Introduction to Audio and Sound Units

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Questions and Answers

What is the term used to describe any sound or noise within the detectable range of the human ear?

Signal

Echo

Audio (correct)

Noise

What is the human audible frequency range?

20Hz to 20kHz (correct)

10Hz to 15kHz

30Hz to 18kHz

50Hz to 25kHz

Which component is crucial for generating audio signals on a computer?

Sound card (correct)

Amplifier

Speaker

Microphone

What commonality do voices, music, and public address messages share?

They are types of audio. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What phenomena occurs when a loudspeaker vibrates?

It vibrates surrounding air molecules. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the lowest frequency audible to humans?

20Hz (C) Signup and view all the answers

In audio design, what fundamental aspect is typically explored?

Types of audio signals (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about digital and analog sound is correct?

Analog sound is a representation of continuous signals. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What unit is used to measure the perceived loudness of sound?

sone (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which file format is NOT an audio file type?

.doc (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does a higher amplitude in a sound wave indicate?

A higher volume (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which unit measures the frequency of sound waves?

hertz (C) Signup and view all the answers

How is sound frequency perceived in terms of pitch?

Higher frequency produces higher pitch (B) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the waveform when audio is quieter?

The waveform is closer to the zero line (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the wavelength refer to in sound waves?

The distance between equivalent points on waves (C) Signup and view all the answers

What file format is used for a Windows Media Player playlist?

.wpl (D) Signup and view all the answers

What are Foley sounds primarily used for in film?

To represent sounds that cannot be recorded naturally (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about voice-over in films is true?

The narrator guides the audience through what is happening (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which factor distinguishes audio effects from naturally created sounds?

They cannot be recorded by a microphone (C) Signup and view all the answers

In what type of videos might the narrator be depicted as a character?

Explainer videos (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why are recording sounds like footsteps beneficial in film?

They help the audience immerse in the film's reality (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is not a characteristic of Foley sounds?

Easily recorded with a real microphone (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the absence of a visible narrator imply for the audience?

The audience is guided by visual storytelling alone (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary question to consider when designing a motion design piece with music?

What mood do we want to convey? (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is true about the sound of a battle in outer space?

It must be recreated as it cannot be recorded naturally (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which audio elements are sometimes needed in a motion piece?

Voice over, music, or sound effects (D) Signup and view all the answers

What aspect is emphasized as important when mixing audio layers?

The audio level of each layer (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is an important outcome of designing sound for a motion piece?

Setting the proper dynamics of mood (A) Signup and view all the answers

What defines an analog audio signal?

It is a direct electronic copy of an original audio signal. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does digital audio entail?

It is captured and encoded as numerical samples. (C) Signup and view all the answers

In the process of sound reproduction, what eventually follows the original acoustic event in analog audio?

The audio signal is recorded as a copy. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is required from students in the individual assignment related to ambience sound?

Use any audio device to record and process sounds. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary feature that distinguishes stereo audio from mono audio?

Stereo audio has two independent audio channels. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which audio format is best suited for creating a more immersive experience?

Stereo audio for multimedia. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main limitation of the phonautograph created in 1857?

It had no capability to playback the recordings. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What major advancement did the phonograph achieve over the phonautograph?

It could playback sound recordings. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the Gramophone?

It employed a flat disc instead of a round cylinder. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What change was utilized in the phonograph to create sound playback?

Air pressure to etch grooves. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of mono audio compared to stereo audio?

Mono audio lacks spatial distribution. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which historical sound recording device was perfected by Thomas Edison?

Phonograph (C) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

What is Audio?

Audio is any sound or noise a human ear can hear
The audio signal is measured in Hertz (Hz)
The human ear is sensitive to 20Hz (lowest) and 20kHz (highest) frequencies

Sound Unit

Decibel (dB): a unit of sound measurement
Sone: a unit of perceived loudness
Phon: a unit of subjective loudness
Hertz (Hz): unit of sound frequency

History of Recorded Audio

Phonautograph (1857): The first device to record sound waves visually, but without playback capabilities.
Phonograph (1878): Created by Thomas Edison, this device used a cylinder covered with a material that could be etched with a stylus. Playback was achieved by tracing a needle through the grooves of the cylinder, amplifying sound vibrations. It was difficult to mass reproduce recordings.
Gramophone (1887): Similar to the phonograph, but used a flat disc instead of a cylinder. This made mass reproduction easier.

Analog vs. Digital Sound

Analog: an electronic copy of an original audio signal. All sounds are based on analog signals. All real-world sounds are analog.
Digital: a representation of sound recorded or converted into digital form. Sound waves are encoded as numerical samples in continuous sequence.

Basic Elements of Sound Design

Foley sounds: Sounds created by objects and actions to enhance the audio of a scene.
Voice over: A narrator's voice that guides the audience through a scene.
Music: Used to establish the mood and dynamics of the scene.
Sound Effects: Artificial sounds created to enhance the audio of a scene, often sounds that cannot be directly recorded.

Careers in Audio

Audio is used in a wide range of industries including music, film, television, and video games.
Careers in audio include sound designers, audio engineers, music producers, and sound editors.

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Description

Explore the fundamentals of audio, including its definition, measurement units like decibels and hertz, and the history of recorded sound. Discover the evolution from the phonautograph to digital sound technology. This quiz covers key concepts in audio engineering and sound perception.