English for Technical Students. Part 1

Language Study. Describing a process

In English the passive voice is often used to describe processes. Study these examples.

1.Each instrument is recorded.

2.Special effects are used.

3.Copies can be made.

17.Complete the information of how to make a recording by putting each of the verbs in brackets in the correct form.

Each instrument (1) __________ (to record) using a microphone. The sound (2)

__________ (to feed) to a mixing desk. The recording level (3) __________ (to control) and the EQ (4) __________ ( to adjust) by the sound engineer. The output

(5) __________ (to record) on a multitrack. The sounds from the multitrack (6)

__________ (to master) back through the mixer. The tape (7) __________ (to remix) until the musicians are happy with the sound. Special effects can (8) __________ (to add) on the mixing desk. The remixed tape (9) __________ (to master down) to produce a master tape. This can (10) __________ (to use) to produce copies in many different formats.

Writing.

18. Write the translation of the paragraphs beginning with “MP3 completes with another audio file format…” and the next one.

LESSON 8. SOUND ENGINEER

Lead-in.

What do you know about the job of sound engineer?

Do you think it’s interesting?

Would you like to do such job? Why / Why not?

Listening.

1. Steve is a sound engineer. He describes his work and how you can make your own recordings of live music. The recording is in two parts:

Part 1: The job.

Part 2: Making your own recording.

Before you listen, try to match these specialist terms to their definitions:

2.Listen to Part 1 and answer the questions:

1.Where does Steve work?

a)college

b)commercial radio station

c)recording studio

d)mobile disco

2.Where did he work previously?

a)college

b)commercial radio station

c)recording studio

d)mobile disco

3.When he was a school and college student, what interest did he have in sound?

a)he had his own band

b)he had his own mobile disco

c)he used to make commercials

d)he recorded live music

4.What was he recording that day?

a)a Japanese radio programme

b)a tape compilation

c)a self-study language tape

d)a whisky commercial

3.As you listen to Part 2, answer the following questions:

1.Which one of these is not required to make a recording?

a)mike

b)a tape recorder

c)a recording studio

d)a room with good acoustics

2.What allow you to make a proper recording?

a)a Portastudio

b)a VU meter

c)a bargraph

d)special effects

3.What does a Portastudio combine?

a)special effects and a cassette deck

b)a mike and a cassette deck

c)a mixer and a cassette deck

d)a VU meter and a cassette deck

4.Which one of the following is not a special effect?

a)reverb

b)echo

c)compression

d)distortion

5.What should you do before making the final copy?

a)take a break

b)check the recording levels

c)add special effects

d)run the tape backwards

4.Listen again to the complete interview and answer these more difficult questions:

1.What was unusual about the recording made that day?

2.What’s the difference between a commercial mixing desk and a

Portastudio?

3.Why should you keep an eye on the bargraph or VU meter when recording?

4.How is mixing down like developing and printing a photograph?

5.What’s the danger of mixing down without a break?

Grammar. Used to

When we talk about past habits or states, we can use “used to” if we talk about the habits which are not true now. The main verb of the sentence is like this “used to

+verb”.

1.I used to play football a lot when I was a boy, but now I don’t have enough free time.

2.We didn’t use to have classes in the morning last year, but now we have

them.

5.Which form will you use in these sentences – Past Simple or “used to”?

1.Our university … (be called) the institute.

2.Our family … (go) to the countryside when I was small.

3.The first magazine … (be) very interesting but the second was awful.

4.My teacher … (draw) a very complicated diagram on the whiteboard, we couldn’t understand it.

5.When my parents were schoolchildren, they … (wear) a uniform to school.

6.Write some 5-6 sentences with “used to” about what you usually did or didn‟t do when you were younger.

Technical Reading.

7. Words and expressions to know.

8. Read and translate into Russian the information about the profession of a sound engineer.

Sound Engineer

A sound engineer is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of equipment for the commercial production of a recording. There are four distinct steps to it: recording, editing, mixing and mastering. The field contains a lot of artistic and professional areas including electronics, acoustics, psychoacoustics and music. A sound engineer is a proficient with different types of recording media such as analog tape, digital multitrack recorders and workstations and computer knowledge.

It is becoming more and more important for the sound engineer to be skilled in the understanding of software and hardware integration from synchronization to analog (mechanical) to digital means. Usually sound engineers know the design, installation and / or operation of sound recording, sound reinforcement or sound broadcasting equipment including large and format consoles.

Sound engineering includes the creative and practical aspects of sounds and music because in the recording studio environment the sound engineer works with the help of different technical means to realize an artist’s or record producer’s creative vision. In typical sound reinforcement application sound engineers often carries out the role of a producer making artistic and technical decisions and sometimes even scheduling and budget decisions.

In larger productions a sound engineer is responsible for the technical aspects of a sound recording or other sound production and works together with a record producer or director but the engineer’s role may also be integrated with that of the producer. In smaller productions and studios the sound engineer and producer is often one and the same person.

While usually associated with music production, a sound engineer deals with sound for a lot of applications including post-production for video and film, live sound reinforcement, advertising, multimedia and broadcasting. When referring to video games a sound engineer may also be a computer programmer. A lot of sound engineers invent new technology, equipment and techniques to enhance the process and art.

People who design acoustical simulations of rooms, shaping algorithms for digital signal processing and computer music problems, perform institutional

14. Fill in the gaps. Use the words from the box.

1.Sound applications include post-production for video and film, live sound reinforcement, …, multimedia and broadcasting.

2.Some sound engineers are … with no formal training.

3.Some music schools … a Bachelor of Music degree.

4.A sound engineer is proficient with … knowledge.

5.A sound engineer’s equipment contains large and format … .

6.A sound engineer is a specialist that … with the use of equipment.

7.There are four distinct steps: recording, …, mixing and mastering.

8.Music schools … the use of audio technology as opposed to the part of a traditional engineering program.

9.Many sound engineers have invented new technology, equipment and techniques to … the process and art.

10.… of an college or a university pass a difficult qualification test.

11.Sound engineers often carries out the role of a producer … a lot of decisions.

12.The sound engineer works with the help of different technical … .

13.People perform institutional … on sound and other advanced fields of audio engineering.

14.Sometimes sound engineers make artistic decisions and … .

15.A sound engineer is a specialist in a skilled … .

16.A lot of colleges and institutions around the … have degrees in sound engineering.

15. Which word is odd according to their meaning and use in every line? Explain your choice.

1.editing / manipulating / mastering / mixing / recording

2.acoustics / electronics / music / psychoacoustics / recording

3.analog tape / computer knowledge / digital multitrack recorders / recording media / workstations

4.advertising / application / broadcasting / live sound reinforcement / multimedia / post-production for video and film

5.broadcasting / electronics / fine arts / music / sound engineers

Language Study. Giving advice

Here are some ways in which we can give advice when making a recording. Note how we can make the advice stronger.

Thing to do

1.You should keep an eye on the recording level.

2.Always keep an eye on the recording level.

3.You must always keep an eye on the recording level.

Things not to do

1.You shouldn’t put the microphone too close to the drums.

2.Never put the microphone too close to the drums.

3.You must never put the microphone too close to the drums.

16.Give some advice to a sound engineer: write a list of thing to do and not to do. Use information from the text and any information of your own. When you have finished, discuss them in the class.

Writing.

17.Write the translation of the paragraphs beginning with “Sound engineering includes…” and the next one.