Unit 25: sound recording

By Paris Beszant
Signal Paths
Audio signal flow is the path an audio signal takes from source to
output. The concept of audio signal flow is closely related to the
concept of audio gain. Analogue sound waves replicate the original
sound wave.
Audio signal flow is the path an audio signal takes from source to
output. The difference between analog and digital signals is that analog
is continuous electrical signal, whereas digital is a non-continuous
electrical signal.

Digital and Analogue have many differences. Analogue recordings

have a more natural sound and the recordings tend to be quieter where
as digital have a high volume and a lower noise. Disadvantages of
analogue is that there is a high frequency loss. A disadvantage for
digital is the possibility of data corruption and loss of data.
ADC and DAC
ADC stands for analog to digital converter, therefore if an analog input is sent to a computer an ADC is
required, an ADC is an electronic device which converts analog signals into digital signals so that they can
easily be read by digital devices. A DAC is a digital to analog converter, usually consisting of a single chip,
converting binary or digital code into an analog signal. DAC is a device that converts digital audio information
into an analog signal that can be sent to a headphone amp.
 Sound Levels
Sound level is usually defined in terms of something called Sound Pressure Level. The unit used to express
sound pressure level is the decibel, dB. The SPL of audible sounds range from 0 dB through to 12 dB.

Decibels
Are the unit used to measure sound level, but it is also widely used in
electronics, signals and communication. The dB is a logarithmic way of describing a ratio,
the ratio may be power, sound pressure and voltage.
A decibel meter shows examples of things that make noise and measurements in decibels.
Amplitude measures how forceful the wave is, it is measured in decibels or dBA of sound
pressure. O dBA is the softest level that a person can hear.
Sound Levels
Terms used by sound engineers
A sound engineer is professionally trained in the mechanics of recording area, mixing and
reproducing sound. Working solely with the technical aspects of music, sound engineers manipulate
the different aspects of sound as a part od the overall commercial production process. An audio
engineer works with the technical aspects of sound during the processes of recording, mixing and
reproduction. Audio engineers often assist record producers and musicians.

The optimum recording level

The optimum recording level should be set closest to the permitted maximum level,
without reaching the level or exceeding it, if this happens the signal will become
distorted. The optimum recording level that is normally used is ranges between -12dB
and -6dB, where as the range that peeks under average is -16dB and will normally have a
greater amount of noise when the levels are boosted to an optimal level.§§
Optimum Recording Levels.
To achieve optimal recording levels, you should set your recording levels to the permitted maximum level without reaching or
exceeding the limit. Reaching or exceeding the level will result in distortion of the signal. Recording interviews fall between -12
dB and -6 dB. Digital audio can come very close to the threshold for permitted maximum level without the audio distorting.
A microphone in which the
sound waves cause a movable
wire or coil to vibrate in a
magnetic field and then create
a current.
Condenser microphones require
power from a battery or external
sources. The resulting audio signal
is a more stronger signal than
dynamic.
A ribbon microphone, also
known as a ribbon velocity
microphone, is the type that
uses a thin aluminum or
nanofilm of electrically
conductive ribbon placed
between to poles of magnet to
produce a voltage of
electromagnetic introduction.
Audio File Types/ File formats.

● METADATA- is data that describes other data.

● WAV- waveform audio file format (WAV) is a audio
file format storing an audio bitstream on PCs.
● Aiff
● PCM
● ATRAC
● m4a
● WMV
● MPEG-4
● MP3- is an audio coding format for digital audio. Mp3
compression works by reducing the accuracy of
certain components of sound that are considered to
be beyond the hearing capabilities of most humans.
Microphones Omnidirectional Microphone- Are microphones that pick up sound
with equal gain from all sides and directions of the mic.This means
Bidirectional microphones- are
microphones that pick up sound well, that whether a user speaks into the microphone from the front, back,
or with high sensitivity, from the front left or right side, the microphone will record the signals all with equal
and back but poorly, or with low gain.Omnidirectional microphones are advantageous over
sensitivity, from the sides. Bidirectional unidirectional microphones in that they allow greater flexibility in the
microphones are used in applications directionality of sound pick-up. An example of this may be a musical
where sound is recorded from the front performance where there is a band of musical instruments in front
of the microphone and back of the and a choir singing behind. To the right is a diagram of this.
microphone, but not the sides. Below is
a diagram of this.
Hypercardioid patterns are similar to cardioid patterns in
that the primary sensitivity is in the front of the
microphone. They can isolate the sound from a subject or A cardioid microphone
direction where there is a lot of ambient noise. Below is a is the most common
diagram. unidirectional
microphone has the
most sensitivity at the
front and is least
sensitive at the back. It
isolates unwanted
ambient sound. The
diagram to the right
shows this

Wireless Microphones convert sound into radio signals and are sent from a transmitter to the receiver which is then sent to the
sound system. A dual microphone is the signal from two microphones are used and the purpose of encapsulation is the
inclusion within a program object of all the resources needed to make the object function.
Set Up. The diagram on the right illustrates
a diagram for an acoustic set up for
an acoustic guitar, the guitar is
attached to a instrument cable
through the passive direct box
which is connected to the front and
back cables, the back is connected
to a computer and the front is
connected to headphones. This is
an example of how you would
record an acoustic guitar.
Mono Stereo Recording.
Monophonic sound reproduction is sound intended to be heard as if it were
emanating from one position. Monaural recordings, like stereo ones, typically use
multiple microphones fed into multiple channels on a recording console, each
channel is panned to the center. Mono uses one and stereo uses more than one. In
monaural sound one single channel is used. It can be reproduced through several
speakers, In stereo sound more channels are used. The difference between mono
and stereo is in the number of channels used. Stereo has to have two inputs, thats
what makes it stereo. Mono describes a system where all the audio signals are
mixed together through a single audio channel.