A/D - (Analog to Digital Converter) A device that converts analog signals into digital data.
Attack - The time period between a note being struck, and reaching it's maximum decibel level.
Attenuate - To reduce the level of a signal.
Bandpass Filter - A filter that allows a range (band) of frequencies to pass through but stops or at least attenuates any frequencies above or below this range.
Bus - One of the main outputs of a mixer which may be connected to one of the inputs of an amplifier or signal processor, for instance.
Buzz - Audio noise created by harmonics at 60 Hertz (the frequency of AC electricity).
Balanced Line - An audio cable usually associated with a three pin "XLR" mic cable and connector.
Bidirectional - Typically applies to microphones which are sensitive to sound coming from the front and rear, but not the sides.
Chorus - A delay effect that somewhat simulates a vocal chorus.
Compression - Modifying sound in such a way that the difference between highest and lowest levels of the sound is reduced.
D/A or DAC - (Digital to Analog Converter) A device that converts digital data into an analog signals.
DAW - (Digital Audio Workstation) A computer with analog and digital converters plus software to record, edit, mix, process and play digital audio.
Decibel - Measure of sound pressure level known (db).
Detent - Typically, a stop or catch in a control knob.
DSP - (Digital Signal Processing) The process of modifying audio digitally, also refers to computer software audio processing or to the computer chips which perform the processing.
Echo - The reflected sound that arrives at the listener's ears later than the direct sound.
Editing - Modifying a recorded sound track by adding, deleting or moving part(s), adding effects, etc.
Reverb - Reflected sound in which the rate of arriving reflections changes (degrades) over time.
Delay - An effect in which sounds are repeated at regular intervals, thus producing an echo-like effect.
Effects return - The path where a signal from a processing device enters a mixer.
Dry Signal - An unprocessed audio signal.
Equalizer - A processing device which alters the frequency response of an audio signal.
Expansion - A signal modification in which lower level signals are reduced and higher level signals are increased.
Fader - A sliding control which may increase or attenuate the gain of a signal.
Fade-In / Fade-Out - Gradually increasing or decreasing the level of a signal.
Final Mix - The product of mixing a multitrack recording down into a (typically) two channel stereo recording.
Flanger - Combines a signal with a slightly delayed form of itself providing an unusual, other-worldy, swishing effect.
Frequency response - Difference between the lowest and highest frequencies that are capable of being produced by a piece of audio equipment.
Gain - The level of amplification of a particular signal.
Harmonic Distortion - An output signal containing harmonics that weren't present in the signal going into an audio device.
Hertz - Frequency or Cycles per second.
Highpass Filter - A filter that allows frequencies above a certain point to pass through but attenuates frequencies below that point.
Lowpass Filter - A filter that allows frequencies below a certain point to pass through but attenuates frequencies above that point.
Master - The final mix of multiple recorded audio tracks.
MIDI - (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) A standard which allows electronic musical instruments such as synthesizer keyboards and drum machines to be connected to other MIDI devices and computers.
Mixing - Combining multiple, independent audio signals or tracks, so that the result is fewer tracks.
Multitrack Recording - The recording and processing of multiple audio tracks, at the same or different times, which are then typically mixed down into a stereo track.
Omnidirectional - Typically applies to microphones which pick up sound equally from any direction.
Overdub - The process of layering new tracks over previously recorded tracks. A component of multitrack recording.
Phantom Power - a DC power supply (usually +48v) designed for use with condenser microphones. The name "phantom" denotes the fact that the power travels through the same cable as the audio signal.
Pitch-shift - Raising or lowering the pitch or frequency of an audio signal, without changing the tempo.
Punch in - The re-recording of a specific segment of a track, without changing the rest of the track.
Reverberation - Sound that has gradually decayed due to multiple echos reflecting from numerous surfaces in an acoustic environment.
Recording - Capturing a sound signal onto an appropriate storage media such as tape, cd or hard disk.
Synthesizer - Electronic musical instrument, usually a keyboard, capable of producing many different types of sounds.
Trim - Controls the level of input on a mixing desk.
Unidirectional - Typically applies to microphones which are sensitive to sound coming from a single direction.
Velocity - A term used to denote the speed or force with which a note has been struck.
Wet signal - An audio signal which has been processed using some type of effects.
XLR Connector - (X-tended Locking Round) A common, three pin balanced connecter, commonly used on microphone and audio cables.
Common Audio File Formats
AIFF - Audio Interchange File Format
A format for storing digital audio in a computer file. (commonly used on the Macintosh)
AU - Audio (Unix Audio) File Format
This is the standard format used by Unix and Sun.
CDA - CD Audio Track
CDA file is actually a misnomer. It is really a simple pointer to digital audio information stored on a music CD.
MID - MIDI Music File
Not a true audio file. MID files are the product of MIDI music instruments.
MP3 - MPEG Layer-3 File Format
By far the most popular format for downloading and storing music. MP3 files are compressed by eliminating inaudible parts of the audio file, yet audio quality remains quite good.
OGG - A patent free, open source format that supports a number of codecs. The highly compressed format Vorbis is the most popular of these, thus the name OGG Vorbis. Not a highly supported format.
RA - Real Audio Format
Real Networks file designed for streaming audio over the Internet.
WAV - Digital Audio File Format
Highly popular Microsoft file format for storing digital audio data on a computer. WAV files are the preferred format for PC (Windows) computers. These files are quite large but are very clean.
WMA - Windows Media Audio File Format
A Microsoft proprietary format for storing digital audio data on a computer. WMA files use compression in order to create a smaller file size.
Attack - The time period between a note being struck, and reaching it's maximum decibel level.
Attenuate - To reduce the level of a signal.
Bandpass Filter - A filter that allows a range (band) of frequencies to pass through but stops or at least attenuates any frequencies above or below this range.
Bus - One of the main outputs of a mixer which may be connected to one of the inputs of an amplifier or signal processor, for instance.
Buzz - Audio noise created by harmonics at 60 Hertz (the frequency of AC electricity).
Balanced Line - An audio cable usually associated with a three pin "XLR" mic cable and connector.
Bidirectional - Typically applies to microphones which are sensitive to sound coming from the front and rear, but not the sides.
Chorus - A delay effect that somewhat simulates a vocal chorus.
Compression - Modifying sound in such a way that the difference between highest and lowest levels of the sound is reduced.
D/A or DAC - (Digital to Analog Converter) A device that converts digital data into an analog signals.
DAW - (Digital Audio Workstation) A computer with analog and digital converters plus software to record, edit, mix, process and play digital audio.
Decibel - Measure of sound pressure level known (db).
Detent - Typically, a stop or catch in a control knob.
DSP - (Digital Signal Processing) The process of modifying audio digitally, also refers to computer software audio processing or to the computer chips which perform the processing.
Echo - The reflected sound that arrives at the listener's ears later than the direct sound.
Editing - Modifying a recorded sound track by adding, deleting or moving part(s), adding effects, etc.
Reverb - Reflected sound in which the rate of arriving reflections changes (degrades) over time.
Delay - An effect in which sounds are repeated at regular intervals, thus producing an echo-like effect.
Effects return - The path where a signal from a processing device enters a mixer.
Dry Signal - An unprocessed audio signal.
Equalizer - A processing device which alters the frequency response of an audio signal.
Expansion - A signal modification in which lower level signals are reduced and higher level signals are increased.
Fader - A sliding control which may increase or attenuate the gain of a signal.
Fade-In / Fade-Out - Gradually increasing or decreasing the level of a signal.
Final Mix - The product of mixing a multitrack recording down into a (typically) two channel stereo recording.
Flanger - Combines a signal with a slightly delayed form of itself providing an unusual, other-worldy, swishing effect.
Frequency response - Difference between the lowest and highest frequencies that are capable of being produced by a piece of audio equipment.
Gain - The level of amplification of a particular signal.
Harmonic Distortion - An output signal containing harmonics that weren't present in the signal going into an audio device.
Hertz - Frequency or Cycles per second.
Highpass Filter - A filter that allows frequencies above a certain point to pass through but attenuates frequencies below that point.
Lowpass Filter - A filter that allows frequencies below a certain point to pass through but attenuates frequencies above that point.
Master - The final mix of multiple recorded audio tracks.
MIDI - (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) A standard which allows electronic musical instruments such as synthesizer keyboards and drum machines to be connected to other MIDI devices and computers.
Mixing - Combining multiple, independent audio signals or tracks, so that the result is fewer tracks.
Multitrack Recording - The recording and processing of multiple audio tracks, at the same or different times, which are then typically mixed down into a stereo track.
Omnidirectional - Typically applies to microphones which pick up sound equally from any direction.
Overdub - The process of layering new tracks over previously recorded tracks. A component of multitrack recording.
Phantom Power - a DC power supply (usually +48v) designed for use with condenser microphones. The name "phantom" denotes the fact that the power travels through the same cable as the audio signal.
Pitch-shift - Raising or lowering the pitch or frequency of an audio signal, without changing the tempo.
Punch in - The re-recording of a specific segment of a track, without changing the rest of the track.
Reverberation - Sound that has gradually decayed due to multiple echos reflecting from numerous surfaces in an acoustic environment.
Recording - Capturing a sound signal onto an appropriate storage media such as tape, cd or hard disk.
Synthesizer - Electronic musical instrument, usually a keyboard, capable of producing many different types of sounds.
Trim - Controls the level of input on a mixing desk.
Unidirectional - Typically applies to microphones which are sensitive to sound coming from a single direction.
Velocity - A term used to denote the speed or force with which a note has been struck.
Wet signal - An audio signal which has been processed using some type of effects.
XLR Connector - (X-tended Locking Round) A common, three pin balanced connecter, commonly used on microphone and audio cables.
Common Audio File Formats
AIFF - Audio Interchange File Format
A format for storing digital audio in a computer file. (commonly used on the Macintosh)
AU - Audio (Unix Audio) File Format
This is the standard format used by Unix and Sun.
CDA - CD Audio Track
CDA file is actually a misnomer. It is really a simple pointer to digital audio information stored on a music CD.
MID - MIDI Music File
Not a true audio file. MID files are the product of MIDI music instruments.
MP3 - MPEG Layer-3 File Format
By far the most popular format for downloading and storing music. MP3 files are compressed by eliminating inaudible parts of the audio file, yet audio quality remains quite good.
OGG - A patent free, open source format that supports a number of codecs. The highly compressed format Vorbis is the most popular of these, thus the name OGG Vorbis. Not a highly supported format.
RA - Real Audio Format
Real Networks file designed for streaming audio over the Internet.
WAV - Digital Audio File Format
Highly popular Microsoft file format for storing digital audio data on a computer. WAV files are the preferred format for PC (Windows) computers. These files are quite large but are very clean.
WMA - Windows Media Audio File Format
A Microsoft proprietary format for storing digital audio data on a computer. WMA files use compression in order to create a smaller file size.
Sound Recording Terminology
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