Keywords - Q-R-S Flashcards
Quantisation
In a MIDI sequencer, quantisation pulls notes towards a beat or other rhythmic division. This can be full or partial (so as not to sound too robotic) and can even follow a pattern or ‘groove’.
Reverberation (reverb)
An effect added to a signal which imitates the reflections of a sound from the space around it (e.g. a stage, room or cathedral). Most commonly used in mixing to bind tracks together and to control apparent front to back placement of the instruments.
Roll-off
A filter used to cut low or high frequencies. For example, some microphones have a roll-off switch to cut all signals below a certain frequency (e.g. 75 Hz) to reduce noise or ‘rumble’. Named after the shape of the frequency response chart at the point where it ‘rolls off’.
Sample/sample rate
- The process of converting an analog audio signal to digital data - one sample is the smallest section of audio that is analysed. Sample rate refers to the number of samples per second. In CD quality audio the sample rate is 44,100 Hz
- Recording an individual sound or a short section of some music.
Sequencer
A sequencer records and stores a series of MIDI messages and then players them back to control an instrument. Both the instrument and the sequencer can be software or hardware.
Signal/audio signal
A flow of electrical current that represents a sound as it passed through audio equipment.
Sound module
A MIDI instrument that is played by a sequencer but does not have a keyboard and cannot be played directly.
Sound Pressure Level (SPL)
Very loud sounds produce high levels of air pressure and can damage equipment and hearing. For example, a sensitive microphone could be damaged by the high SPL from a kick drum.
Stereo
An abbreviation of ‘stereophonic’. A sound reproduction technique using two loudspeakers to create the effect of left and right placement of individual sounds.
Synthesiser
An electronic instrument used to imitate the sounds of real instruments or to create new timbres.
