Music History
The iconic music festival took place in 1969 and is considered a pivotal moment in music history
What is Woodstock
What piece of equipment is essential for measuring sound levels in a studio?
Sound Level Meter
The name of the interval that spans eight notes in a scale
What is an Octave
Definition for D.A.W. and 10 examples
What is a Digital Audio Workstation
Ableton, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase, Studio One, Luna, Reason, Garageband, Digital Performer
Which 1973 album by Pink Floyd, known for its concept album format, features the iconic song "Money" and is widely regarded as one of the greatest rock albums ever made?
What is The Dark Side Of The Moon
A classical composer that became deaf later in life but continued to compose music
Who is Ludwig van Beethoven
What is the name of the device used to convert sound waves into electrical signals in a recording studio?
Microphone
The name of the scale that includes only five notes, often used in blues and folk music
What is the pentatonic scale
Definition for V.S.T. and A.U. and the difference between the two
What is Virtual Studio Instrument and Audio Unit
VST is a cross-platform format, meaning it works on both macOS and Windows, while AU is specific to macOS and Logic Pro
The best-selling album of all time AND its author
Thriller by Michael Jackson
The name of the groundbreaking 1985 concert aimed at raising awareness of famine in Ethiopia, featuring performances by Queen, U2, and David Bowie?
What is Live Aid
The primary difference between an "active" and "passive" DI box, and how each type affects the sound of a signal
An active DI box requires external power (like a battery or phantom power) and typically offers a higher output level, while a passive DI box does not require external power and is simpler, but it may offer less gain and a less detailed sound. Active DI boxes are often preferred for instruments with low output levels, such as electric guitars.
A _______? shares the same key signature as a major key but starts on the sixth degree of the major scale
Sidechain compression is often used in dance music to create this pumping effect between the kick drum and bass
What is Ducking
The Brazilian singer and composer is widely known for creating the bossa nova genre, with her song "The Girl from Ipanema" becoming an international hit?
Astrud Gilberto
The first year the Grammy Awards ceremony was held
What is 1959
Difference between an optical compressor and a VCA compressor and an example of each (not plugins)
Optical compressors use light-dependent resistors (LDRs) to control gain reduction, offering a smooth, musical, and often transparent compression that is slower in response time. VCA compressors, on the other hand, utilize Voltage Controlled Amplifiers (VCAs) for gain reduction, resulting in faster, punchier, and more transparent compression that is better suited for transient-heavy material.
VCA: SSL G Master Bus Compressor
The technique of combining two or more independent melodic lines in a way that they harmonize with each other
What is Counterpoint
In sound design, this type of synthesis creates sound by combining simple waveforms like sine or square waves
What is Additive Synthesis
The best-selling LATIN album of all time and its author
What is Momentos by Julio Iglesias
The band that is arguably the first to have brought Latin rhythms to mainstream pop and helped define the Miami sound of the 1980s
What is Miami Sound Machine
The _______? states that a signal must be sampled at least twice its highest frequency to be accurately reproduced and ensuring that the signal can be fully reconstructed without aliasing.
What is the Nyquist-Shannon Theorem
A chord or key that is a third away from the original key, but with the same chromatic quality (i.e., both major or both minor). This creates a striking but smooth harmonic shift.
What is a chromatic mediant
This subtle time-based technique shifts identical tracks by a few milliseconds to widen a sound or add depth without delay or reverb
What is the Haas Effect (Microshifting)
Which 1972 album by Stevie Wonder, featuring the hit "Superstition," is often regarded as one of the greatest albums of the 20th century and helped redefine soul and pop music
What is Talking Book