MR305 – Take Home Exam, Midterm Supplemental

Name_____________________________________________

Answers must be succinct and complete and provided on separate pages (font 11)

1. Provide a succinct definition of the Decibel (dB).

2. In simple words, what is the dBA? Provide a rough graphical representation

3. Correlate:

According to acousticians, doubling the volume (perceived loudness) means an increase of ____ dB

Doubling the sound pressure expressed as voltage means a level change of _____dB

Doubling the sound pressure level means a level change of _____dB

Doubling the power level (sound intensity) means a level change of _____dB

Doubling distance from a sound source in an open field means a level change of _____dB

4. What is Pink Noise? How does it differ from White Noise?

5. Concerning pure magnitude, radiating sound energy intensity boosted by 40dB would be ___________
times stronger than 0 dB

6. Define the threshold of hearing and pain, and then express them in dBSPL

Definitions:

TH:_____dB

TP:_____dB close approximation is fine

7. Define “pitched” and “unpitched” sounds and provide TWO examples of each.

8. On the following diagram, label the two axis measurement units and four curve stages:
9. Define:

Echo:

Reverberation:

Sound Reflection:

Sound Absorption:

Sound Diffusion:

Sound Diffraction:

10. How does a dynamic microphone differ from a condenser unit?

11. What are microphone polar patterns? List the most common types

12. On the right side of the following diagram, circle the term that best describes the result of combining the two
waveforms illustrated on the left.

13. How does “decay” relating to RT60 differ from “decay” as one of the basic sound envelope parameters?

14. What would be the optimum RT60 in a space to suit large orchestral forces?

15. Microphone A’s spec sheet claims the unit has a sensitivity rate of -38 dbV. Microphone B’s sensitivity is rated
at -25 dbV

Which microphone is more sensitive? And What does that mean?

Which mic is likely to be a condenser microphone?

16. Which component of the human auditory system could be compared to a transducer?

17. Concerning Loudspeakers, list three types of commonly found sound distortion

18. Concerning Loudspeakers, define Dispersion and Linearity

19. Given a fundamental frequency of 150 Hz: What frequency represents the fourth octave? What frequency
represents the fifth harmonic?

20. Define Amplitude and Loudness.

21. Based on the Fletcher and Munson Equal Loudness curves, if a healthy person hears the actual sound pressure
level of a 1K tone at 40dB SPL, how many dB would you need to raise or lower the signal (approximations) for that
person to hear 1. A 3.5K tone at the same loudness as 1 K?_________________ 2. A 10 K tone at the same
loudness as 1K?____________________ 3. A 40 Hz tone at the same loudness as 1K? ______________________

22. A level gain of 30 dB would mean that a healthy person would perceive a sound pressure impulse (“sound”) to
be _____________ times as loud as the original

23. If a person is exposed to an SPL impulse rated at 110 dB, how long could that person be exposed, in close
proximity, to that impulse before causing irreversible damage to her or his auditory (hearing) system?

24. How can a room behave as a “filter” or even an “equalizer”?

25. How would a critical listening space be set up? The space itself (describe the environment), the listening
location, position, station, etc.

26. Is velvet likely to be more acoustically absorbent than cotton fabric? If, yes, why

27. What is Comb Filtering

28. What is a dBFS? Why or when is it used?

29. Define:

RT 60:

NRC:

NC:

30. Concerning an audio recording chain, define Gain Structure