CEA Sound Design & Production 2

Question 1

Which synthesis technique creates new timbres by modulating the frequency of one oscillator (carrier) with another (modulator)?

Accepted Answer

FM (Frequency Modulation) synthesis

Answer

FM synthesis, popularized by Yamaha's DX7, creates complex harmonic spectra by modulating the frequency of a carrier oscillator with a modulator oscillator. The modulation index and ratio between the two determine the resulting timbre.

Question 2

In sound design, what is a 'Foley' artist responsible for?

Accepted Answer

Creating and recording everyday sound effects synchronized to picture in a studio

Answer

A Foley artist recreates and records everyday sounds — footsteps, clothing movement, prop handling — in a specialized studio synchronized to picture. These replace or augment production sound to enhance realism.

Question 3

What is 'granular synthesis' based on?

Accepted Answer

Chopping audio into tiny grains and rearranging or layering them

Answer

Granular synthesis breaks audio into tiny grains (typically 1–100 ms) and manipulates parameters like grain size, density, pitch, and position. It can create evolving textures, time-stretching, and otherworldly timbres.

Question 4

Which parameter in a synthesizer ADSR envelope determines how quickly the sound fades after the key is released?

Accepted Answer

Release

Answer

The Release stage of the ADSR envelope controls how long the sound takes to fade to silence after a note is released. Short release values create percussive sounds; long release values create pads with trailing tails.

Question 5

What does 'layering' achieve in sound design for impact effects?

Accepted Answer

Combines multiple sounds across frequency ranges to create a fuller, more complex sound

Answer

Layering combines multiple sound sources — each occupying different frequency ranges — to build a composite effect with greater complexity and impact. Common in explosion and hit design, where sub elements, mid thud, and high transient are stacked.

(CEA) Certified Audio Engineer Practice Test

(CEA) Certified Audio Engineer Practice Test

CEA Sound Design & Production 2