CMP Mixing, Mastering and Sound Design 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'oversampling' in the context of digital audio plugins?
- Recording audio at a sample rate higher than 48kHz
- Processing audio internally at a multiple of the session sample rate to reduce aliasing (Correct answer)
- Adding extra samples to a recording to extend its length
- Layering multiple samples of the same instrument
Correct answer: Processing audio internally at a multiple of the session sample rate to reduce aliasing
Oversampling runs DSP processing at 2x, 4x, or higher multiples of the session sample rate internally to minimize aliasing artifacts, then downsamples the output.
Question 2: In mastering, what is the typical target integrated loudness for music distributed on Spotify?
- -6 LUFS
- -14 LUFS (Correct answer)
- -23 LUFS
- -18 LUFS
Correct answer: -14 LUFS
Spotify normalizes audio to approximately -14 LUFS integrated loudness, so masters louder than this will be turned down during playback.
Question 3: What is 'additive synthesis' in sound design?
- Adding distortion to a signal
- Building complex timbres by combining multiple sine wave oscillators at different frequencies and amplitudes (Correct answer)
- Layering samples on top of each other
- Adding reverb to a dry signal
Correct answer: Building complex timbres by combining multiple sine wave oscillators at different frequencies and amplitudes
Additive synthesis creates sounds by summing multiple sine waves (partials) at various frequencies, amplitudes, and phases, based on Fourier theory.
Question 4: What does a 'transient shaper' plugin allow you to control?
- The pitch of percussive sounds
- The attack and sustain portions of a sound independently (Correct answer)
- The stereo width of a signal
- The harmonic content of a sound
Correct answer: The attack and sustain portions of a sound independently
A transient shaper lets you independently boost or reduce the attack (initial hit) and sustain (tail) of a sound without gain reduction like a compressor.
Question 5: In a mix, 'masking' refers to what phenomenon?
- Using noise gates to silence unwanted sounds
- One sound making another sound inaudible because they occupy the same frequency range (Correct answer)
- Applying automation to hide volume changes
- Covering room reflections with acoustic panels
Correct answer: One sound making another sound inaudible because they occupy the same frequency range
Frequency masking occurs when two sounds compete in the same frequency range, causing one to obscure the other and reducing overall clarity in the mix.
Question 6: What is the function of a 'de-esser' in mixing?
- To remove low-frequency rumble from vocals
- To reduce excessive sibilance (S and SH sounds) in vocal recordings (Correct answer)
- To correct pitch issues in vocal performances
- To add presence to dull-sounding vocals
Correct answer: To reduce excessive sibilance (S and SH sounds) in vocal recordings
A de-esser is a frequency-specific compressor that targets harsh sibilant frequencies (typically 4–10 kHz) to tame harsh S, SH, and T sounds in vocals.
Question 7: What is 'granular synthesis'?
- A method of synthesizing sounds using random noise
- A synthesis technique that divides audio into tiny grains and rearranges them to create new textures (Correct answer)
- A method of adding grain and saturation to clean audio
- A synthesis method using physical modeling of acoustic instruments
Correct answer: A synthesis technique that divides audio into tiny grains and rearranges them to create new textures
Granular synthesis slices audio into microsecond 'grains' and manipulates parameters like grain size, pitch, and position to create evolving textures and soundscapes.
CMP Mixing, Mastering and Sound Design 3
What is 'oversampling' in the context of digital audio plugins?