - remove low frequencies
51
Identify one process used when remastering an album
Compression
52
What is vibrato?
A musical effect consisting of a regular, slight variation in pitch around a central note - it adds expression, warmth, and richness to a sound.
53
When is vibrato used?
- on a synth, you might use an LFO to slightly raise and lower the pitch to stimulate vibrato - on vocals - it can be enhanced by adding effects like auto - tune
54
What is a lo - fi?
Stands for low fidelity - it is a deliberately unpolished or imperfect sound quality - it embraces flaws like distortion, background noise and analog artefacts
55
What is the A04 mark to “it has a short duration”
May be related to the limitations of the release medium and requirements of 1960s radios
56
What is the A04 mark to “the piece being longer”
Extended to create a longer piece to dance too
57
What is the A04 mark to “no sequencing or sampling”
Expressive performance created by live musicians playing parts
58
What is the A04 mark to “uses LCR panning”
To give a clear separation of instruments
59
What is the A04 mark to the “remix having natural reverb”
Retains some of the real acoustic spaces captured in the original
60
The drum part of a song is very repetitive. Describe how you might introduce more variety into the drums?
- fills, additional kit elements e.g crash
61
Polyphonic synthesisers are used. State what is meant by the term ‘polyphonic’
Plays more than one note simultaneously
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