English for AVT specialists. Английский для специалистов в сфере аудиовизуальных технологий. Сборник текстов и упражнений по английскому языку

Essential glossary

• profit – прибыль, выгода

• advance – продвижение, достижение

• gimmick – приём, трюк, уловка

• viewer – зритель

• improvement – улучшение, усовершенствование

• achievement – достижение

• switchable – переключаемый

• dedicated channel – выделенный канал

• be all the rage – достигать крайней степени, предела

• monaural sound – монауральный, относящийся к одному уху, монофонический

• consumer – потребитель

• research – научное исследование

• vinyl medium – виниловый носитель

• crosstalk – перекрёстные помехи, диафония

• frequency response – частотная характеристика

• psychoacoustics – психоакустика

• range – диапазон

• installation – установка, инсталляция

• compose – составлять, компоновать

• approximately – примерно, приблизительно

• immersive – многонаправленный, с одновременным воздействием на человека посредством нескольких каналов восприятия (зрение, слух, осязание, обоняние); иммерсивный, создающий эффект присутствия

• sufficient – удовлетворительный

• the most common – наиболее употребляемый

• capability – способность

7. Scan the article and use the words in brackets to complete the statements.

1) By the early 1950s, the increasing popularity of the television became a… to the movies.

2) By the 1960s, home «hi-fi» schemes were all the rage. Stereo sound took the place of… as a standard.

3) In spite of being a progressive idea going ahead of its time, the usage of… failed, attacked by numerous technical, economic, and even aesthetic problems.

4) The 1970s featured intense development of both audio and…

5) By the mid – 1980s, …, which still remains the most widely used surround sound configuration, became a standard for 70 mm cinematic releases.

(5.1 system, real threat, video technologies, monaural, Quad)

8. Read the text in more detail and answer the questions.

1) What source of public entertainment threatened the cinema in the early 50s?

2) What did the film studios do in what seemed to be a losing battle with television? What technological advances were offered by audio engineers?

3) What sound system was accepted as a standard instead of the old one in the early 1960s?

4) What caused the first exploration into the consumer surround sound? What was its result?

5) When did the early digital audio devices appear at the marketplace?

6) What does «Dolby Stereo» consist of?

7) What does the». 1» stand for in the system 5.1?

9. Find the English equivalents for the following words and expressions in the text.

Основной источник в сфере развлечений; развитие (восхождение) телевидения; угроза кинематографу; прибыли в сфере киноиндустрии; одно техническое достижение за другим; уловки для привлечения зрителей; в конечном итоге преобразовались в значительные усовершенствования; достижение, которое стоит упомянуть; который располагался в зрительном зале; освоение этих технологий; скудные возможности систем с двумя динамиками; система объёмного звука для потребителя; идея, опережающая своё время; осаждённая многочисленными техническими, экономическими проблемами, и даже проблемами чувственного восприятия; конкурирующие, несовместимые форматы; набор задних колонок; динамический диапазон; кинематографические установки; приблизительно одна десятая частотного диапазона других каналов; определённая точка пространства.

Grammar revision: active and passive voice

We use the active voice to say what the subject of the sentence does:

In the 1970s, Dolby professionals made an introduction of a separate «boom» subwoofer channel, or so called the «LFE channel».

We use the passive voice to say that something happens to the subject:

However, mastering these technologies was limited by certain economic factors.

Here is some more information about the passive voice.

We use a passive verb

1) when what or who causes the action is unimportant, unknown or obvious from the context:

Two new studios have been built recently.

2) to sound more formal or more polite:

The letter hasn’t been sent. (Instead of: You haven’t sent the mail.)

3) when the action itself is more important than who or what does it (in technological processes, reports, newspaper headings, manuals, instructions, regulations etc.):

Dolby Stereo Digital was first encoded on the 1992 film Batman Returns.

4) to put more emphasis on the agent:

The new laboratory will be opened by the company president.

We form the passive voice with the verb to be and the past participle of the main verb:

be (is/was/have been etc.) + the past participle (made/ washed/done etc.)

10. Fill the gaps in the sentences with the verbs given. Use them in the correct tense either in the active or in passive voice.

Remain, influence, introduce, limit, evolve, fail, beset, receive, increase.

1) Some of these technological advances finally _______ into meaningful improvements.

2) The cinematic systems of that time were unable to produce loud low frequency signals without clipping, that’s why a subwoofer channel (also called the «LFE channel») _____ ______ by Dolby Laboratories.

3) Though the pioneering idea of the Quad installation______, it led to further exploration into consumer surround sound.

4) The acceptance of new technologies, especially since the expansion of television was making serious inroads into the profit margins of the cinematograph, _____ ______ by certain economic factors.

5) Until the early 1950s the dominance of the movie was obvious and it _______ the main source of public entertainment.

6) By the late 1970s, specialists at Dolby Laboratories started their development of the Dolby Stereo system, whereby information _____ _____ by three front speakers and a few rear speakers.

7) The invention of the «boom» subwoofer channel had an added advantage: it effectively ______ the dynamic range of theatrical installations.

8) The growing popularity of television certainly _______ the development of the film industry.

9) The analog four-channel arrangement Quad turned out to _____ _____ by a multitude of economic, technical, and aesthetic problems that eventually led to its failure.

Vocabulary work: adjectives and adverbs

A lot of adverbs are made from adjectives by adding —ly:

Quick-quickly, careful-carefully

Note that not all words, which end in —ly, are adverbs. There are some adjectives that have the —ly ending, too:

Friendly, lively, etc.

11. Transform the adjectives into adverbs using the pattern given below. Work out the meaning of the unknown words from the text.

Example: amazing – amazingly

Certain, real, meaningful, desperate, eventual, significant, great, progressive, complete, optical, separate, effective, approximate, sufficient, definite.

Use the words in sentences of your own.

TALKING AND DISCUSSING POINT

12. Make a plan to the article using your notes in exercise 5.

13. Write a key sentence for each point of your plan.

14. Make a summary of the article adding a few more sentences to each point of your plan. Use the key words.

15. Answer the «What do you think» questions.

1) Why did television threaten the cinema in the early 1950s?

2) Which of the two opponents —the movie or the television – has eventually won?

3) Why 3D glasses are called a gimmick in the text? What other «gimmicks» used to attract audience can you name?

4) Are there any economic, technical and aesthetic problems in the sphere of the sound production nowadays?

5) What technological advances in the surround sound will be achieved in the nearest future?

WRITING

16. Write a commentary that contains two arguments for and two arguments against the statement: «Society cannot do without technologies.» Write 120—180 words.

17. Write an essay commenting on the following statement (State Exam Writing).

Work is the most important thing in life.

Do you agree with the statement? What is your point of view?

Write 200—250 words.

Use the plan below:

– make an introduction (state the problem)

– express your personal opinion giving 2—3 reasons to support it

– express an opposing opinion giving 1—2 reasons for it

– explain why you do not agree with the opposing opinion

– write a conclusion restating your position

CHECK POINT

18. Complete the sentences choosing from the words in brackets. Use the information you have learnt from Unit 1, Part 2.

1) Though some advances introduced by the film studios in the 1950s were just … (gimmicks, failures, digital schemes) to attract viewers, other ones eventually developed into significant improvements.

2) The stereo recordings of a … (child, ping – pong ball, football) bouncing between speakers encouraged the growth of the modern consumer surround sound.

3) In the early 1970s, the … (research, experiment, record) into the consumer surround sound led to an analog four – channel configuration called Quad.

4) The «LFE channel» invented by Dolby specialists in the 1970s really (decreased, made, increased) dynamic range in cinematic configurations.

5) In the name «5.1» the». 1» stands for the LFE channel because it carries only approximately (one-third, one-fifth, one-tenth) of the frequency range of the other channels.

Text 3. Part 3. The 1990s – today

PRE-READING

1. Guess the meaning of the following words from the text.

Organization, information, communication, optimum, allocation, classical, material, effect, result, document, accompany, professional, standard, factual, industry, recommendation, modern, mix, method, equally, film, production, role, studio, number, laser, disc, encoded, industry, theater, mass, public, manufacturer, multitrack, component, console, monitor, integral, automobile, gadget, content, compromise.

2. Think of some more words or phrases to supplement the list above.

3. Think of some achievements in the sphere of sound production that have come in sight over the past 30 years. How have they influenced ordinary customers’ lives?

SUBJECT AND LANGUAGE STUDY

Reading

4. Skim the text. Are the following statements true or false?

1) The ITU carried out research to determine the optimal position of the speaker in a 5.1 system.

2) The ITU document «Recommendation for Multichannel Stereophonic Sound System With and Without Accompanying Picture» came out in 1990.

3) In the 1990s, at least five major film digital surround sound encoding formats made appearance.

4) The DVD appeared in the middle 90s.

5) Using high definition formats to allocate content surround sound producers can do without clipping and sonic compromise.

In the early 1990s, the organization that is responsible for information and communication technologies throughout the world known as the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) conducted research aimed at determining the optimum speaker allocation in a 5.1 arrangement. The research was based mainly on the classical music as source material and the rear speakers were described only as «effects» or «ambience» speakers. As a result, a document entitled «Recommendation for Multichannel Stereophonic Sound System With and Without Accompanying Picture» was issued in 1994. Actually, professionals widely accepted it as a factual industry standard. The ITU Recommendation, however, may not be considered to be perfectly suitable for many music applications, since it came out long before the appearance of modern surround sound mixing methods which treat all the five speakers as equally important.

The 1990s were featured by development and proliferation of digital audio systems. Employment of digital audio for film production was practically becoming a commonplace; the role of digital audio workstations (DAWs) in recording studios all over the world was getting more and more important. There were plans for creating a digital television broadcast system that gradually would mature into High Definition Television (HDTV). Researchers made a focus on embedding surround sound into the second-generation digital audio systems that were growing in number successfully. In that period, at least three major film digital surround sound encoding formats saw the light of the day. These were Sony SDDS TM, Dolby R Digital TM (technically called «AC-3»), and DTS TM. Moreover, the introduction of laser discs (with their ability to carry encoded surround sound) greatly encouraged advance of a nascent industry known as home theater. People began to add supplementary subwoofers and surround speakers to their home listening sets.

In the mid – 1990s, the DVD was released. It provided the mass public with a medium delivering surround sound right into the comfort of their homes. Audio manufacturers started offering different surround sound tools that whetted the consumer’s appetite for high quality digital multitrack systems and a variety of components such as surround – ready mixing consoles, monitoring units and effects devices have found their way into people’s living rooms as well as into professional studios.

Today, surrounds sound is an integral part of home theater and has also made its appearance in the automobile. Multichannel audio is used in the digital television broadcast, gaming gadgets, and in the Internet (through streaming codecs). High definition formats (like SA – CD Multichannel and DVD – Audio) enable the surround sound producer to allocate content without clipping and sonic compromise. This makes their advent one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of the sound production.

Essential glossary

• aimed at – нацеленный на

• allocation – расположение, расстановка

• source – источник

• ambience – окружение, обстановка, среда

• suitable – подходящий, соответствующий

• application – приложение, (прикладная) система

• proliferation – распространение

• employment – использование

• commonplace – привычное явление, обычное дело

• gradually – постепенно

• to encode – кодировать, шифровать

• nascent – рождающийся, в стадии возникновения, появляющийся

• supplementary – дополнительный, добавочный

• medium (pl. media) – носитель

• a variety of – разнообразие

• integral part – (неотъемлемая) составляющая

• codec – кодек (компрессор-декомпрессор) данных

• high definition format – формат с высоким разрешением

• allocate – размещать, распределять

• content – содержание

• clipping – ограничение (сигнала), отсечение

5. Scan the article and use the words in brackets to complete the statements.

1) The document «Recommendation for Multichannel Stereophonic Sound System With and Without Accompanying Picture» was issued in 1994 as a result of the… conducted by the ITU.

2) The 1990s are characterized by development and proliferation of…

3) In the 1990s, at least three main film digital surround sound encoding formats arrived on the scene: …, Dolby R Digital TM (technically called «AC-3»), and DTS TM.

4) The DVD, which appeared in the mid – 1990s, provided the mass public with a… bringing surround sound right into their homes.

5) Today, high definition formats enable the surround sound producer to allocate content without clipping and…

(digital audio systems, Sony SDDSTM, sonic compromise, research, medium)

6. Read the article in detail to find the answers to the questions below.

1) What was the purpose of the ITU research done in the 1990s?

2) Why may the ITU recommendation not be ideal for many music applications?

3) What was one of the main characteristics of the 1990s regarding the sound production technologies?

4) What was the focus in the exploration into surround sound throughout the 1990s?

5) What event served as a springboard to a newly – born industry called home theater?

6) What fact may be considered as one of the most important achievements proving that surround sound has finally come of age?

7. Find the English equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text.

Отвечающий, ответственный за; проводить научное исследование; главным образом; исходный материал; идеально подходящий; одинаково важные; использование цифрового аудио; по меньшей мере; появились на свет; способность нести закодированный объёмный звук; цифровое телевизионное вещание; их появление; одно из самых значительных достижений.

Grammar revision: comparative and superlative adjectives

The comparative form of adjectives is —er or more… The superlative form is —est or the most

We use —er and —est for one-syllable words (short adjectives).

High-higher-the highest, cheap-cheaper-the cheapest

We use more… and the most… for longer adjectives.

Difficult-more difficult-the most difficult, expensive-more expensive-the most expensive

Some words are irregular: good-better-the best, bad-worse-the worst, and others.

8. Use the adjectives given below in the comparative and superlative degrees. Mind the grammar rules. Some of the words are irregular.

Example: suitable – more suitable – the most suitable

Important, long, successful, little, high, good, remarkable, far, modern, popular, significant, short, meaningful, advanced.

Present continuous and present perfect (simple).

The present continuous is be + verb + ing (am/is/are + verb + ing)

We use the present continuous tense.

1) To talk about an action that is happening at the moment of speaking

Don’t enter the studio. They are recording a song at the moment.

2) To describe a temporary situation

The engineers are working at the new audio scheme this month.

3) To talk about changes occurring around now

The role of this digital audio arrangement in recording studios all over the world is getting more and more important.

4) When we are irritated (with always)

He is always listening to loud music in the evenings.

5) When we talk about arrangements and plans

They are trying out the new device tomorrow.

The present perfect simple is have + past participle.

We use the present perfect tense.

1) To talk about actions and states that started in the past and continue up to the present

He has been a sound engineer for ten years.

2) When we see the result of a past action now

Look! They’ve left a terrible mess in the laboratory.

3) When we talk about repeated actions in the past continuing in the present

The company has taken part in every exhibition so far.

4) To talk about our life experience

I have never visited Disney Land.

5) To say how many times we have done something.

That is the second time they’ve won the award.

6) With superlatives

This is the worst film I have ever seen.

Note that we often use these adverbs with the present perfect: yet, since, ever since, already, ever, never, still, before, this morning, this week, this month, this year.

9. In the following sentences, change the present continuous to the present perfect. Translate the sentences into Russian.

Example:

The scientists are conducting research to determine optimum speaker placement.

The scientists have conducted research to determine optimum speaker placement.

1) In the experiment, the researchers are describing the component as «effects» or «ambience» part only.

2) Gradually, manufacturers are accepting this recommendation as a de facto industry standard.

3) Usage of this audio digital format is becoming a commonplace.

4) Some of these technological advances are obviously maturing into meaningful improvements.

5) The laboratory engineers are making a focus on incorporating the invention into the digital audio systems.

6) The new generation audio systems are growing in number successfully.

7) Modern surround sound tools are certainly whetting the consumer’s appetite for adding extra units to their home listening environments.

8) The new device is also finding its way into gaming consoles.

Vocabulary work

10. Write a list of key words for text 3. Compare your list with the classmates’ key words. Use them in your own sentences.

TALKING AND DISCUSSING POINT

11. Explain these words and expressions from the text. Paraphrase them; give synonyms or/and antonyms to them where possible.

Conduct research, industry standard, equally important, proliferation of digital audio systems, become a commonplace, gradually, nascent industry, whet appetite, professional studio, integral part, enable.

12. Write a list of five questions to the text. Exchange your list with your classmate and answer their questions.

13. Think of a plan to the article. Make a summary of the article according to your plan.

14. What information about audio systems today would you add to the article?

15. Talk to your classmate. Express your attitude to the following quotation:

Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.

Christian Lous Lange

Report your idea to the class. Discuss, compare and contrast your points of view.

WRITING

16. You want to enter a short story competition. The rules say that your story must start or end with the words: «There is music everywhere…» The story should contain 120—180 words (FCE Writing).

17. Make a report, do an electronic presentation or a project on one of the topics:

– The International Telecommunications Union

– Development and usage of digital audio systems

– High Definition Television (HDTV)

– Home theater (home cinema). History and later development

– DVD format