CMP Mixing and Mastering Principles 2

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of mid-side (M/S) processing in mastering?

Accepted Answer

To apply different EQ and dynamics to the center and sides of a stereo mix independently

Answer

M/S processing decodes a stereo signal into Mid (mono sum) and Side (stereo difference) components, allowing independent processing of each.

Question 2

Which bus compression technique is commonly used to glue elements of a mix together?

Accepted Answer

Inserting a compressor on the stereo master bus with a slow attack and fast release

Answer

A master bus compressor with slow attack (allowing transients through) and fast release helps unify the mix's dynamic feel without killing punch.

Question 3

What does the term 'true peak' refer to in digital audio metering?

Accepted Answer

The peak level that accounts for inter-sample peaks that may exceed 0 dBFS after D/A conversion

Answer

True peak metering oversamples the signal to detect inter-sample peaks that can cause clipping in D/A converters even when the digital waveform shows values below 0 dBFS.

Question 4

In mixing, what is the purpose of high-pass filtering (HPF) on most non-bass instruments?

Accepted Answer

To remove inaudible or muddy low-frequency content and reduce mix clutter

Answer

HPF removes unnecessary low-frequency rumble and buildup from non-bass instruments, keeping the low-end clean and focused.

Question 5

What is 'parallel compression' (New York compression)?

Accepted Answer

Compressing a signal and blending it with the dry, uncompressed signal

Answer

Parallel compression mixes a heavily compressed version of a signal with the original dry signal to retain transient energy while adding sustain and body.

(CMP) Certified Music Producer Practice Test

(CMP) Certified Music Producer Practice Test

CMP Mixing and Mastering Principles 2