Audio Technology

Short Answer (from Audio Final)

ecisneros — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:54:29 +0000

After # 20 on your final, there are 2 short answer questions that ask you to answer on a separate sheet of paper. You can answer them here on our blog as well.

II. Short Answer/Critical Thinking

1. You are recording sound for a small production that includes music and singing. The opening number is one performer that will be singing while playing an acoustic guitar. What types(s) of microphone(s) would be best to use for guitar and vocal pickup?

2. You are trying to open up a Protools session to edit a recording, but the program will not open. What are some troubleshooting options to remedy the problem?

Who writes Wikipedia articles?

ecisneros — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:15:15 +0000

Read the following article…
Student hoaxes world’s media on Wikipedia <— Click the link to go to the article from CNN.com, then come back here and reply with your opinion and answer the questions below.

We have all used wikipedia to look up information on a multitude of topics, but how accurate can a user based encyclopedia be? You just read an article that discusses how inaccurate and misleading the info-based website can become. Not very good when a synonym of information is intelligence. If we turn to and rely on wikipedia for our information, does it in return control our intelligence?

Answer the following questions:

1. When was wikipedia created?
2. How many articles are available on wikipedia?
3. How many languages is wikipedia available in?
4. How often do you use wikipedia to research topics?
5. Do you double check your information and facts when using wikipedia?
5a. If yes, what sources do you use to double check?
6. Where did you get/find your information before wikipedia was available?

Technology Continued

ecisneros — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:22:12 +0000

1. Data on a computer is measured in bits. Which answer correctly shows measurements from the smallest to the largest?
a. centimeter, millimeter, meter
b. byte, megabyte, gigabyte, bit
c. bit, byte, gigabyte
d. 1 digit, 2 digits, 3 digits

2. The domain name .gov stands for Web addresses assigned to:
a. the federal government
b. businesses
c. educational institutes
d. game websites

3. The domain name .edu stands for web addresses assigned to:
a. the federal government
b. businesses
c. educational institutes
d. game websites

4. When working on a computer, it is important to:
a. save your work frequently
b. print frequently
c. move your mouse frequently
d. use a peripheral device

5. If you accidentally deleted some text from a document, and you want it back, you should:

a. Select “Redo” or press Ctrl +Y.
b. Immediately close the document and reopen it.
c. Restart the computer.
d. Select “Undo” or press Ctrl + Z.

6. Why should you avoid downloading files using file-sharing programs like Limewire or Frostwire? (used to download music, videos, etc.)

a. It is illegal to download music using these programs due to copyright laws.
b. These files can contain a virus which can harm you computer.
c. You might have to pay money in damages if you are caught.
d. All of the above are true.

7. If you are doing research for an essay, and you use some information from a website in your essay, you must:

a. Do nothing. You can use this material in your essay freely.
b. List the website in a bibliography at the end of your essay.
c. Type the information in bold letters.
d. Type the information in italic letters.

8. Why is a website like Wikipedia NOT the best choice for researching information about a topic?

a. Wikipedia and other “wikis” allow anyone to type information on their pages, which may be inaccurate.
b. It is the best choice.
c. There is too much information on the site to sort through which complicates things.
d. There are not enough images on the site.

Technology and Art – Is Art is Technology?

ecisneros — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:27:19 +0000

The root of the word “technology” is the Greek word tecknos, which means “art.” Technology has been linked to art for centuries. For example, it took almost four years for Leonardo Da Vinci to paint the Mona Lisa, the most famous painting in the world. Today, it would take a graphic artist using a computer about five minutes to reproduce her. Howard Sparks, a well-known author of the 20th century, suggests that, “The art of our era is not art, but technology. Today, Rembrandt is painting automobiles; Shakespeare is writing research papers; Michelangelo is designing more efficient bank lobbies.”

Short Answer: What is your view of the idea that today’s art is technology?

Answer the following questions as well.

Question: How many bits is a byte?

1) 4
2) 8
3) 16
4) 32

Question: Computers calculate numbers in what mode?

1) Decimal
2) Octal
3) Binary
4) None of the above

Question: RAM stands for…

1) Random Access Memory
2) Really Annoying Machine
3) Read A Manual
4) Real Absolute Memory

Question: ROM stands for…

1) Royal Ontario Museum
2) Read Only Memory
3) Read on Monday
4) Real Obsolute Memory

Question: What does CPU stand for?

1) Cute People United
2) Commonwealth Press Union
3) Computer Parts of USA
4) Central Processing Unit

Question: To select text by shading as you drag the mouse arrow over the text is known as…

1) Clip art
2) To highlight
3) To fetch
4) To decode

Question: Main circuit board in a computer is…

1) Decoder
2) Highlight
3) Select
4) Mother board

Question: A ___ is a color with black added to it.

1) tint
2) value
3) shade
4) hue
5) pigment

Question: The property concerned with the brightness or dullness of a hue is ______________.

1) tint
2) value
3) intensity
4) hue
5) pigment

Question: Plans for organizing colors are called __________ ____________. ( Two words)

1) still life
2) focal point
3) color wheel
4) color scheme
5) pigment

Question: A ______ is any color with white added.

1) tint
2) shadow
3) shade
4) hue
5) pigment

Question: A type of paint that is transparent and mixes with water is called:

1) tempera
2) acrylic
3) house paint
4) watercolor
5) craypas

SOPA/PIPA

ecisneros — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:35:05 +0000

1. What are these piracy bills about?
2. Who are your 3 congressional elected officials? (look up by zip code)
3. Who supports SOPA/PIPA?
4. Who opposes SOPA/PIPA?
5. What do the acronyms mean? (SOPA and PIPA)
6. Isn’t copyright infringement already illegal?
7. Are there alternatives to the proposed bill?
8. Do you support the media groups or the technology groups?
9. What websites would be immediately effected by the bills?
10. What websites protested on 1/18/2012?
11. Do you think the protests were effective?
12. Did the protests effect you?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

ecisneros — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:51:12 +0000

Answer the following questions about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Feel free to use google or any other search engine to assist you in finding the answer(s).

1. Where was MLK born?
2. What was MLK known for?
3. How old would MLK be today?
4. What is a quote from MLK?
5. When was MLK’s Birthday?
6. What prestigious award did he win and in what year?
7. Who else has won this award/prize?
8. What was the protest for in Memphis in 1968?
9. Who assassinated MLK?
10. How did his assassin escape from prison a year earlier?

Mac OSX

ecisneros — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:29:28 +0000

How do you do the following functions on your iMac? If you are not sure, use google or another search engine to find out how to complete each task (shortcut or key stroke).

1) How do you create a screenshot on your iMac? (take picture of screen)

2) How do you take a picture of a certain part of your screen?

3) How do you “right click” on a Mac?

4) How do you create a PDF on a Mac?

5) How do you install software updates?

Vote for DMHS Alumni – Ramon Murrillo aka Rmur Beats

ecisneros — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:29:45 +0000

Click the image below to be taken to a website to VOTE FOR Rmur Beats. Ramon Murrillo graduated from Desert Mirage High School in 2011 and is now producing hip hop instrumentals and is in the top 10 for a contest to have a beat included on a new Kosha Dillz mixtape.

Kosha Dillz was a performer at the 2011 Hue Festival and is from New Jersey. He has been featured in various magazines, MTV and is a playable character on NBA2k11 along with Snoop Dogg and other rappers. Click to vote for Rmur Beats Below!

Chapter 14 and 15 (internet production and sound design)

ecisneros — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:22:48 +0000

Answer the following questions, you can use your book. Click “Leave a Comment” to submit your answers.

1. Connection speed affects: (p. 323)

a. audio quality

b. file types allowable

c. microphone techniques

d. computer choice

2. The faster the connection speed: (p. 323)

a. the lower the audio quality

b. the higher the audio quality

c. the more file formats you can send

d. the more compression required

3. Which of the following is not a way to improve audio quality in Internet audio: (p. 324)

a. improving connection speed

b. increasing the size of the files

c. increasing sampling rate

d. compression

4. There is one basic type of digital file format used in Internet audio. (p. 325)

a. true

b. false

5. Downloadable nonstreaming formats: (p. 325)

a. utilize the principle of buffering

b. require that the user first download the entire file and store it on the computer’s

hard disk.

c. require specific server software

d. is incredibly fast to download

6. ISDN made it possible to produce a recording session in real time between studios across town or across the country. (p. 327)

a. true

b. false

7. All internet audio including MP3 is at or near CD quality. (p.323)

a. true

b. false

8. Reducing the size of internet audio files may improve the quality. (p323)

a. true

b. false

9. Sound design is the process of creating the: (p. 328)

a. sound effects

b. music

c. audiotography

d. overall sonic character of a production

10. The pitch of a sound refers to its: (p329)

a. highness or lowness

b. strength or weakness

c. loudness or quietness

d. tonal quality or color

11. Timbre refers to a sound’s: (p. 199)

a. highness or lowness

b. strength or weakness

c. loudness or quietness

d. tonal quality or color

12. One of the following characteristics is unlikely to be associated with slow tempo: (p. 199)

a. monotonous

b. controlled

c. agitated

d. dignified

13. Indirect narration: (p. 190)

a. describes what is being seen or heard

b. describes something other than what is being seen or heard

c. is narration recorded off-mic

d. is narration that is voiced over what is being seen or heard

14. In speech, the nonverbal sound can carry the primary meaning. (p. 334)

a. true

b. false

15. In speech, meaning can be communicated through pace. (p. 334)

a. true

b. false

16. By placing inflection on certain words, a speaker may: (p. 334)

a. change the sentence meaning

b. change the sentence syntax

c. change the sentence grammar

d. change the sentence structure

17. Narrative sound: (p. 202)

a. emanates from and duplicates a sound source as it is

b. adds more to a scene than what is apparent

c. provides a verbal context to what is being seen or heard

d. provides factual rather than emotional information

18. When sound parallels Picture: (p.330)

a. Neither the aural or the visual element is dominant

b. The visual element leads the aural element

c. The aural element follows the visual element.

d. The focus is always on the visual element

19. When sound and picture define effect: (p.331

a. The aural and visual elements are equal

b. The aural and visual elements are different yet complimentary

c. The visual element defines the effect

d. The effect is always the same.

Define the following Key Terms:

Connection speed

streaming formats

Sampling rate

nonstreaming formats

File manipulation

transmission

File formats

ISDN

MP3

Convert Audio Files

ecisneros — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:38:04 +0000

Use this website to convert audio files: http://audio.online-convert.com/convert-to-mp3

Open iTunes.

Open new GarageBand project: File ⇒ New or ⌘N.

Determine if file is compatible with GarageBand.

Drag desired audio file into timeline – if it goes in, there is no need to convert.
If it doesn’t go in, the file will need to be converted.

Determine if file is compatible with iTunes.

Drag desired audio file into timeline – if it goes in, there is no need to convert.
If it goes in, convert with iTunes: Select Advanced ⇒ Create MP3 version. Follow process from Lesson 4 to locate the new song file and move it to desired location.
If it doesn’t go in, convert with the audio convert website.

Use the website to convert outside of iTunes or to non-MP3 file type.

Open Switch.
Drag and drop audio file into Switch window.
Select output folder – this is where your converted file will end up.
Select output format – mp3 is widely compatible.
Convert: Use menu (Convert ⇒ Convert Files), keyboard shortcut (shift+⌘C),
or click on icon in lower right corner of window.

Drag converted file into GarageBand timeline.

SWITCH AUDIO FILE FORMATS

Swtich can convert to and from common audio file formats, some of which are listed below. Information in the table below is from FileInfo.com: http://www.fileinfo.com/filetypes/audio.

EXTENSION	NAME	DESCRIPTION
.aac	Advanced Audio Coding File	iTunes default encoding. Similar to an .MP3 file, but offers several performance improvements.
.aif	Audio Interchange File Format	CD-quality audio file, similar to a .WAV file; standard CD audio AIFF files have two channels (for stereo sound).
.flac	Free Lossless Audio Codec File	Open-source; uses lossless audio compression; compresses audio files with no loss in quality.
.m3u	Media Playlist File	Contains a playlist of MP3s and other audio/video files; contains references to files, but not the actual files.
.mov	Apple QuickTime Movie	Common multimedia format often used for saving movies and other video files; Mac and PC compatible.
.mpc	Musepack Compressed Audio File	Based on .MP2, but with several improvements; not as popular as .MP3 c, but has higher-quality sound.
.mp3	MP3 Audio File	Common for music files and audiobooks; near-CD quality in a file 1/10 the size of a .WAV or .AIF file.
.ogg	Ogg Vorbis Compressed Audio File	Compressed audio file that uses free, unpatented Ogg Vorbis compression; similar to an .MP3 file, but sounds better than an MP3 file of equal size.
.pls	Audio Playlist	Playlist containing a list of audio files; may be used to redirect to an Ogg Vorbis (.OGG) audio file; contains references to files, but not the actual data.
.vox	VoxWare Dialogic Audio File	MetaVoice encoded audio file that simulates human speech.
.wav or .wave	WAVE Audio File	CD-quality audio file, similar to .AIFF file; WAVE more common on Windows, AIFF more common on Mac.

Sample Audio Files:

Audio files used in the tutorial, and their sources, are listed below. You may use these files to practice converting, if you like.

Bushwalla intro, by Jason Mraz, retrieved from http://www.archive.org/details/jasonmraz2009-07-25.akg463s.ps2.flac16
Sisters (ogg vorbis), by Global Funk, retrieved from http://www.archive.org/details/gfc2004-02-12
Whole Item (m3u), by Global Funk, retrieved from http://www.archive.org/details/gfc2004-02-12
Eternal Wind (MIDI/Quicktime), retrieved from http://www.archive.org/details/ETERNAL_WIND_MIDI