Mixing and Mastering Fundamentals Flashcards
7 cards from real Music & Audio Advice 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 Fundamentals flashcards as text
What does the 'ratio' setting on a compressor determine?
Answer: How much the signal above the threshold is reduced
A ratio of 4:1 means for every 4 dB over the threshold, only 1 dB passes through.
What is parallel compression?
Answer: Blending a heavily compressed copy with the dry signal
Parallel compression mixes a squashed duplicate under the original to add density while keeping dynamics.
In mastering, what does a limiter primarily do?
Answer: Prevents the signal from exceeding a set ceiling while increasing loudness
A brickwall limiter caps peaks at a ceiling so you can raise overall loudness without clipping.
What does LUFS measure?
Answer: Perceived loudness over time
LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) quantifies perceived loudness, the standard for streaming normalization.
Why do streaming services often normalize tracks to around -14 LUFS?
Answer: To deliver consistent perceived loudness across songs
Loudness normalization keeps playback levels consistent so listeners don't adjust volume between tracks.
What is the role of a bus or group in mixing?
Answer: Routing multiple tracks to one channel for shared processing
A bus combines related tracks (like drums) so you can process and control them together.
What problem does phase cancellation typically cause?
Answer: Loss of level or thinness when signals combine out of phase
When two correlated signals are out of phase, overlapping frequencies cancel, weakening the sound.