Sound Design & Production Flashcards
6 cards from real CEA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Sound Design & Production flashcards as text
Which modulation effect uses a time-varying comb filter created by a short, modulated delay to create a sweeping effect?
Answer: Flanger
Flanging uses a very short delay (1–20 ms) that varies over time, creating phase-cancellation notches (comb filter effect). The swept notches produce the characteristic jet-plane or swooshing sound.
In a synthesizer, what is the function of a low-pass filter (LPF) in subtractive synthesis?
Answer: It removes frequencies above the cutoff point, creating a warmer, rounder sound
In subtractive synthesis, a low-pass filter attenuates frequencies above the cutoff frequency, 'subtracting' harmonics from a harmonically rich oscillator waveform to sculpt the timbre toward warmer, softer tones.
What is 'pitch shifting' used for in sound design?
Answer: Altering the frequency of a sound up or down without changing its duration
Pitch shifting changes the perceived frequency (pitch) of a sound while maintaining its original duration. It is used in sound design to create variations from a single source — for example, pitching down a roar to create a monster sound.
What does 'convolution reverb' use to model acoustic spaces?
Answer: An impulse response (IR) recording of an actual space
Convolution reverb mathematically convolves a dry signal with an impulse response (IR) — a recording of how a real space responds to a brief impulse. This accurately recreates the acoustic character of halls, cathedrals, and other environments.
In sound design, what is the purpose of 'spectral editing'?
Answer: Visually identifying and removing or altering specific frequency content within a recording
Spectral editing tools (found in software like iZotope RX) display audio as a spectrogram, allowing the designer to visually identify and surgically remove clicks, hums, noise artifacts, or unwanted sounds from specific time-frequency regions.
What concept does 'psychoacoustics' refer to in sound design?
Answer: The study of how human perception interprets and responds to sound
Psychoacoustics is the scientific study of the psychological and physiological responses humans have to sound. Sound designers use psychoacoustic principles — such as masking, precedence effect, and equal-loudness contours — to craft perceptually effective audio.