For this Friday, we are holding a workshop about Getting Started in the Industry. Read the article. During our classtime, we will talk about how to "embellish" your resume; and if time permits, some strategies toward finding your first jobs. Attendance is optional.

What is NOT OPTIONAL is our take-home FINAL EXAM. Please copy and paste the questions along with your answers, just like you have done in the past. Finals are due on Friday Dec 11th, but absolutely no later than Sunday (and you had better email me by Friday if you are turning your final in on Sunday). I have to begin turning in grades early in the week, so Sunday is the absolute latest you can be. But Sat/Sunday could cost you a few points for being late.

All of your other written assignments were due on Friday, Dec 4. So you had better get them in to me ASAP if you have not yet submitted them.

Here is your FINAL EXAM. Do not forget to include a couple sentences when prompted to "explain why".

FINAL EXAMINATION - Production Sound CTVA358 Instructor: Dr. Fred Ginsburg Fall 2020 11 questions, 2 pages. Questions worth up to 10 points each. DUE no later than Friday, Dec 11


1) What is the important difference between mic level and line level? What would you hear in your headphones and see on the meters if you are feeding mic level into a line level input? What would you hear in your headphones and see on the meters if you are feeding line level into a mic level input?

2) For best results when recording dialogue in Digital audio, the input pot on the digital audio recorder should be adjusted so that a level of 0 VU on the mixing panel corresponds to what headtone level on the recorder?
a. a) +4dB b) 0dB c) -8dB d) -20dB e)-30dB

3) The “deadest pickup zone” of a cardioid microphone is: (front pointing is considered as 0o)
a) none b) directly behind /180o c) perpendicular/90o d) angled back, from 90o to 120o
The “deadest pickup zone” of an omnidirectional microphone is: (front pointing is considered as 0o)
a) none b) directly behind /180o c) perpendicular/90o d) angled back, from 90o to 120o
The “deadest pickup zone” of a hypercardioid “short shotgun” microphone is:
a) none b) directly behind /180o c) perpendicular/90o d) angled back, from 90o to 120o

4) You are mixing an interior scene on a soundstage with three actors. Two of them are being picked up with the boom mic, in this case an AT4073a. The third is seated by himself in a rocking chair, and does not get up. How should you mic the third actor, so that his sound matches acceptably with that coming from the overhead boom? Explain WHY?
a) use an ECM-77, MKE-2, or AT899 lavalier, not too high up on the chest
b) use a Sony ECM-44, high on the lapel favoring the side towards which the actor will talk
c) use a radio mic with an ECM-55
d) use an AT835b or K6/ME66 plant mic about 6 or 7 feet above the actor's head.

5) You are mixing a dramatic scene inside of a very small kitchen. Which would be the best mic to use on the fishpole? Explain WHY?
a) AT4051, MKH40, or Schoeps MK41
b) Senn. 416, MKH60, or AT4073a
c) Senn. 816, MKH70, or AT4071a
d) Senn. K6/ME-66, AT835 or AT897 ENG shotgun
e) ElectroVoice RE-15 handheld dynamic mic

6) You are mixing an exterior scene (feature film) on a grassy knoll near a picturesque cathedral. A few hundred yards away is a busy freeway (noise!!!) Two actors stroll hand in hand about ten yards, camera dollies to maintain a consistent frame. Figure on a medium 2-shot with approx. 18 inches of headroom in the frame. How should you mic it, and EXPLAIN why?
a) AT4051, MKH40, or Schoeps on fishpole
b) Senn. 416, MKH60, or AT4073a on fishpole
c) Senn. 816, MKH70, or AT4071a on fishpole
d) Sony radio mics w. ECM-77 lavaliers
e) ElectroVoice RE-16 dynamic cardioid

7) Popping caused by a gust of wind striking the microphone element is an example of
a) Acoustic wind b) contact wind noise

Clothing rustle caused by a wool sports coat rubbing against a polyester shirt is an example of
a) Acoustic clothing noise b) contact clothing noise


To deal with this clothing rustle problem (question 7), one should
a) use sticky triangles of tape on the lavalier mic
b) reinforce the strain relief on the cable
c) spray Static Guard under the sport coat
d) secure the XLR connector at the ankle

You're mixing a commercial promo inside of a very large Bally’s Fitness center. The shot features men and women vigorously peddling in a large cluster of electronic exercise bikes (noise!!). An actress, clad in designer two-piece (scant) exercise attire, walks in amongst these bikes and climbs up onto a bike in the center. She begins peddling, and then does her dialogue. Camera requires 3 feet of headroom; the fitness center is large, open, carpeted, with excellent sound absorption and quiet acoustics. There is a neon sign close in the background. The exercise bikes are extremely noisy. What is the best choice for mic, and EXPLAIN why?
a) AT4051, MKH40, or Schoeps on a fishpole
b) AT4073a, MKH60, or Senn. 416 on a fishpole
c) AT4071a, MKH70, or Senn. 816 on a fishpole
d) ECM-77 or MT830 or AT899 lavalier mic, hardwired on the actress
e) ECM-44 lavalier mic, wireless, on the actress

9) Explain the difference between ROOM TONE, Reference tone, and background track?

10) Explain the difference between dual mono and two track discreet?

11) Jim, the Producer, orders a sound package from Acme Rents, based on the list of equipment that Tom, the Sound Mixer, gave him at the production meeting. Rick, at Acme Rents, took the order. Judy, the Assistant Director, and Sharon, the Boom Operator, picked up the package at Acme Rents. When the equipment was set up at the soundstage 30 minutes prior to shooting, Sharon discovered that the shockmount would not tighten down on the boompole. Alex, the Utility Sound Tech, discovered that the output cable for the mixing panel was a LEMO connector and did not work with their digital recorder. WHO is responsible and WHO is to blame? WHY?