Music & Audio Advice Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Music & Audio Advice facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What does an opto (optical) compressor's response characteristic tend to be? → Smooth and program-dependent with a slower, musical release
2. Which frequency range is generally considered the human hearing spectrum? → 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
3. Which technique involves placing two cardioid microphones at a 110-degree angle with a 17 cm spacing between capsules? → ORTF stereo technique
4. When interpreting a calibration measurement, why apply frequency-dependent (1/3 or 1/6 octave) smoothing? → To make the graph better reflect what we perceive, ignoring narrow unaudible spikes
5. What is the function of the monitor/headphone mix knob found on many interfaces? → To blend the direct input signal with playback from the computer
6. Why might engineers route all tracks through a single 'Mix Bus' before the master output? → To apply unified processing and control overall level
7. Why might an engineer place a microphone off-axis to a guitar amp speaker cone? → To roll off harsh high frequencies
8. Why is subtractive EQ often preferred over boosting? → Cutting problem frequencies sounds more natural and avoids buildup
9. Which waveform is the standard raw material for subtractive synthesis because a filter can carve its many harmonics? → Sawtooth wave
10. Which type of microphone is generally preferred for miking a snare drum in a live concert setting? → Dynamic cardioid microphone
11. Which envelope parameter determines how quickly a sound reaches its sustain level after the initial attack? → Decay
12. What is the typical dynamic range of a commercial pop recording after mastering? → 6-10 dB
13. Which metering standard is most commonly used to measure perceived loudness for streaming platform compliance? → LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale)
14. Which technique best adds movement to a static synth pad? → An LFO slowly modulating filter cutoff
15. When selecting an audio interface for a home studio, what does a higher channel count primarily enable? → Recording more microphones or instruments simultaneously
16. What is used to compress and decompress an audio stream for storage and playback. → Codec
17. At what listening level (SPL) are monitors commonly calibrated for film/cinema mixing per industry standard? → 85 dB SPL per channel (pink noise)
18. What is upward compression? → Raising the level of quiet passages rather than lowering loud ones
19. What is 'automation' in a DAW? → Recording parameter changes over time
20. Which waveform contains only odd harmonics and produces a hollow, clarinet-like tone? → Square wave
21. Which basic synthesizer waveform is composed of only a fundamental frequency, with no additional harmonics? → Sine Wave
22. When recording a singer-songwriter playing guitar and singing simultaneously, what placement challenge is most common? → Bleed between the vocal and guitar mics
23. What is the main purpose of quantizing MIDI notes? → To align note timing to a grid
24. What is the fundamental role of the A/D (Analog-to-Digital) converter within an audio interface? → To convert a continuous analog electrical signal into a discrete digital data stream.
25. Which parameter would you adjust to prevent a compressor from clamping down on every drum transient in a mix bus? → Increase the attack time
26. What does the release stage of an ADSR control? → How long the sound takes to fade after the key is let go
27. What is the function of an insert point on an audio interface or mixer channel? → It allows external hardware processors to be placed directly in the channel's signal path
28. What is the purpose of a template session in a DAW? → To start new projects with preset tracks and routing
29. What is the accepted range of human hearing in terms of frequency? → 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz
30. Mid-Side (M/S) recording uses which combination of polar patterns? → A cardioid and a figure-8