Unit One Review

Unit One Review: Introduction to Audio Editing

Mac OS:

Terms:

dock - bottom shortcut bar

finder - file browser

spotlight - search button (upper right)

Menu bar - shared menu bar (top of screen)

Command Key - shortcut key same as control key in windows

Tasks (you need to know how to do these things):

- Change the Mac OS input and output sound settings:

1. _________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________

- Change the GarageBand input and output sound settings:

1. _________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________

Audio Equipment Overview:

Cables: Connect audio components

1. XLR - found on microphone cables

2. ¼ inch mono - patch cords and speaker cables

3. 3.5 mm  stereo - headphones or general audio cables

4. RCA - red and white(black) link smaller audio components

5. Speakon - quick-connect for speaker cables

Basic Sound Equipment:

1. Microphone: turns sound pressure waves into electrical signals.

2. Mixing Console: Connects and controls any sound and routes it to the amplifier

3. Amplifier: Provides power to create the sound through speakers

4. Speaker: creates sound waves

5. Monitor: a speaker to play sound back to a performer on stage. 

Microphones:

Dynamic - Uses the same basic setup as a speaker.  A small movable induction coil is attached to a diaphragm that sends an electrical signal when moved by sound waves.

Condenser - Uses a diaphragm and a fixed plate to send electrical signals depending on the distance between the two.

Ribbon - Uses a thin, often corrugated, metal ribbon suspended in a magnetic field.  The ribbons vibrations in the magnetic field send the signal from the microphone.

Boundary or ‘PZM’ - Pick up sound in environments where space is limited, and reflective areas are present (ie. a grand piano)

Shotgun - Picks up sound from a very limited pattern. Used for recording in noisy locations or where very little background noise is desirable.

Polar Patterns:

Omnidirectional - Picks up sound in a 360 degree sphere.

Bi-directional - Picks up sound from two sides in a figure 8 pattern.

Unidirectional - Picks up sound from one direction only.  The microphone would point up in this case.

Cardioid - Picks up sound in a ‘cardioid’ shape. Often used for speech or vocal sound.

Shotgun: Picks up sound from a very limited pattern.