2. What is sound?
In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as a typically audible mechanical wave of pressure and
displacement, through a transmission medium such as air or water. In physiology and psychology, sound is
the reception of such waves and their perception by the brain. Humans can hear sound waves with
frequencies between about 20 Hz and 20 kHz. Sound above 20 kHz is ultrasound and below 20 Hz is
infrasound. Other animals have different hearing ranges. Basic principles of sound an acoustics: All sound is
vibration moving through the air. It gets represented as soundwaves. Sound is measured in decibels (DBU).
Sound moves through vibrations. Every room has different acoustics. Acoustics (surface properties) is
surfaces in your room such as your house, room, car etc. Where ever you are when recording sound is
reflected of hard surfaces. For example if you clap you can hear the ‘ping’ noise reflecting off each surface.
Absorption is the best as it is good to use panels, egg shells, in music studios. This is to absorb and to break
up the sound. The sounds need to be dead. You would want to record a audio sound in a closed room, it has
either has to be small and where it has no time to reflect. Reverb is when it prolongs the audio, until it dies
out. For example if you shout or sing your voice will stop but the sound will carry on. Also wind covers is also
usually used in getting good quality sound as it stops wind from entering your video. You can’t really achieve
good audio outside as wind may get in your audio. This is why you use wind covers.
3. Dynamic
Microphone
• Dynamic microphone is usually used in live performances as it is structured well,
It is also cheaper than the condenser microphone. The dynamic microphone is
ruggedly built and have a heavier and better equipped to cope with loud noises
such as guitar e.g. rock bands. A dynamic microphone works because of
electromagnetic induction. The microphone consists of a piece of wire coiled
around a magnet. With a diaphragm sitting at the top. The diaphragm vibrates
and picks up sound waves, which causes the coil to move which creates a electric
signal from the magnet. This signal then goes through the microphone to create
a signal which is then converted into your audio, this is the point where it
reaches it’s destination which is the amplifier or the recording device. Compared
to a condenser microphone, a dynamic can come across as its rough-and-ready,
uncultured cousin. Unlike a condenser, which are slightly more fragile and often
never see beyond the four walls of the studio, dynamics are usually pretty
robust. This extra weight and rigidity makes them ideal for taking out on the
road, where they could be dropped, smashed into, had pints poured onto them
etc. Ok, maybe that last one would be a bit much but still. The drawbacks of
using a dynamic microphone is that the audio could result in distortion. Cardioid
pickup pattern is when the mic is best at picking up a signal from one specific
direction so this means it will pick up any noises.
4. Condenser
Microphone
Condenser microphones are usually used in music studios. Many artists tend to
use this microphone as it is reliable. They have a better frequency response and
transient response. Which is the ability to reproduce the “speed” of an instrument
or voice. They also usually have a louder output. However they are more sensitive
to loud sounds. Inside the microphone there are two plates with a voltage
between them, the front plate hits the back plate. One of the plates is very light
and acts as the diaphragm. The diaphragm vibrates when struck by sound waves
which changes the distance between the two plates. The condenser is more
expensive than the dynamic microphone. It is more sensitive too for example if
you was to scream the mechanics inside the microphone will break. Both mics
work similar. On the other hand the condenser microphone is fantan powered.
The polar pattern is the direction of where the mic is picking up. It also cancels out
the back of the mic so no background noise gets included into a live performance.
A livelier microphone is used on presenting shows. This makes it easier for the
viewers to hear the presenters clearly. The condenser does do its job as many
upcoming artists or radio companies use it in the studio so they can get a clear
audio of their song or radio audio segment for whatever purpose.
5. Types of different microphones
A livelier microphone is usually used on presenting shows. This makes it easier for the viewers
to hear the presenters clearly. A lavalier microphone or lavalier (also known as a lav, lapel mic,
clip mic, body mic, collar mic, neck mic or personal mic) is a small microphone used for
television, theatre, and public speaking applications in order to allow for hands-free operation.
They are most commonly provided with small clips for attaching to collars, ties, or other
clothing. The cord may be hidden by clothes and either run to a radio frequency transmitter
kept in a pocket or clipped to a belt, or routed directly to the mixer or a recording device.
A boundary microphone is very discrete. A boundary microphone is a small omnidirectional
condenser mic capsule positioned near or flush with a boundary (surface). The arrangement
provides a directional half-space pickup pattern while delivering a relatively phase-coherent
output signal.
6. Design limitations, mounts, connectors
A cardioid microphone has the most sensitivity at the front and is least sensitive at
the back. It isolates from unwanted ambient sound and is much more resistant to
feedback than omnidirectional microphones. That makes a cardioid microphone
particularly suitable for loud stages. Cardio is the cancelling of the back of the mic.
There are settings where you can set where it cancels from. You can either cancel
the sides front or back of the mic. Omni is all around, Cardio is front and back. The
proximity effect also known as the bass tip up which is when you hold the mic
properly so the sounds releases smoothly and not distorted. It is more common that
the rap industry would hold the mic incorrect which will lead to bad outcomes of
distorted music. Various cables are used for sound outcome such as a jack cable
mono meaning one, this means it will have one ring. The normal jack cable consists
of two jacks. This means it will have two rings. A phone connector, also known
as phone jack, audio jack, headphone jack or jack plug, is a common family of
electrical connector typically used for analog signals, primarily audio. The XLR cable
is commonly found to plug into microphones as it has a ‘female’ end and ‘male’ end
connecting them together. A mini jack is just a smaller version of a jack cable. It is
more convenient to have. Speak on is for passive speakers only. If they are active a
amp will be inside the speaker. Various amount of mounts are used in the sound
industry such as stands, tie-clip, rifle, boom, equipment mounted, handheld etc.
A microphone stand is a free-standing mount for a microphone. It allows the
microphone to be positioned in the studio, on stage or on location without requiring
a person to hold it. Holding your mic is handheld as it is in your hand.
7. Recording and editing equipment
Logic Pro is a digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software application for the macOS platform. It was
originally created in the early 1990s as Notator Logic, or Logic, by German software developer C-Lab, later Emagic.
It became an Apple product, eventually known as Logic Pro, after Apple bought Emagic in 2002. It is the 2nd most
popular digital audio workstation (DAW) according to a survey conducted in 2015. Handheld Audio
Recorders offer a portable, lightweight solution for location recording purposes. Usually consisting of two
condenser microphones they are capable of producing high fidelity stereo recordings. They are most commonly
used for sound design, field recordings, vocal recordings, and can even be used for recording instruments such as
acoustic guitar or drum overheads.
An acoustic camera is an imaging device used to locate sound sources and to characterize them. It consists of a
group of microphones — also called microphone array — that are simultaneously acquired to form a
representation of the location of the sound sources.
Screen Recorders are handy tools used to record the computer’s screen, i.e., record the ongoing activities on
the screen. Using these, you can record the screen as easily as you would take screenshots on your computer or
record life’s best moments with a camera. These tools do provide live-capture enhancements, post-capture video
editing options and more. Mono uses one, stereo uses more than one. In monaural sound one single channel is
used. It can be reproduced through several speakers, but all speakers are still reproducing the same copy of the
signal. In stereophonic sound more channels are used (typically two).
Multi track recorders is when multiple sources are being recorded at once. e.g. Live performance. If you are going
to perform live it is smart to have regular sound checks. In sound checks make sure you are not going over peak as
this will lead to distortion. Also you could capture background noise, be aware turn off appliances if necessary so
you have a clear recording. Also include signal recording “1, 2, 3 … action!” “Take 1 , Take 2” to make sure your
audio is organised and in order. The tiny arrow on the reader will tell you if the audio is at a good level. Also
clapperboard is useful as A clapboard is a device used in filmmaking and video production to assist in the
synchronizing of picture and sound, and to designate and mark particular scenes and takes recorded during a
production. The sharp "clap" noise that the clapperboard makes can be identified easily on the audio track, and the
shutting of the clapstick can be identified easily on the separate visual track. The two tracks can then be precisely
synchronised by matching the sound and movement. Other names for the clapperboard
include clapper, clapboard, clacker, slate, slate board, slapperboard, sync slate, time slate, sticks, board, smart
slate, dumb slate and sound marker.
8. Information on techniques and procedures:
•You should inspect work equipment if your risk assessment identifies any significant risk (for
example, of major injury) to operators and others from the equipment's installation or use. The
result of the inspection should be recorded and this record should be kept at least until the next
inspection of that equipment. Records do not have to be made in writing but, if kept in another
form (eg on a computer), these should be held securely and made available upon request by
any enforcing authority. Procedure to ensure that equipment is set up and checked prior to
recording- important so that you know that eveything is working and it'll save you a lot of time if
you do it before recording.
Procedure to ensure that equipment is set up and checked prior to recording- important so that
you know that eveything is working and it'll save you a lot of time if you do it before recording.
•Monitoring of record levels prior to and during the recording process is important so that you
don't get it too high where you can hear distortion and that it is too quiet that you can't work
with it.
•Monitoring of the record signal microphone placement to enable the best compromise
between signal to be recorded and ambient background noise - so that you get a recording
where you can hear your actors clearly.
•Mounting of microphone on appropriate support to enable clear recording- so that you can
hear your actors clearly.
•procedure for ensuring that the recording starts and ends at appropriate times with respect to
signal being recorded so that you record all the right things that you need without some
dialogue being missed out.
•use of clapperboard for synchronisation of action with dialogue (for audio recordings for film
and film which requite lip-sync) so that if you need to do ADR you know what is being said at
what time.
•timing of recordings to enable appropriate amount of recorded audio to be available for future
editing and remixing- in case you may need to edit some of the dialogue in post-production.
10. • sound log (to enable recordings to be monitored accurately for duration) - (a list of sounds) so you know
that you have all the sounds and recordings that you need for your product. Your lavalier microphone will
generally be supplied with a standard mic clip. This is the most popular option for securing a mic to your
talent, but it does require a physical edge of clothing to attach to, such as a jacket lapel or button-up shirt.
This particular clip will be visible to the camera or audience, so it's important to practise good cable
management and ensure both the mic and cable look neat and tidy.
• Many in the industry use two particular techniques when employing a standard clip for clean, visible
mounting: The 'broadcast loop' or 'newsman's loop'. It is important to ensure that the recording starts and
ends at the correct times so that all the dialoge or whatever is being recorded is all recorded and none is
missed out. It is also important so that you dont have a long wait at the start or end becuase this will take
up time when editing as you will have to cut the long puase off. A clapboard is a device used in filmmaking
and video production to assist in the synchronizing of picture and sound, and to designate and mark
particular scenes and takes recorded during a production. The sharp "clap" noise that the clapperboard
makes can be identified easily on the audio track, and the shutting of the clapstick can be identified easily
on the separate visual track. The two tracks can then be precisely synchronised by matching the sound
and movement. Other names for the clapperboard include clapper, clapboard, clacker, slate, slate board,
slapperboard, sync slate, time slate, sticks, board, smart slate, dumb slate and sound marker. This syncs
the media product and synchorinastion is occurred. It also makes the actors in sync this will insure the
scenes and sets will go to plan.
• You can record audio from a microphone or any device you can plug into the Line In port of a sound card.
Before recording, you may need to adjust the input signal to optimize signal to noise levels‑ ‑
• Some sound cards record with a slight DC offset, in which direct current is introduced into the signal,
causing the center of the waveform to be offset from the zero point (the center line in the waveform
display). DC offset can cause a click or pop at the beginning and end of a file.
• A sound level meter is a measuring instrument used to assess noise or sound levels by measuring sound
pressure. Often referred to as a sound pressure level (SPL) meter, decibel (dB) meter, noise meter or noise
dosimeter, a Sound Level Meter overviewsound level meter uses a microphone to capture sound. The
sound is then evaluated within the device and acoustic measurement values are displayed. The most
common unit of acoustic measurement for sound is the decibel (dB); however, some sound level meter
devices also determine the equivalent continuous sound level (Leq) and other acoustic parameters. With a
portable sound level meter, industrial hygiene and workplace safety professionals can measure sound
levels in multiple locations to ensure environmental conditions fall within recommended exposure limits
(RELs). Some sound level meter devices can be permanently installed for continuous monitoring of sound
levels at a work or job site.
