UNIT 25

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SOUND RECORDING:
SOUND SIGNALS AND REOCRDING EQUIPMENT
IMPORTANCE OF SOUND RECORDING
Sound recording is a vital element that is important for media products
because it is crucial to the complete understanding of the content. Sound
helps to a create specific moods, emphasis, tone and also helps focus the
audiences attention on what is happening. Having poor sound can ruin
an excellent production. Understanding the importance of quality sounds
in movies, games and songs is a crucial part of understanding what it
means to be a successful – and memorable – filmmaker, music producer
and game designer. Audio can positively or negatively impact contextual
information and its visuals, and we use this to understand game, song, or
films subjects matter.
SIGNAL PATHS AND LEVELS, AUDIO-FILE FORMATS:
ANALOGUE AND DIGITAL SOUND

The best way to understand signal

paths, it is important to
acknowledge the differences
between analogue and digital
sound.
• Analogue sound waves is a
replica of original sound waves
• Digital sound waves is a replica
of the sampled sections of the
original sound wave
 ANALOGUE SOUND
Analog sound refers to audio that has been
recorded and uses methods that replicate
the original sound waves.Vinyl and cassette
tapes are examples of analog mediums.The
diagram clearly shows that analog sound
wave replicates the original sound wave.
The potential consistency of an analog
recording depends on the sensitivity of the
equipment and medium used to playback
the recording.
 PORTABILITY: digital sound can be taken
DIGITAL SOUND anywhere on a variety of devices and it can be
transferred from network to computer very easily.

Digital audio is a
technology that is DURABILITY: unlike analog audio sources,
used to record, store, digital audio doesn’t degrade.
manipulate, generate
and reproduce sound
using audio signals OPTIONS: depending on your needs, it is
possible to record your audio in differing levels of
that have quality and size.
been encoded in
digital form.
SOUND QUALITY: you will be able to hear a
better sound coming from digital audio systems.
 DECIBELS
The decibel (dB) is a unit that is
used to measure the intensity of
a sound and measure sound
level. It is also widely used in
electronics, signals and
communication. normal
conversation is about 60 dB,
loud concert is 120 dB.When
recording, you need to be sure
dB 10 – 35 FAINT
to record at the optimum levels dB 35 – 65 MODERATE
to capture the sound. dB 65 – 90 VERY LOUD
dB 100 – 130 EXTREMLEY LOUD
dB 120 – 140 PAINFUL
ANALOGUE & DIGITAL CONVERTERS
Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) and Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) are very important
components in electronic equipment. Both of these converters are necessary to allow digital
electronic equipment to process the analog signals since most of the real world signals are
analog. Digital-to-analog converter is a system that converts a digital signal into an analog signal.
An analog-to-digital converter performs the reverse function.

Analog signal is collected by audio input equipment which is converted by ADC. An example of
this is a microphone. The analog signal collected by the microphone is converted by ADC into a
digital signal that can be processed by a computer. the computer may add sound effect such as
echo and adjust the tempo and pitch of the music. The analog signal that is converted back from
processes digital sound by DAC is used by an audio output equipment such as a speaker.
 OPTIMUM RECORDING LEVELS
In order to achieve optimum recording levels, it best to set your recording
levels as close to the permitted maximum level (PML) as possible, without
reaching or exceeding that limit. If you reach or exceed the permitted
maximum level, it will result in distortion of the signal.
Permitted maximum level : highest volume a program or piece of hardware
can accommodate without resulting in distortion or clipping.
Digital audio can be determing factor that can come very close to the
threshold for PML without distorting, however, clipping will occur once the
peak has been reached. You will be able to indicate whether or not the clipping
has been reached because the light will turn red. If utilized coloured level
meters, greeen is acceptable and yellow is still accepatble but at risk at reaching
the PML. Red indicates clipping.
OPTIMUM RECORDING LEVELS
After recording, it is possible with audio editing software to boost the levels if
originally recorded too low. A weak signal-to-noise ratio, however, will raise the noise
floor and boosting the noise during the recording.
At the other extreme, clipping is very difficult to fix, so it is best to record sound with
a certain amount of headroom, or the space between the peak signal during the
recording and the PML.
For digital recording, aim to record at 24-bit rather than 16-bit. Aim to get recording
levels on a track averaging about –18dBFS. Avoid any peaks going higher than -
6dBFS. DBFS means decibels Full Scale.This maximum digital level is DBFS over
which you get nasty digital clipping, and levels are stated in how many dB below that
maximum levels you are. Average level is important because people hear volume
better at an average level rather than peak.
SOUND FILE
FORMATS
 LOSSLESS AND LOSSY
• Lossless compression means that as the file size is
compressed, the audio quality remains the same
– it does not get worse. Also, the file can be
restored back to its original state. Lossless
compression can reduce file sizes by up to 50%
without losing quality.
• Lossy compression permanently removes data.
For example, a WAV file compressed to an MP3
would be lossy compression. With lossy
compression, the original bit depth is reduced to
remove data and reduce the file size.
 THE BROADCAST WAVE FORMAT (BWF)
BWF is a file format for audio data. The Broadcast Wave Format is based on Microsoft
WAVE audio file format. A 'Broadcast Audio Extension' chunk added by the EBU.
A BMF can be used for the seamless exchanged of audio material between different
broadcast environments and between equipment based on different computer
platforms. BWF is an upgraded version of the standard WAV file (lossless). A user is able to
add non-audio information to the WAV file such as text using a BMF format. This
information can be associated to the nature of the recording.
Just like a audio data, a BMF will contain the necessary and minimum information
(metadata) which is considered necessary for all broadcasts applications.
UNCOMPRESSED
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AUDIO FILE
FORMATS
WAV : Waveform Audio File Format is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format
standard for storing an audio bitstream on PCs. A WAV uses a standard digital
audio file format that is utilized for storing waveform data. It allows audio
recordings to be saved with different sampling rates and bitrates. WAV files can
usually take up quite a bit of space, coming in around 10 MB per minute with a
maximum file size of 4 GB.WAV are generally larger than other audio file types
such as MP3 because WAV are compressed and due to this, they're mainly used in
the professional music industry to retain the maximum quality of audio.

AIFF : 'Audio Interchange File Format' is an audio file format standard

used for storing sound data for personal computers and other electronic
audio devices.The main purpose of this format is that is possible to store
sound data featuring various sound bitrates used in PC or other audio
utilities high-quality audio file created using the AIFF file format which
contains CD quality audio stored in a non-compresses lossless format.
PULSE-CODE MODULATION (PMC)
: Pulse code modulation is a digital
representation in which analogue signals
takes samples of amplitude which is
converted to a binary value represented as
a series of pulses at regular intervals.

COMPACT DISC DIGITAL AUDIO

: CDDA which is short for compact disc
digital audio is one of the standard formats
of compact disk drives that reads audio
tracks on CD. It specifies a digital transfer
rate of 150 kbps and up to 74 – 80
minutes of audio.
UNCOMPRESSED
LOSSLESS FILES
 APPLE.M4A
Apple lossless is an audio coding format and its reference
audio codec was implemented for lossless data
compression of digital music.Apple lossless has a
filename extension that is .m4a. Apple lossless files are
stored in the MPEG 4 container has a m4a file
extension.These are most often found in Apples iTunes
Store as the format of song
downloads.The MPEG4 container is also used for
Advanced Audio Compression (AAC), a
lossy compression.There are many M4A files that are
encoded with the lossy Advanced Audio Coding
(AAC) codec in order to reduce the size of the file but,
there are some M4A files that may use Apple
Lossless Audio Codec
(ALAC) instead. If you're downloading a song through
the iTunes Store that's copy protected, it's instead saved
with the M4P file extension.
MPEG4
An MPEG4 file is a video file saved in
the MPEG-4 container format. It
includes both audio and video data and
supports multiple A/V
codecs. MPEG4 files are commonly used
for distributing video content over the
web and for streaming videos on the
Internet.MPEG4 files. MPEG4 files
typically have an .MP4 file extension.
COMPRESSED
LOSSY FILES
 MP3/VORBIS
MP3 : MP3 is a digital music format for
creating high-quality sound files. It has
transformed the way people buy and listen to
music.The great attraction of the MP3 format
is its ability to compress files, making it a
convenient, versatile and very popular way of
storing music.

VORBIS :Vorbis is a free and open-source

software project. The project produces an audio
coding format and software reference
encoder/decoder for lossy audio compression.
ATRAC/WMA
ATRAC and WMA are both examples of a compressed file that is both lossy and
lossless.
ATRAC : 'ATRC' short for 'Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding' is a family of
proprietary audio compression algorithms developed by Sony. ATRAC allowed a
relatively small disc to have the same running time as CD while storing audio
information with minimal loss in perceptible quality.
 WMA
WMA : WMA is a file extension used with Windows Media Player. WMA stands
for Windows Media Audio. WMA is a series of audio codecs and their
corresponding audio coding formats developed by Microsoft.WMA was intended
to be a competitor for the MP3 and RealAudio audio formats. It compresses an
audio CD to a range of 206 to 411 MB, at bit rates of 470 to 940 Kbit/s.The result
is a bit-for-bit duplicate of the original audio file; in other words, the audio quality
on the CD will be the same as the file when played back.
There are 4 versions of the WMA codec:
• WMA is the original codec, and was initially released in 1999.
• WMA Pro is an improved lossy codec intended for audio professionals but it is
limited by the current range of hardware and software that is needed to support
the codec.
• WMA Lossless is a lossless codec intended for archival and storage purposes.
Using VBR, it can compress the audio file without any loss of quality.
• WMA Voice is a lossy codec that was designed for low bandwidth voice playback
applications.
 MONO & STEREO RECORDING AND
REPLAY
In monaural sound one single channel In stereophonic sound more channels are used
is used. It can be reproduced (typically two).You can use two different channels and
through several speakers, but all make one feed one speaker and the second channel
feed a second speaker (which is the most common
speakers are still reproducing the same stereo setup). This is used to create directionality,
copy of the signal. perspective, space.
 MICROPHONES AND
EQUIPMENT FOR SOUND
RECORDING
MICROPHONES/SOUND RECORDING EQUIPMENT

SHOTGUN MICROPHONE
EQUIPMENT USE:
There are different ways in which microphones can be used
and how they can be used for different shots. For example,
if you are filming for an interview or a dialogue scene it is
important that the person that is speaking isn't moving
around. It is essential that the person is still so that there
isn't any disruption with the mic. Doing this helps to avoid
any unnecessary sound being picked up on the mic which
disrupts the dialogue, therefore it is smart to invest in using
a boom pole. A boom pole is a useful piece of equipment
to use because it picks up the dialogue and uses the pick-up
pattern of a shotgun microphone to isolate their voice from
all of the sounds around them.
 SHOTGUN MICROPHONE
The shotgun microphone gets its name from the idea that the body of the
microphone is shaped like the barrel of a shotgun, and just like a shotgun, it must
be aimed or pointed directly at its target source in order to effectively to pick it
up.
A shotgun microphone is a highly directional microphone that must be pointed
directly at its target sound source for proper recording. Shotgun microphones
use unidirectional microphones to achieve this high beam of concentration on
the sound source to record the sound. Because shotgun microphones use
unidirectional microphones, they are able to pick up sound better when the
sound source is right in front of them but begin to pick up the sound worse
(much lower) when the sound source is moved to the sides and rear.
Common uses of shotgun microphones are for talks or speeches in meetings,
conferences, and lectures. In scenarios such as these, the speaker does not need to
hold a microphone and speak into it or wire a microphone on his body in order
to record his speech or lecture.
Shotguns are most commonly used for film and theatre but they also make great
overhead mics for capturing things like singing groups, chorals, drums cymbals.
 MICROPHONES/SOUND RECORDING EQUIPMENT
LAVALIER MICROPHONE USE:
There will be scenarios where someone will be
presenting a presentation meaning they will be on
a stage presumably talking to a large crowd.When
someone is presenting, they are walking and
talking, and it would be difficult to follow that
person around on stage with a boom poll as that
would also be distracting and might interfere with
the presentation. In this case it would be really
useful to use a lavalier microphone.The benefit of
using a lavalier microphone is that you don’t have
to worry about following the person on stage as
they will have a mic pinned on them which is
close enough so that it is able to pick up the
sound.
 OMNIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES
Omnidirectional microphones are microphones that pick
up sound with equal gain from all sides or directions of the
microphone.This means that the microphone will record
the signals all with equal gain and makes no difference
whether a user speaks into the microphone from the front,
back, left or right side. The microphone will become more
and more directional the higher the frequency. The smaller
the capsule, the more true omni the microphone is.
Omnirectional microphones can be used in studios and
other venues such as old churches because the
micorphone comes with great acoustics and can also be
used for live reordings of multiple instruments, as long as
the noise level is low.
EQUIPMENT FOR OMNIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONE:
OMNIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONE CAPSULE (MMC4006)

There are many omnidirectional microphone

capsules that are a very good to use with
omnidirectional microphones, but the MMC4006
omnidirectional microphone capsule is one of a kind
for a phenomenal quality.
The capsule is linear and offers total transparency in
any recording situation.The amazing characteristics
that came with this capsule is that picks up
incredible detail and depth of sound. It has high-
frequency features across a wide range of
instruments is impressive. It offers natural sound,
high sensitivity, low noise-floor and extremely
linear frequency response (±2 dB).
 BIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES
Bidirectional microphones is also known as figure-of-eight- microphones.
These microphones pick up sound well or with high sensitivity, from the
front and back but poorly or with low sensitivity from the sides.
The diagram shows how the bidirectional microphones sound pick up
pattern.The diagram is demonstrating that a bidirectional microphone
pattern picks up lobes of sound of equal sensitivity on opposite sides of the
diaphragm (front and back) and steep nulls at right-angles to the diaphragm
(the sides). Bidirectional microphones are used in applications where sound
is recorded from the front of the microphone and back of the microphone,
but not the sides.
EXAMPLE – a professor gives a lecture to an audience and accepts
questions from them.A microphone needs to pick up the speech of
professor from the front and the questions asked from the back in the
audience.This is a practical example of where bidirectional microphones
are needed.
PROS OF BIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONE
• Using a bidirectional microphone is basically like using a two in one. A
bidirectional gives you the advantage of using one mic between two singers to
record them, instead of using two separate mics. Both singers can stand on either
end of the mic while facing one another.This is more comfortable and has a
better advantage because both singers are able to see the other person for timing,
cues and other communication.
• When recording a singing guitarist and instrumental, a simple solution is record
both separately. However, this may not always be the best solution when the
singing guitarist performs.The performer might be more comfortable doing both
at the same time. Using a bidirectional microphone polarity pattern, you can
place a mic between the performer’s mouth and guitar to pick up both sounds
clearly.
 UNIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES
Unidirectional microphones are microphones that only pick sound with
high gain from the specific side or direction of the microphone. For
example, if someone is speaking into a unidirectional microphone, that
person has to make sure that they are speaking into the correct side,
normally referred to as the voice side, of the microphone in order to get
good gain on the recording. This is in contrast to omnidirectional
microphones, which pick up sound equally from all directions of the
microphone. Unidirectional microphones are used in applications where
the target sound source is to be recorded directly in front of the
microphone, and all other sounds in the room that may be on the sides
and rear do not want to be recorded.
EXAMPLE - a professor's lecture in a classroom. In a scenario where only
the lecture of the professor needs to be recorded without any noise that
may be coming from the students behind, a unidirectional microphone has
perfect application.
 CARDIOID MICOPHONES
A cardioid microphone is named this because of the sensitivity pattern
and is a heart-shaped microphone.
A cardioid microphone is the most common unidirectional microphone
and the cardioid microphone family are commonly used as vocal or
speech microphones because they are good at rejecting sound from other
directions.
Cardioid is the most common type of directionality which means that
the polar pattern of the microphone is sensitive to sound relative to the
direction or angle from which the sound arrives. A cardioid microphone
focuses on picking and capturing sound in front and blocking everything
else.This means that will let you point the mic to a sound source and
isolate it from unwanted ambient sound.A cardioid microphone is
commonly used widely in live performances, from karaoke to big arena
concerts.
 HYPERCARDIOD MICROPHONES
A hypercardiod microphone is similar to a supercardioid microphone
but it is a stronger version compared to a supercardioid microphone.
This is because the front pickup line is even more narrower and
focused which results in greater rejection of unwanted noise and
feedback. The typical pickup angle on a hypercardiod microphone can
be as low as 105 degrees. Hypercardioid patterns are similar
to cardioid patterns in that the primary sensitivity is in the front
of the microphone. A hypercardioid mic is your best defense against
troublesome stage noise thanks to superior off-
axis rejection. Hypercardioid mics are so directional, they require very
precise mic technique. For example, if a singer moves off-axis, the
performance of the mic will change, and this can adversely affect the
sound quality. In other words, the singer needs to ensure that they
keep the mic pointed at their mouth.
COIL MICROPHONE
The coil microphone can also be referred to as a
dynamic microphone.
The moving coil microphones are often used on stage
for vocal and musical performances, because of they are
quite sturdy and do require external power.
Coil microphones are also able to handle high sound levels
without distorting – this makes them useful for certain
musical instruments.
The way that the coil microphone is structed is that there
is a small magnet which oscillates inside the coil attached
to the diaphragm. An electronic signal is created by a
magnetic induction when a sound wave causes the
diaphragm of the microphone to vibrate. Due to this, the
relative motion of the magnet creates the electronic signal.
RIBBON
MICROPHONES
A ribbon mic is a special kind of
dynamic microphone. Using a ribbon
microphone is the most natural way to
capture the sound of an instrument, a
voice and the ambience of a room can
even be captured.This is due to their
figure-of-8 polar pattern, massive low-
end pick-up and the natural high
frequency roll-off. Ribbon microphones
really help you hear more like your ears
than any other mic out there.
CONDENSER
MICROPHONES
Condenser microphones are
preferably best used professionally in
studios for recording or at a home
studio. Condenser microphones have
wide frequency and transient
response and they capture
phenomenal sound quality. These
types of microphones are suitable for
vocals, acoustic guitars, pianos and
more.
NOISE-CANCELLING MICROPHONES
A noise-canceling microphone is a microphone
that is designed to filter ambient noise.
The microphone picks up sound such as traffic,
air-handling systems and the noise cancelling
circuitry cancels the ambient noise. The
electronics in the ear piece create a noise-
cancelling wave that is 80° out of phase with
the ambient noise.The wave acts as an eraser for
noise and cancels out the annoying and
unnecessary sounds that are surrounding you,
without diminishing the audio you want
to hear.
CONDENSER MICROPHONE ACCESSORIES

Phantom power is professional audio equipment that

has electric power transmitted through microphone
cables to operate microphones that contain active
electronic circuitry. It is best known as a convenient
power source for condenser microphones, though
many active direct boxes also use it. Condenser
microphones need phantom power because of the
active electronic because it is needed as an external
power source. Because of the way condenser mics
work, their output is very high impedance,
and therefore requires a powered circuit to reduce
that impedance.
MICROPHONE EQUIPMENT
RODE VIDEOMIC PRO
Using a rode videomic pro is the best way
to pick up ambience noise when placed on
top of the camera. It may not be the best of
quality, but is a good solution if trying to
pick up general ambience noise, without
picking up conversations or specific
sound.
MICROPHONE ACCESSORIES

FOAM WINDSHEILDS
• Suitable for all standards vocal microphone and helps to reduce
popping and wind noise when performing outdoors. These foam
windshields fit over the microphone which absorbs the sounds of air
moving across the mic. This is done so that nothing is picked up and
that no static-like sound is made.
MICROPHONE EQUIPMENT - STANDS
1. TRIPOD STANDS – these are the most common
stands and are designed for the general-purpose use.
2. TRIPOD BOOM STANDS – these stands offer a
longer reach than standard tripod stands.
3. ROUND BASE STANDS – these are ideal for singers
that are up onstage because they use less floor space and
is harder to trip over than tripod stands.
4. LOW-PROFILE STANDS – these are commonly used
for kick drums, guitar cabs.
5. DESKTOP STANDS – these stands can be similar to
the low-profile stands, but these stands are intended
more for podcasting and bedroom recording.
6. OVERHEAD STAND – these are the largest and most
expensive all stands because when used, they are used at
extreme heights and angles
EQUIPMENT
SOUND RECORDING STUDIO
EQUIPMENT
• A computer
• Headphones
• Microphones
• DAW - Digital Audio Workspace
• Audio interface (purpose of providing all the necessary connections to send
your music INTO the computer when recording and OUT the computer
during playback)
• Studio monitors (speakers)
• Cables
• Microphone stands and accessories
POWER CONDITIONER – consolidates power
to the entire rack down to a single cable instead of
having a half-dozen power cables sticking out the
back of your rack from each unit.

RACK MOUNT – the rack allows multiple sound

sources which is a major difference from an
amateur to professional where a typical 'desktop'
recording can only provide a small number of
simultaneous tracks.
PREAMP – a preamplifier is an electronic amplifier that
converts weak electrical signal into an output signal strong
enough to be noise tolerant and strong enough for further
processing. Without this, the final signal would be noisy or
distorted.

SNAKE CABLES – a way of organizing XLR cables so that

your studio becomes less cluttered.

UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY (UPS) - essentially

functioning as a back-up battery, a UPS gives you several
minutes of power to shut down your computer safely in the
event of a blackout.
REFLECTION FILTERS - While ‘real’ acoustic treatment
will always be ideal often times, its simply too expensive for a
small project studio. In which case, reflection filters offer a
workable alternative. Intended mainly for vocal recording, this
device allows you to skip the hassle of treating your entire
studio by instead capturing sound reflections before they ever
enter the room.

DIFFUSERS – in pro studios, with big budgets and big rooms

diffusion is an important element of their acoustic treatment
plan because creates a nice natural ambience without removing
too much of the ‘liveliness’ rom the room. Diffusers do this by
scattering whatever sound energy exists in the room allowing
all frequencies.
BASS TRAPS – bass traps offer broadband absorption
across the entire frequency spectrum, and are particularly
good at absorbing lower frequencies which cause the
majority of problems in any studio, especially in similar
rooms.

AUCOUSTIC PANELS – are great at absorbing

frequencies in the low-mid to high range. More
importantly though they are particularly good at taming
standing waves which have a tendency to cause major
acoustic problems in rooms with parallel walls, where
sound reflections bounce back and fourth in the same
spot.
LOCATION BASED EQUIPMENT

BROADCAST RECORDER – TASCAM's P-82 is an example of a

location based sound recorder that offers 8 tracks and microphones for
high quality recording, yet built for the rigors for location recording with
reliable solid-state performance.

HANDHELD RECORDERS – there are a variety of semi professional

handheld recorders you can get that can be plugged into cameras.
However, you would be more likely to use a broadcast recorder for a
professional shoot then this type of handheld device.
CABLES
BALANCED
Balanced cables have 3 wires:
• Signal (+)
• Signal (-)
• Ground
Every balanced analog cable has 1 of 3 connectors at either end:
• XLR Male – connects to various hardware inputs
• XLR Female – connects to the microphone, and various hardware outputs
• TRS – connects to both inputs and outputs
There are 3 contact points on each of these connectors which carry signals from the
positive, negative, and ground wires.
Balanced cables are relatively immune to noise from interference such as radio
frequencies and electronic equipment. This is why balanced cables are more suited
and standard for pro audio.
BALANCED - XLR
XLR has 3 pins.
XLR Female has 3 pins.
TRS has surfaces known as Tip, Ring, Sleeve.
• The XLR is used across a broad range of musical and audio applications because
both are balanced and has a very secure connection.
• XLR Female usually recieves output signals from devices (microphone for
example)
• XLR Male are generally used to plug into inputs (a mic pre-amp on a mixing
desk, or active studio monitors, for example) with male XLRs are plugging into
female sockets and vice versa
 BALANCED
Signal (+) and Signal (-) wires will both receive
identical versions of the signal when audio enters
a balanced cable, only difference is, the ploarity of
the (-) wire is INVERTED.
BOTH wires will gather noise as the two signals
travel along the cable. Unbalanced cables do the
same thing, however, before re-combing them at
the opposite end of the cable, the polarity of the
negative wire is flipped back, to once again
match the postitive signal.
Now that the noise patterns are on opposite
polarities, they can cancel ecah other out, leaving
the original signal noise-free.
UNBALANCED
An unbalanced cable consists of two connectors with two conductors each,
connected by two wires inside the cable, a signal wire and a ground wire. The
signal wire is in the centre of the cable that passes the audio signal through.
The surrouding wire shields the main signal wire from external electronic
interference from devices such as lights, television, radios and transformers.
The reason why an unbalanced cable is considered unbalanced is because,
when the cable takes the audio signal from a piece of equipmet that you're
using, passes it straight through to a mixer or capture/reciever device without
manipulation. An example could be an instrument or stereo system. Leaving
the audio untouched makes things simple, but it also means that sometimes the
audio can become distorted.
 X-LRS BALANCED
XLRs are an additional charge – please bear in mind
that there is not enough room for both XLRs to go
through the 24mm mounting hole used for Origin
Live arms. There are 2 solutions to this:

• You can detach one of the XLRs, then pass both

external leads through the 24mm mounting hole.
After this re-attach the XLR to the arm cable.
• You can order the 5-pin DIN connector option for
the external cable attachment. This means you do
not need to detach the XLR as you can plug the
cable in after mounting the arm.
 TRS VS TS CONNECTORS (JACKS)
TRS CONNECTORS AND CABLES
• TRS cables can be used for mono, balanced signals as well as stereo signals.
Balanced signal would be a line input or output from a mixer or audio
interface is an example of a mono. Headphones receive stereo signals over
TRS connectors.TRS connections have three contact points (conductors)
separated by two insulator rings. Just like TS connectors, the tip is an audio
signal and the sleeve is ground, but an additional ring (R) conductor is
added. Because balanced cables have two conductors, there’s twice as much
signal. And because of a cool thing called common mode rejection, you can
run longer cables without worrying about noise.

WHEN TO USE TRS CONNECTORS

• Connecting to or from a mono balanced line input or output TRS cables
• Connecting a stereo output to a stereo input have two signal
conductors
(positive and
When you use a TRS cables instead of a TS cables, there will slightly be less negative) and
output so that causes more possibility of noise interference. TS does not support ground.
stereo signals, the ring (right channel) is shorted with ground.
 TS CONNECTORS AND CABLES
TS CONNECTORS AND CABLES
• TS cables are generally used for mono, unbalanced signals. TS cables
are commonly called guitar cables because they're mostly used to
connect a guitar to an amplifier. TS connectors have two contact
points separated by an insulator ring: tip (T) and sleeve (S). The
audio signal travels over the tip while the ground uses the sleeve.
That means T is positive and S is ground.

WHEN TO USE TS CONNECTORS

• Connecting a guitar to an amplifier, pedalboard, audio interface, or
mixer.
• Connecting a keyboard with unbalanced TS outputs to the
unbalanced input on a DI box or the instrument input on a mixer. •TS cables have
one signal
conductor
Using a TRS cable as an alternative to TS cables means that the signal (positive) and
will be unbalanced because unbalanced TS cables should be used with ground.
unbalanced input and outputs.
THE STEREO MINI JACK CONNECTOR
(BALANCED)
The stereo mini jack is arguably the most common audio connection.The
stereo mini jack is the plug that you'll usually find on the MP3 player
headphones.The most common uses for the stereo mini jack connector is for
portable music player headphones for connecting MP3 players to car stereos,
and audio connections on computers.This connection is smaller with 3.5mm
(1/8") plug, which is also referred to as 3.5 Jack or 1/8" Jack.The stereo is also
a TRS arrangement because of the two insulation rings. The left and right
channels are carried by the tip and the ring with the sleeve as a common
ground.
ALSO KNOWN AS:
• (Stereo) minijack
• Occasionally, it may get referred to a ‘headphone jack’
 THE RCA CONNECTOR
A RCA connector can also be referred to as a 'phono connector' or
'cinch connector'.This connector is a type of electrical connector
that is a type of electrical connector that is commonly used to carry
audio and video signals.
The RCA is an unbalanced, mono connection which is commonly
found used by DJ mixers, HI-FI equipment, audio interfaces and
frequently on the tape in and tape out connections mixing desks
and usually features a red, right connection and a white, left
connection but this isnt always the case. RCA, Radio Corporation
of America refers to those responsible for the development of this RCA plugs for
connection.They instigated the replacement of 1/4″ TRS Jack composite video (yellow)
connections on Phonographs in the 1940s, to allow them to be and stereo audio (white
and red)
connected to amplifiers, hence why this connection type is
also called a Phono connector.
 MIDI CABLES
MIDI, Musical Instrument Digital Interface, are cables that are used
to connect keyboards and other electronic musical devices to
computers. MIDI cables are used to carry signal between digital instruments,
such as synthesizers and drum machines to storage to storage devices, such
as your computer. Because a MIDI is an information signal produced
by digital instruments, this cable allows the signal to be sent and decoded
for recording or storage. During playback, MIDI cables will send signal
back to the instrument, which then reproduces the recorded or
stored sound, rather than sending the signal to an external speaker for
sound reproduction. Once recorded, MIDI data can also be edited
before playback.
MIDI cables are labelled as 'In' and 'Out' plugs, they wont work if they are
connected to the same labelled MIDI ports on an electronic instrument. The
reason for this is because the flow of data that the plugs indicate denotes the
direction that data will flow to the computer, not the port on the instrument
to which each cable must be connected.
DIGITAL CABLES
Digital cables is the distribution of cable
television using digital video compression for distribution. Digital cables
allow the transfer of bitstream of digital data between digital electronics
such as CD transports and digital to analog converters (DAC's). Digital
cables can also be used at home for a home theater between a DVD player
and a surround sound processor or receiver. Digital cables were
developed for serious audiophiles that have different ranges and come
with different sonic characters, they are developed for serious audiophiles.
Digital cable systems were able to provide higher resolution HD
video which meant they were able to expand services as pay-per-
view programming, cable internet access and cable telephone
services. Most digital cable signals are encrypted, which reduced
the high incidence of cable theft which occurred in analog systems.
 USB
USB, Universal Serial Bus, is a common connection that enables
communication between devices and a host controller such as a personal computer
(PC). Using a USB connects peripheral devices such as digital cameras, mice,
keyboards, printers, scanners, media devices, external hard drives and flash drives. A
USB can be used as a power source for other devices such as tablets, smartphones, even
batteries.
UBS ADVANTAGES
• USB cables can be referred to as 'Hot Pluggable'. This means that the cable can
be connected and disconnected numerous times without affecting your PC while
is running or cause it to freeze.
• USB cables are fast, transferring up to 480Mbps.
• USB cables are designed with several distinct connector types, making it easy
to identify which plug goes into the computer and which plug goes into
the peripheral device.
• USB cables are a universal standard and are fairly easy to find and to afford.
 FIREWIRE
FireWire is known, IEEE 1394, High Performance Serial Bus, which Apple
Computer made into their version which they called 'FireWire'. IEEE 1394 is used for
connecting devices to your personal computer. FireWire provides a single-plug-and-
socket connection on which up to 63 devices can be attached with data transfer speeds
up to 400 Mbps.

IEEE 1394 is described as a serial bus or a pathway between one or more

peripheral devices and your computers microprocessor. There are many peripheral
devices now come equipped to meet IEEE 1394, FireWire and other IEE 1394
implementations provide:
•Simple common plug-in serial connector on the back of your computer and
on different types of peripheral devices
•Thicker parallel cable is no longer needed to use with personal computers. Instead, a
thin serial cable is a much better solution
•A very high-speed rate of data transfer that will accommodate multimedia applications
•The ability to chain devices together in a number of different ways without terminators
or complicated set-up requirements
THUNDERBOLT
A Thunderbolt, which is a name of a hardware interface,
was created and developed by Intel in collaboration with
Apple which allows the connection of external peripherals
to a computer.
There are 3 Thunderbolts ports. The first one was only
specified for Apple products. The product gave high-
powered connections to external storage, high resolutions THUNDERBOLT THUNDERBOLT 2
displays, especially for designers and engineers who are
looking for these particular aspects and elements.
Thunderbolt 2 had several changes made to it in
comparison to the first model.These cables quickly showed
higher speeds than any other popular peripheral cable.
Thunderbolt is capable of giving 4K resolution just like
Thunderbolt 2 but unlike Thunderbolt 2, Thunderbolt 3 is
able to connect to two 4K monitors at once using
DisplayPort. It is also double the bandwidth than
Thunderbolt 2 (20Gbps). THUNDERBOLT 3
REPORT: ACOUSTIC
SETTINGS
 MICROPHONE
A 2028 Vocal Mic is a microphone
that is best suited for church
because it can be both wireless and
wired. It has a
uniformed supercardiod directionality
which is helpful for reducing
feedback issues.This is also
convenient with large churches as the
mic is also costumed to live
performances meaning the vocals
being emphasized by the mic can fill
up a whole room. If no one wants to
fuss about with a microphone, there
are headset and lavalier mics which
can be used as an alternative.The
INTERIOR SETTING 1: 4088 directional headset mic is
lightweight and flexible and
CHURCH suitable for spoken word and vocal
performances.
 MICROPHONE
A really choice for choosing a microphones for
podcasting would be a dynamic microphone.
The Heil PR 40 microphone is the best
dynamic microphone that is designed for
voiceovers, broadcast, and instrument
applications, both live and in the studio, such as
recording podcasts. It has a wide frequency range
and has an internal breath blast filter on the
diaphragm meaning it is providing a clean
response for the human to output the most natural
voice response without any popping noises.
Using a dynamic microphone means avoiding
having to hear extra sound from things such as air
vents or extra noises from the lips and tongue.
The upside to using dynamic mics means that they
naturally mask these irritants. Virtually, all dynamic

INTERIOR SETTING 2:
mics have a cardioid polar response pattern. This
means that the cardioid pickup pattern reduces
noise. Sounds from the room and its reflections are

PODCASTS reduces the pickup because cardioid mics are less

sensitive to sound from the sides and back.
As well as having a good microphone to use for podcasting,it is important to remember that there are
essential equipment needed to make a podcast. A basic podcast equipment is a computer. In order to create
a traditional podcast,you must also need the following:

•Headphones - Using headphones helps to prevent any mistakes or retakes being made. Headphones also help
to monitor the sound being recorded. Getting used to using headphones is essential to avoid recording to later
find out you’ve picked up unnecessary noises, or if something wasn’t turned on. It is advised to stay away from
open-back headphones because the mic will pick up on sound. Staying away from soft shell headphones
is important because these headphones can cause feedback and suppress sound. Hard shell is perfect because
it traps the sound.Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Professional Monitor Headphones is a popular essential to
have for studio recording podcasts because it has contoured earcups seal tight for excellent sound
isolation with minimal bleed and deliver accurate audio and outstanding comfort, perfect for long sessions in
the studio.

•Recording and mixing software - Free software tools make recording and editing fairly easy.A mixer gives you
more control over levels, inputs,outputs,and more.Also crucial if you plan to regularly have call-in guests so
you get set up a mix-minus line for your remote guests.Mixing your audio as a static project allows you more
time to make your finished product polished and professional.

•Audio interface- This is basically the bridge between your microphone and your computer. It converts the
analog signal from the mic into a digital signal that the computer can use.

PODCASTS:
EQUIPMENT
 Recording in a noisy and busy
environment will always prove to
be difficult, but if you have the
correct functioning equipment it
will lighten the load and the stress.
It is better to use a microphone
that can make your voice sound
louder relative to the external
noise. The Sennheiser MD-46
microphone is built with an
omnidirectional response and
cardioid polar pattern.This mic
works really well in terms of
excellent background-noise
cancellation.There is no need to
EXTERIOR EXAMPLE 1: stand uncomfortably close to
someone to clearly catch their
STREETS, BUSY ARERA response if you were interviewing
people.
 If you wanted to capture some ambience sound while
you're recording outside, using a Tascam recorder can
•help capture these sounds.The Tascam can pick up
HGTGTHNJTJN
different sounds from different directions when the two
mics at the top are points to a specific directions due to
its built-in, cardioid-pattern.

NOISY ENVIRONMENTS:
EQUIPMENT
 MICROPHONE
An appropriate and suitable choice when choosing
a microphone for live performances such as
concerts is the SHURE SM58 dynamic
microphone. This dynamic microphone gives you
exactly what you need, proper portrayal of voices
to audience (regardless of what you're showcasing)
and the mic also comes with a microphone clip
and storage bag. A highlighted feature of the SM58
is that it has a cardioid pattern which means it
helps isolate whatever you're performing along
with doing a great job at decreasing background
noise.
The frequency response of the SM58 is 50 to
15,000 Hz, which is a pretty high range for a
microphone. This covers the entire human voice
and most strings as well, with a surprisingly very
low-frequency pickup for a mic. Unlike other
microphones, the SM58 has excellent gain-to-
feedback ratio meaning yiu can turn it all the way
EXTERIOR SETTING 2: up without the risk of any feedback interfering.
The SM58 product description claims to be ideal
for live performances. The bass increases the closer
CONCERTS you get to the mic, so this is why it is better to use
with the mouth closer to the mic because it is
proven to be legitimately better for vocals.
 LIVE
PERFORMANCES,
CONCERTS:
EQUIPMENT
• PA SYSTEMS. Public Address Systems provide
connection, sound amplification and distribution to
get your music heard by the public. By doing this,
it allows everything from the instruments to the
vocal signal pass through to get to your
audience.This includes microphones, cables,
mixers, amplifiers, speakers and every item in
between.

• An important live performance piece of

equipment is a mixing desk.The mixing desk is the
root and central hub of your music where all the
different sound sources are received, processed and
mixed because the end result gives you good live
sound.This equipment makes a crucial difference
to your performance.This is where volume levels
are set, along with tone and EQ adjustments,
dynamic changes, routing and more. Modern
mixers also come with built-in effects and allow for
instant live recording when connected to a
computer.