Music & Audio Advice Audio Interface and Signal Flow 2

Question 1

You plug a dynamic microphone into your audio interface but get no signal. What is the most likely fix?

Accepted Answer

Connect it to a mic/XLR input and raise the preamp gain

Answer

Engage phantom power (+48V)

Answer

Connect it to a line-level input and turn up the gain

Answer

Switch the input to Hi-Z instrument mode

Question 2

Which input on an audio interface is designed for the high-impedance, low-level signal from a passive electric guitar?

Accepted Answer

The Hi-Z / instrument (DI) input

Answer

The line-level TRS input

Answer

The XLR mic input with phantom power

Answer

The S/PDIF digital input

Question 3

What does the term 'gain staging' refer to in a signal chain?

Accepted Answer

Setting each stage's level so the signal is strong but never clips

Answer

Boosting every stage to maximum for the loudest output

Answer

Adding reverb at each stage of the chain

Answer

Converting analog signals to digital at each stage

Question 4

Your recording sounds distorted and the interface's input meter shows red. What should you do first?

Accepted Answer

Lower the input gain on the preamp

Answer

Increase the monitor volume

Answer

Enable phantom power

Answer

Add a compressor plugin after recording

Question 5

What is the typical order of analog signal flow when recording a condenser mic?

Accepted Answer

Mic → preamp → A/D converter → computer

Answer

Computer → D/A converter → preamp → mic

Answer

Mic → A/D converter → preamp → computer

Answer

Mic → speakers → preamp → computer

Question 6

Phantom power (+48V) is required by which type of microphone?

Accepted Answer

Active condenser microphones

Answer

Standard dynamic microphones

Answer

Passive ribbon microphones

Answer

Piezo contact microphones

Question 7

What does 'direct monitoring' on an audio interface accomplish?

Accepted Answer

It routes the input straight to the outputs to avoid latency

Answer

It records the signal twice for redundancy

Answer

It applies plugin effects in real time

Answer

It disables the interface preamps