10 The first stage consists of a transformer which steps down the voltage of the ac mains (see Fig. 2).

o-

LO

AC

main

NO neon lamp

O-

Fig. 2

The charger is switched on and off by a double-pole switch connected in series with the mains input. A neon lamp, connected across the primary of the transformer, shows when the charger is on. A fuse is 15 connected in the live side of the supply to protect the transformer.

The second stage is a bridge rectifier which converts the AC voltage to a DC voltage (see Fig. 3).

Fig.3

This can be made from discrete components but more usually consists of four diodes contained in one package. It is mounted on an 20 aluminium heatsinkto keep the diodes from overheating.

The third stage is a smoothing circuit. It removes the fluctuations in the DC output of the rectifier. It consists of a large electrolytic capacitor connected in parallel with the rectifier as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4

The final stage is a stabilizing circuit consisting of a transistor biased 25 by two resistors and a zener diode. This prevents the output from changing when the load varies. NiCad batteries have such a small internal resistance that the charger must produce a constant current output (see Fig. 5).

_T

constant

current

output

Smoothed dc input

Fig. 5

Task 10

Match each component or unit with its function in a battery charger. For example:

The transformer steps down the AC mains voltage.

Component/Unit

1. transformer

2. double-pole switch

3. neon lamp

4. fuse

5. rectifier

6. aluminium heatsink

7. smoothing circuit

8. stabilizing circuit

Function in a battery charger

a steps down the AC mains voltage b prevents the output from

changing when the load varies с keeps the diodes from overheating d shows when the charger is on e removes the fluctuations in the

DC output of the rectifier f protects the transformer g converts the AC voltage to a DC

voltage

h switches the charger on and off

Writing Describing diagrams

One way of planning your writing is to think of questions which your readers will want to know the answers to. In the task which follows, base your description on the questions set for you.

Task 11 Describe the block diagram of the battery charger and the function of each

building block. Your description should answer these questions:

1. What is the function of a battery charger?

2. What does it consist of in terms of blocks?

3. How are the blocks connected?

4. What is the function of each block?

Making a recording

Tuning-in

Task 1 Study this diagram. It shows the stages in making a recording. Try to match

the short texts which follow to each stage. Compare your answers with your partner.

recording level . treble

middle

bass master fader .

(

Theinstruments are channelled through the mixer into a multitrack tape recorder.

fill

ШШ

Multitrack

Thesounds on the multitrack have to be mastered back through the mixer on to a mastering machine.

ООО REVERB
PHASE	ECHO
FLANGE	CHORUS
COMPRESSION ETC

master tape

Duringthis process reverb and other effects can be used to shape the sound.

a Each microphone input is mixed on a mixer. In a commercial recording studio

this is done by a sound engineer, b The sounds on the multitrack are remixed until the musicians are happy with

the sound.

с The output is recorded on a two-track mastering machine. The product is a

master tape with two stereo channels, d The musicians play in a recording studio. Each voice and instrument is

recorded using different microphones, e The instruments are channelled through the mixer into a multitrack tape

recorder.

f During this process, effects, such as reverb, are used to shape the sound.

Read this text to check your answers.

For professional recording, the process begins in the studio. Each vocalist, instrument, or group of instruments is linked to a microphone. Each microphone is plugged into one of up to 72 channels on a mixer or mixing desk.

5 The mixing desk allows the studio engineer to adjust the recording level for each channel. This is shown by a VU meter or a bargraph where the indicator is a sequence of lights. Too low a level results in background hiss; too high a level causes distortion. The mixer also has EQ (equalization) controls which adjust bass and treble.

10 The output from each channel is fed to a track on a multitrack tape recorder. After the music has been recorded on the multitrack, it is mastered down. This means that it is fed back through the mixer to adjust the levels of vocalist and instruments in relation to each other. At this time, effects can be used to alter the sound. One of the most