Vocab 2 Flashcards
Attack
The first part of a sound envelope consisting of the amount of time it takes the sound to reach its peak volume from the time the key is pressed.
MIDI
An acronym for “Musical Instrument Digital Interface”. A protocol that allows the transfer and manipulation of musical data parameters among different capable devices. Some of these parameters include: velocity, pitch, tempo, panning, vibrato, and many more.
MIDI controller
Hardware that can send and manipulate MIDI parameters of a performance by means of a physical key, knobs, sliders, and other input methods.
ADC
Analog to Digital Converter
Audio Interface
Hardware that converts a signal from analog to digital and digital to analog and transfers this digital information between a computer and the analog endpoint(s).
Bounce
In digital, a verb meaning to combine audio from different tracks into one.
Bit
A bit is the basic unit of information in computing and digital communications. A bit can have only one of two values, and may therefore be physically implemented with a two-state device. These values are most commonly represented as either a 0 or 1.
Bit Depth
A certain value for describing the resolution of the sound data (samples) that is to be captured and stored in an audio file.
Bit Rate
- In digital audio, a synonym for bit depth.
2. Describes the rate of data transfer.
Codec
A computer program implementing an algorithm that compresses and decompresses digital audio data according to a given audio file or streaming media audio coding format.
DAC
Digital to Analog Converter
Decay
How quickly the sound drops to the sustain level after the initial peak.
Delay
An audio effect which records an input signal to an audio storage medium, and then plays it back after a period of time. The delayed signal may either be played back multiple times, or played back into the recording again, to create the sound of a repeating, decaying echo.
Dither
An intentionally applied form of noise used to randomize quantization error, preventing large-scale patterns such as color banding in images. Dither is routinely used in processing of both digital audio and video data, and is often one of the last stage of “mastering” audio to a CD.
Envelope
This is made up of the attack, decay, sustain, and release of a sound. Especially in electronic sound design and synthesis.
LFO
Low frequency oscillator.
Oscillator
In synthesizer, oscillators produce the original sound, which is then fed through the rest of the signal path.
Pop Filter
They reduce or eliminate sounds caused by the mechanical impact of fast moving air on the microphone during recorded speech and singing.
Phantom Power
A means of distributing a DC current through audio cables to provide power for microphones and other equipment. The supplied voltage is usually between 12 and 48 Volts, with 48V being the most common.
Release
The time it takes for a sound to fade after the key or input device is released. It is part of the sound envelope.
Sample Rate
The number of samples of a sound that are taken per second to represent the event digitally.
Signal Processing
The intentional alteration of auditory signals, or sound often through an audio effect or effects unit. As audio signal may be electronically represented in either digital or analog format, signal processing may occur in either.
SM-57
A popular dynamic microphone made by Shure commonly used to record or reinforce loud instrumental sources like guitar amps and drums.
SM-58
A popular dynamic microphone made by Shure commonly used for vocals because of the included pop filter.
Sustain
The part of a sound envelope that begins when the attack and decay portions have run their course, and continues until the key is released. The sustain control is used to determine the level at which the envelope will remain. While the attack, decay, and release controls are rate or time controls, the sustain control is a level control.
Synthesizer
An electronic musical instrument, typically operated by a keyboard, producing a wide variety of sounds by generating and combining signals of different frequencies.
Track
An audio signal communications channel in a storage device.
Tremelo
A wavering effect in a musical tone, typically produced by rapid reiteration of a note.
TRS cable
TRS cables have two conductors plus a ground (shield). They are commonly used to connect balanced equipment.
XLR cable
A style of electrical connector, primarily found on professional audio, video, and stage lighting equipment. The connectors are circular in design and have between 3 and 7 pins. They are most commonly associated with balanced audio interconnection.
