Mixing and Mastering Flashcards
7 cards from real CMP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Mixing and Mastering flashcards as text
What is the role of dithering when bouncing a 24-bit mix down to a 16-bit master file?
Answer: It adds low-level noise to mask quantization distortion during bit-depth reduction
Dithering adds shaped noise that randomizes quantization errors, making the distortion from bit-depth reduction much less audible.
Which compressor characteristic describes how quickly it releases gain reduction after the signal falls below the threshold?
Answer: Release
Release time controls how fast the compressor lets the gain return to unity after the signal drops below the threshold.
What does a 'null test' verify in audio production?
Answer: That two audio signals are identical by confirming they cancel completely when summed out of phase
When two supposedly identical signals are phase-inverted and summed, complete silence (null) confirms they are bit-for-bit identical.
In parallel compression, what signal is typically blended back with the heavily compressed signal?
Answer: The original uncompressed dry signal
Parallel compression blends the squashed compressed signal with the unaffected dry signal to retain transients while adding density.
What is the Haas effect, and how is it sometimes exploited in mixing?
Answer: A psychoacoustic effect where a delayed copy (1-40ms) fuses with the original and creates perceived width without an audible echo
The Haas effect causes the brain to fuse a delay under ~40ms with the direct sound, which producers exploit to widen elements in a mix.
What does 'pre-delay' on a reverb unit control?
Answer: The time between the dry signal and the onset of reverb reflections
Pre-delay pushes the reverb onset back slightly, allowing the dry source to be heard clearly before the reverb blooms.
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'spectral balance' in mastering?
Answer: The even distribution of frequency energy across the audible spectrum relative to genre references
Spectral balance refers to how well the low, mid, and high frequency energy is proportioned, typically compared against professional references in the same genre.