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CER Certified Electronic Reporter study materials
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CER Certified Electronic Reporter practice questions

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Question 1Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Which file format typically stores uncompressed PCM audio, making it a common choice for archival recordings?

  1. OGG Vorbis
  2. WAV Correct answer.
  3. AAC
  4. MP3

Explanation

WAV is a container that normally holds uncompressed linear PCM audio, so no audio data is discarded. MP3, AAC, and OGG Vorbis are perceptual codecs that reduce file size by permanently discarding information.

Question 2Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

In digital audio, the sample rate specifies:

  1. the total file size of the recording in bytes
  2. the loudest signal level captured before distortion occurs
  3. how many samples are captured each second Correct answer.
  4. the total number of channels recorded simultaneously

Explanation

Sample rate is the number of measurements of the analog waveform taken each second, expressed in hertz. Channel count, headroom, and file size are separate properties governed by other settings.

Question 3Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

A small microphone clipped to a speaker's lapel or clothing is called a:

  1. shotgun microphone
  2. lavalier microphone Correct answer.
  3. parabolic microphone
  4. boundary microphone

Explanation

A lavalier is a miniature microphone designed to be worn on the body, keeping the capsule at a consistent short distance from the speaker's mouth. The other types are mounted on stands, surfaces, or dishes.

Question 4Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Which practice best protects against losing a recording if the primary recorder fails?

  1. Using a second independent recorder Correct answer.
  2. Converting the audio to a lossy format
  3. Saving the file only to the system drive
  4. Recording at a reduced sample rate

Explanation

Redundancy means capturing the same event on a separate device and storage path, so a single hardware or drive failure does not destroy the record. Changing sample rate or format affects quality and size but provides no fault tolerance.

Question 5Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Time-stamping in a digital reporting system is used primarily to:

  1. increase the microphone gain during quiet speech
  2. reduce the file size of the audio recording
  3. link recorded audio to positions in the transcript Correct answer.
  4. convert the audio to a text transcript automatically

Explanation

Timestamps mark positions in the audio file so the reporter or a reviewer can jump directly from a transcript line to the corresponding audio. They do not compress audio or generate text.

Question 6Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Computer-aided transcription (CAT) software is used by a reporter primarily to:

  1. translate steno strokes into written text Correct answer.
  2. compress audio into a smaller file format
  3. test microphone levels before a hearing
  4. clean and filter background noise in audio files

Explanation

CAT software applies the reporter's personal dictionary to the stroke codes sent by the stenotype machine and produces formatted text. Audio noise reduction, file compression, and level metering belong to the recording chain instead.

Question 7Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

On a standard stenotype machine, the bar running across the top of the keyboard is the:

  1. function bar
  2. asterisk key
  3. number bar Correct answer.
  4. vowel key row

Explanation

The number bar spans the top of the keyboard; pressing it together with a letter key produces the corresponding digit. Vowels occupy the center rows and the asterisk is a single central key.

Question 8Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Which of the following is a lossy audio format?

  1. FLAC
  2. AIFF
  3. WAV
  4. MP3 Correct answer.

Explanation

MP3 uses perceptual coding that removes audio information judged inaudible, so it is lossy. WAV and AIFF normally hold uncompressed PCM, and FLAC compresses without discarding data.

Question 9Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Many professional digital reporting systems record at 48 kHz. Compared with 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz:

  1. captures more samples per second of audio Correct answer.
  2. removes the need for timestamping
  3. eliminates the need for a backup recorder
  4. improves the accuracy of stenotype translation

Explanation

A higher sample rate captures more measurements per second, giving greater bandwidth above the audible range and cleaner resampling when audio is combined with video. It has no effect on steno translation or redundancy.

Question 10Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Increasing bit depth from 16-bit to 24-bit primarily:

  1. reduces the file size of the recording
  2. increases dynamic range and lowers noise floor Correct answer.
  3. raises the maximum supported sample rate
  4. doubles the number of available audio channels

Explanation

Each additional bit adds roughly 6 dB of dynamic range, so 24-bit capture has far more headroom and a lower quantization noise floor than 16-bit. Channel count and sample rate are independent settings.

Question 11Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

A microphone with a cardioid polar pattern is most sensitive to sound:

  1. arriving equally from all directions
  2. arriving only from the left and right sides
  3. arriving from directly behind the capsule
  4. arriving from directly in front of the capsule Correct answer.

Explanation

Cardioid means heart-shaped: strong pickup at the front, reduced sensitivity at the sides, and a null at the rear. This helps reject room noise and talk from behind the microphone.

Question 12Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Phantom power is typically supplied at:

  1. +48 volts DC Correct answer.
  2. +12 volts AC
  3. +5 volts DC
  4. -9 volts DC

Explanation

The widely standardized phantom supply is +48 volts DC delivered equally on pins 2 and 3 of an XLR connector relative to pin 1. It powers the internal circuitry of condenser microphones.

Question 13Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

A digital reporter records a proceeding to a local hard drive while also streaming the audio to a remote location. In this setup the local file serves as:

  1. a redundant timestamp source
  2. the primary archival record Correct answer.
  3. a lossy backup stream
  4. an unformatted buffer

Explanation

The locally written file is the full-quality original retained for the record and for later transcript synchronization. The stream is a secondary convenience copy whose quality depends on the network.

Question 14Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Which practice helps establish that an audio file has not been altered since it was recorded?

  1. Computing a cryptographic hash of the file Correct answer.
  2. Converting the file to MP3
  3. Storing the file on a network share
  4. Renaming the file with the proceeding date

Explanation

A hash produces a fixed-length value that changes if even one bit of the file changes, so a later recomputation can confirm integrity. Filenames and storage locations carry no such guarantee.

Question 15Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

A reporter should verify recording levels before a proceeding mainly to:

  1. synchronize the clock with the court's network
  2. confirm the stenotype machine is charged
  3. reduce the file size of the audio
  4. avoid clipping and excessively low levels Correct answer.

Explanation

Level setting balances the risk of overload distortion at the top against a poor signal-to-noise ratio at the bottom. It does not affect timing, device charging, or file size.

Question 16Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Automatic gain control (AGC) is generally avoided in evidentiary recording because it:

  1. converts audio into a lossy format
  2. alters levels and can mask relative loudness Correct answer.
  3. increases the sample rate automatically
  4. requires phantom power to operate

Explanation

AGC continuously adjusts gain, so a whisper and a shout may end up at similar recorded levels, destroying meaningful differences in loudness and adding pumping artifacts. A fixed, properly set gain preserves the original dynamics.

Question 17Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

The conflict check in CAT software is used to:

  1. flag a stroke mapped to two different translations Correct answer.
  2. verify the recorder's remaining battery
  3. compare recordings for timing drift
  4. detect background noise in the audio file

Explanation

A conflict occurs when the same steno stroke or brief appears in the dictionary with two different outputs, which causes unpredictable translation. The check lists those entries so the reporter can resolve them.

Question 18Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

When a CAT system links audio to a transcript, the link is normally created from:

  1. the steno stroke index or timestamp Correct answer.
  2. the file's creation date
  3. the microphone's serial number
  4. the speaker's voiceprint

Explanation

Each written segment carries a stroke number or time offset recorded while the audio was captured, and that marker is what lets the software play the matching audio. Device identifiers and file dates are far too coarse.

Question 19Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

A reporter using a laptop-based recording system should disable automatic operating-system updates during a proceeding because:

  1. updates disable the stenotype connection
  2. updates lower the audio sample rate
  3. updates convert WAV files to MP3
  4. a restart can interrupt or stop the recording Correct answer.

Explanation

An unattended update can force a reboot or stall the machine mid-proceeding, terminating the recording and risking loss of the record. Sample rate, file format, and peripheral connections are not changed by routine updates.

Question 20Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is recommended for a digital reporting setup because it:

  1. improves the microphone's signal-to-noise ratio
  2. raises the bit depth of the recording
  3. synchronizes audio with the transcript
  4. provides battery power during a brief outage Correct answer.

Explanation

A UPS keeps the recorder and computer running long enough to ride out a short power interruption or shut down safely, protecting the file from corruption. It has no audio-quality or synchronization function.

Question 21Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

A recording whose waveform is flat-topped at 0 dBFS and sounds harsh has experienced:

  1. dithering, which adds warmth
  2. clipping, which cannot be undone Correct answer.
  3. compression, which preserves peaks
  4. aliasing, which raises pitch

Explanation

Once the signal exceeds the maximum digital level, the converter truncates the peaks, creating harmonic distortion that no later processing can restore. Preventative gain staging is the only remedy.

Question 22Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Two recorders set to the same nominal sample rate capture a two-hour proceeding, and their tracks gradually drift about a second apart when aligned at the start. The most likely cause is:

  1. insufficient bit depth on one device
  2. lossy compression applied to both files
  3. clock drift between the two devices Correct answer.
  4. an incorrect microphone polar pattern

Explanation

Each device runs on its own crystal clock, and tiny differences in actual rate accumulate over long durations, so the tracks separate progressively. Bit depth affects noise, and polar pattern affects pickup, but neither changes timing.

Question 23Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

A reporter records audio while a separate system records video of the same proceeding. To keep the two aligned for the full duration, the most robust approach is to:

  1. use a shared timecode or sync reference Correct answer.
  2. convert both files to MP3 after the proceeding
  3. record both signals at 44.1 kHz
  4. start both recordings at the same wall-clock time only

Explanation

A common timecode or sync reference stamps each frame and sample with the same clock, so drift cannot accumulate between devices. Matching start times alone leaves independent clocks free to separate over hours.

Question 24Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Which statement about lossy compression in evidentiary audio is most accurate?

  1. Data is discarded permanently; keep a lossless copy Correct answer.
  2. It preserves every original sample, so it is archival
  3. It is fully reversible with the correct decoder
  4. It increases file size but improves reliability

Explanation

Perceptual codecs permanently remove information, so the original cannot be reconstructed even with the matching decoder. A lossless or uncompressed master should be preserved for the record.

Question 25Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

A digital reporting system produces an automatic speech-recognition draft transcript, but a reporter must still verify the record because ASR output:

  1. reduces the sample rate of the audio
  2. cannot resolve overlapping or indistinct speech Correct answer.
  3. requires lossy compression of the audio
  4. alters the audio timestamp metadata

Explanation

Recognition engines struggle when speakers overlap, voices are faint, or terminology is unusual, and they produce no reliable attribution in those conditions. The reporter confirms accuracy and speaker identification against the audio.

Question 26Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

The sample rate of a digital recording system is measured in:

  1. hertz, that is, samples captured per second Correct answer.
  2. bits, that is, the number of levels available per sample
  3. bytes per second, that is, the rate at which data is stored
  4. decibels, that is, loudness relative to full scale

Explanation

Sample rate is the number of discrete amplitude measurements a converter takes each second, stated in hertz; a setting of 48 kHz means 48,000 samples per second. It is a measure of how often the signal is sampled in time, not of level or resolution.

Question 27Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

A digital recording that reaches 0 dBFS has:

  1. been compressed so that peaks are removed
  2. reached the quietest level the converter can represent
  3. been normalized to the broadcast loudness target
  4. reached the ceiling of the digital scale Correct answer.

Explanation

0 dBFS is the maximum level a digital converter can represent; there is no digital value above it, so any attempt to record louder is clipped. Peak meters are read against this ceiling, which is why headroom is left below it.

Question 28Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Professional microphones used in courtroom recording systems most often terminate in which connector?

  1. RCA phono plug
  2. 1/4-inch TS phone plug
  3. 3.5 mm TRS mini plug
  4. XLR Correct answer.

Explanation

XLR is the standard balanced three-pin connector for professional microphones, providing shielding, a locking latch, and a conductor for phantom power. The other connectors are consumer or instrument types and do not offer the same balanced, locking connection.

Question 29Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Which file type normally stores audio as uncompressed linear PCM?

  1. WAV Correct answer.
  2. AAC
  3. OGG Vorbis
  4. MP3

Explanation

WAV is a container that ordinarily holds uncompressed linear PCM samples, which is why it is preferred for archival and evidentiary copies. The other formats apply perceptual compression that discards audio information.

Question 30Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Why do digital reporters run a second, independent recording device during a proceeding?

  1. To convert the audio into a smaller delivery format
  2. To raise the overall recording level of the system
  3. To remove background noise from the primary file
  4. To provide a backup copy of each session Correct answer.

Explanation

A second recorder writing to separate media produces an independent copy, so a device failure, power loss, or corrupted file does not destroy the only record of the proceeding. It does not change the quality of the primary recording.

Question 31Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

A transcription foot pedal lets the reporter:

  1. compress the file before export
  2. assign speaker labels to tracks
  3. adjust microphone gain while recording
  4. control playback hands-free Correct answer.

Explanation

The pedal maps to transport functions such as play, pause, and rewind so the reporter can keep both hands on the stenotype or keyboard while reviewing audio. Gain, labeling, and export are handled in software, not by the pedal.

Question 32Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

A reporter names a recording file '2024-05-13_Smith_v_Doe_Day2.wav'. The main purpose of this naming is to:

  1. reduce the storage space the file uses
  2. prevent the file from being altered
  3. improve the audio quality on playback
  4. make the file easy to identify later Correct answer.

Explanation

A descriptive, date-first file name lets the reporter, transcriber, or attorney locate the correct session quickly and avoids confusion when many files are archived together. Naming has no effect on file size, fidelity, or integrity.

Question 33Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

To reduce pickup of keyboard clicks and computer fan noise, a reporter should:

  1. aim the mic at the speakers, away from the equipment Correct answer.
  2. record at a lower sample rate so that noise is filtered out
  3. raise the input gain and turn on AGC
  4. move the microphone closer to the computer vent

Explanation

Directional placement and distance are the primary tools for rejecting unwanted sound: pointing the element at the voices and away from the equipment reduces the relative level of mechanical noise. Electronic settings such as gain or sample rate do not discriminate between speech and noise.

Question 34Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

For a quiet hearing room with several soft-spoken people around one table, the best single choice is a:

  1. contact mic taped to the table surface
  2. shotgun mic aimed at the far end of the room
  3. dynamic mic held close to the nearest speaker's mouth
  4. condenser mic in omni mode at the table center Correct answer.

Explanation

A condenser is more sensitive than a dynamic microphone, and an omnidirectional pattern picks up all speakers around the table evenly without favoring one position. Placement at the table center keeps every voice at a similar distance.

Question 35Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Long microphone cable runs in a courthouse are made with balanced connections because balanced lines:

  1. carry phantom power further than unbalanced lines
  2. allow consumer 3.5 mm jacks to be used
  3. reject interference picked up along the cable Correct answer.
  4. increase the output level of the microphone

Explanation

A balanced line carries the signal on two conductors with opposite polarity, and the receiving input subtracts them, so noise induced equally on both conductors cancels. This is what allows long runs in electrically noisy buildings.

Question 36Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

During a hearing a reporter monitors with closed headphones rather than desk speakers mainly because speakers:

  1. need more power than the headphone output supplies
  2. cannot reproduce speech frequencies accurately
  3. block the reporter from hearing the room
  4. can be picked up by the microphone and re-recorded Correct answer.

Explanation

Loudspeakers radiate sound back into the room, and open microphones will capture it, adding a delayed copy of the audio or causing feedback. Headphones let the reporter hear the recording without feeding it back into the microphones.

Question 37Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

To leave headroom for sudden loud voices, input gain is normally set so ordinary speech peaks:

  1. near -30 dBFS
  2. near -3 dBFS
  3. at 0 dBFS
  4. around -12 to -18 dBFS Correct answer.

Explanation

Targeting peaks well below the ceiling leaves room for laughter, a raised voice, or a dropped object without clipping, while still keeping the signal far above the noise floor. Peaks at 0 dBFS clip on any surprise; peaks at -30 dBFS waste resolution.

Question 38Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Why is voice-activated (VOX) recording risky for evidentiary audio?

  1. It can miss quiet speech and word onsets Correct answer.
  2. It removes low frequencies from the recording
  3. It works only with condenser microphones
  4. It clips the first syllable of every word

Explanation

VOX starts and stops the file based on a level threshold, so soft testimony, pauses before speech, and quiet off-mic comments can be omitted entirely and unrecoverably. A continuous recording is preferred because the record then shows nothing was skipped.

Question 39Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

How much data does a two-channel, 24-bit, 48 kHz uncompressed linear PCM recording create each second?

  1. about 576 kB
  2. about 96 kB
  3. about 1.15 MB
  4. about 288 kB Correct answer.

Explanation

Each sample uses three bytes, so the rate is 48,000 samples x 3 bytes x 2 channels = 288,000 bytes per second, roughly 288 kB. This figure is the basis for estimating storage needs for a multi-hour proceeding.

Question 40Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

When each participant has a dedicated microphone recorded to its own track, the main benefit at transcription time is that:

  1. the total file size is smaller than a single mixed track
  2. the software transcribes the audio automatically
  3. a backup recording is no longer needed
  4. a quiet speaker can be isolated and boosted Correct answer.

Explanation

Separate tracks let the reporter or transcriber raise one speaker's level, or mute a cough or side conversation, without affecting anyone else. Independent tracks cost more storage, not less, and do not remove the need for a backup.

Question 41Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Recordings of a sealed proceeding kept on a laptop are best protected by:

  1. renaming the files with random characters
  2. converting them to MP3 to reduce exposure
  3. encrypting the files and separating the keys Correct answer.
  4. storing them beside the public exhibits folder

Explanation

Encryption renders the files unreadable without the key, and keeping the key apart from the laptop means a stolen machine does not expose the sealed record. Obscure names or lossy conversion provide no meaningful confidentiality.

Question 42Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

At the end of a session, the most reliable check that the recording is usable is to:

  1. check that the recorder clock shows the right time
  2. note the file size in the reporter's log
  3. play back a portion of the file and listen Correct answer.
  4. confirm the file name matches the case caption

Explanation

Only listening confirms that the file opens and actually contains intelligible audio; meters, names, and file sizes can look correct while a cable, gain setting, or storage problem ruined the capture. A spot check at the earliest opportunity allows the problem to be fixed while the proceeding is still under way.

Question 43Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

An attorney asks for a copy of the audio to review on a phone. The best practice is to:

  1. send only a heavily compressed copy to keep it small
  2. resample to 8 kHz so speech sounds clearer
  3. convert the audio to a video file for compatibility
  4. supply the original file plus a compressed copy Correct answer.

Explanation

The original lossless file preserves the evidentiary record exactly, while a compressed copy is a convenience for playback devices. Sending only a derivative would leave the attorney with no faithful copy of what was captured.

Question 44Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

A recording made in a room with bare walls sounds echoey. The most practical correction is to:

  1. move the mic closer and add soft furnishings Correct answer.
  2. switch on AGC and raise the recording level
  3. lower the sample rate to reduce reverberation
  4. increase the input gain until the echo is masked

Explanation

Reverberation is a property of the room, so the fix is acoustic: shortening the distance to the source makes direct sound dominate the reflections, and soft surfaces absorb reflections. Electronic settings cannot separate direct sound from reverberant sound.

Question 45Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Recording straight to a network share is discouraged mainly because:

  1. files on a share are always re-encoded on save
  2. a dropped connection can halt the capture Correct answer.
  3. network shares cannot hold large audio files
  4. a share forces the recorder into 16-bit mode

Explanation

Writing to a remote volume makes the capture dependent on continuous network availability; a brief outage or a sleeping server interrupts the stream and can leave an unusable file. Recording locally and copying afterward keeps the recording independent of the network.

Question 46Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

A recorder is set to a low sample rate and captures speech containing energy above half that rate. That high-frequency energy is:

  1. converted into added bit depth at the low end
  2. shifted upward to a higher band outside hearing
  3. simply removed, leaving the remaining audio intact
  4. folded back into the band as aliasing distortion Correct answer.

Explanation

Half the sample rate is the Nyquist frequency, and content above it is not cleanly discarded; it is mirrored, or folded, down into lower frequencies where it appears as inharmonic distortion. This is why anti-aliasing filters precede the converter and why adequate sample rates matter.

Question 47Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

A witness appears by telephone and must also hear the courtroom. Sending the room microphones to the phone line without returning the caller's own voice is achieved with:

  1. a mix-minus feed Correct answer.
  2. a high-pass filter on the room mics
  3. a compressor on the telephone channel
  4. a second, independent telephone line

Explanation

A mix-minus feed sends the caller everything except the caller's own return signal, so the caller hears the room without hearing a delayed copy of themselves. Without it, the caller hears an echo of their own voice and tends to talk over it.

Question 48Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Two microphones are placed several feet apart and both pick up the same speaker. When the tracks are mixed, the result can sound thin because:

  1. the two preamps begin to act as one compressor
  2. both microphones reach the dBFS ceiling sooner
  3. some frequencies cancel through comb filtering Correct answer.
  4. the two recorders' clocks slowly drift apart

Explanation

Sound reaches the two microphones at slightly different times, so the same frequency can arrive in phase at one microphone and out of phase at the other; summing the tracks then cancels certain frequencies. The classic fix is the 3-to-1 distance rule or recording the microphones to separate tracks.

Question 49Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

In a setup where several digital devices exchange audio, one device must serve as the word clock master so that:

  1. the loudest device sets the overall gain
  2. phantom power is distributed to all microphones
  3. each device can run at its own sample rate
  4. all converters sample at the same instants Correct answer.

Explanation

A word clock defines precisely when each sample is taken, so a single master keeps every converter's sampling instants aligned. Without a common reference, devices drift apart and transfers produce clicks, pops, or dropouts.

Question 50Digital Reporting Equipment, Software, and Recording Practice

Recordings are written to a mirrored pair of drives. This protects against:

  1. neither, since mirroring only speeds up the drive
  2. both drive failure and accidental deletion
  3. deletion or corruption, but not drive failure
  4. one drive failing, but not deletion or corruption Correct answer.

Explanation

Mirroring writes identical data to both drives, so the failure of either one leaves a complete copy. Because the copy is identical and immediate, a deleted or corrupted file is reproduced on both drives at once, so versioned backups are still necessary.