Podcast Production Audio Engineering & Mixing 2

Question 1

What does bit depth determine in digital audio recording?

Accepted Answer

The dynamic range and resolution of the audio

Answer

Bit depth determines the dynamic range of digital audio; 16-bit provides 96 dB of dynamic range while 24-bit provides 144 dB.

Question 2

What is the ideal gain staging practice when recording podcast vocals?

Accepted Answer

Set input levels to peak around -12 to -6 dBFS

Answer

Recording with peaks around -12 to -6 dBFS provides sufficient headroom to prevent clipping while maintaining a strong signal-to-noise ratio.

Question 3

What is 'de-essing' in podcast audio production?

Accepted Answer

Reducing harsh sibilant 's' and 'sh' sounds in a vocal track

Answer

A de-esser is a frequency-specific compressor that targets and attenuates harsh sibilant sounds like 's' and 'sh' that can be painful on headphones.

Question 4

Which stereo field technique is most commonly used when mixing a multi-host podcast?

Accepted Answer

Panning each host slightly left or right to separate voices

Answer

Panning hosts to slightly different positions in the stereo field helps listeners distinguish between voices and creates a natural conversational feel.

Question 5

What is the purpose of multiband compression in podcast mastering?

Accepted Answer

To compress different frequency ranges independently for a balanced final mix

Answer

Multiband compression allows control over each frequency range separately, preventing one part of the spectrum from dominating and creating a polished, broadcast-ready master.

Podcast Production Practice Test

Podcast Production Practice Test

Podcast Production Audio Engineering & Mixing 2