A |
|
|
Ableton Live |
DAW music production
software from Ableton |
| antiphony |
answering effect from two sources sited opposite |
| Anvil Studio |
"freeware" music production and editing software from Willow
Software |
| atonal |
avoiding the use of key: freely using all possible pitches |
| attack |
initial impact of a sound |
| Audacity |
free sound editing and
music production software available to run on almost any
computer platform |
| Audition |
powerful audio editing and production software from Adobe |
|
|
B |
|
|
bit-depth |
the bit-density or number of bits used to represent each sample
of a sound in a digital recording |
|
|
C |
|
|
channel |
set of sound-reproducing components from mixer
input track to
loudspeaker inclusive |
|
compression |
audio: restriction of the overall dynamic range
of a sound signal or recorded sound whilst maintaining the dynamic
ratios between parts of the signal - for example, when compressed, a
signal may be 6dB quieter at the loudest point, but a sound in the
middle of the dynamic range of the piece will only be compressed by
3dB.
digital: describes a number of ways to make
digital files smaller. See lossy and
lossless compression |
|
crescendo |
gradually increasing volume |
|
Cubase |
exremely versatile DAW
/ music production software made by Steinberg |
|
|
D |
|
|
DAW |
Digital Audio Workstation - the combination of computer platform
and software used to record, edit, manipulate, transform sounds and
produce music |
|
decay |
fading end of a sound |
|
diminuendo |
gradually decreasing volume |
|
|
E |
|
|
edit |
select, reject and arrange into final form |
|
electronic music |
that deriving its sounds entirely from electronic oscillators or
computer synthesis |
|
|
F |
|
|
f / forte |
Italian for loud |
|
ff / fortissimo |
Italian for very loud |
|
floodsound |
sounds heard first from one channel, then immediately afterwards
from another |
|
|
G |
|
|
GarageBand |
comprehensive DAW / music production software distributed with
Macintosh computers |
|
|
H |
|
|
hi-fi |
high fidelity, or extreme realism in sound reproduction |
|
|
I |
|
|
input |
describes either a signal fed into part of the recording chain,
or the point (e.g. a socket) at which the signal is
insereted |
|
insert effects |
in the studio: effects that are added by connecting physical
devices at the insert point on a channel of the mixing desk;
on a
DAW: software used to similar effect.
modern DAW software usually
affords powerful insert effect facilities as standard, with further
effects to buy or download. |
|
interface |
the point where something "meets" something else. For
example:
in the studio: the socket where the microphone plugs
into the mixer, or where the mixer connects to the DAW;
on the
DAW: the display screen is a graphical interface between computer
and user ... and so on |
|
interference |
the effect of an external signal on a sound;
the effect
some fault or misuse of the equipment has on a sound |
|
|
J |
|
|
|
K |
|
|
|
L |
|
| latency |
a delay between an event happening (e.g. a musician playing a
note on an electronic keyboard) and that event being registered
by a recording or production system |
|
limiting |
essentially, a crude form of compression in which dynamic range
is limited, without any real attempt at overall balancing of the
dynamic levels in relation to one another. |
|
line |
direct wire feeding electrical signal from gramophone, radio or
tape recorder, usually latter |
|
line level |
singnal level of higher amplitude, and usually higher impedence
than a microphone signal |
|
loop |
(originally) a length of tape in circular form, for repetition;
the term is now used generally to describe a sample of sound
repeated in a work |
|
lossy (compression) |
a means of file compression where some detail may be lost from
the original sound |
|
lossless (compression) |
a form of compression in which no detail or resolution is lost
from the original image or sound signal |
|
|
|
M |
|
|
machine |
(originally) tape recorder; this term may now be used either to
describe the computer on which you are manipulating your work, or a
device you are using to make field recordings. |
|
mf / mezzoforte |
Italian for moderately loud |
|
mic, mike |
microphone |
|
mirror structure |
piece sounding similar backwards |
|
Mistone |
to understand Mistone, Pseudotone, Sone and Tone in the
context of our work, please see chapter 2 |
|
mono |
using one loudspeaker, or several issuing same signal |
|
monitor |
listen to signal during recording process |
|
monitors |
studio-quality loudspeakers used when listening to and editing
your work |
|
motive / motif |
brief group of sounds with recognisable overall
character |
|
mp / mezzopiano |
Italian for moderately soft |
|
MPEG |
Moving Picture Experts Group a working group of experts set-up to
develop standard types of file format for video and musical storage
hence file formats such as .mp3 |
|
music |
(in this context) sounds organised by a composer to convey
significant beauty. |
|
musique
concrte |
music derived from recorded sounds, after processing |
|
|
N |
|
| near-field monitors |
studio monitors designed to be placed fairly close to the mixing
desk so that the musician or producer can listen to the changes they
are making as a work develops. You are likely to be using
near-field monitors as you compose much of your work |
|
noise |
unwanted sound |
| normalization |
the automated process of adjusting the dynamic range of one or
more channels in a recording to bring their overall amplitude within
a specified dynamic range. Almost all DAW software has the
facility to nrmalize channels individually or together |
|
|
O |
|
|
ostinato |
incessantly repeated sound or pattern |
|
output |
describes either a signal fed out from part of the
recording chain (e.g. the signal reaching your headphones or
loudspeakers), or the point (e.g. a socket) at which the output
signal is available |
|
|
P |
|
|
p / piano |
Italian for soft |
|
pp / pianissimo |
Italian for very soft |
|
ProTools |
integrated system of music editing and production software and
related hardware at several levels of complexity and price from
AVID Technology - at its highest professional level, this is the
system used in many of the world's top recording studios |
|
Pseudotone |
to understand Mistone, Pseudotone, Sone and Tone in the
context of our work, please see chapter 2 |
|
|
Q |
|
| quantisation |
The mathematical process used to convert an analogue audio
signal into a digital format |
|
|
R |
|
| Reaper |
Digital Audio Workstation software from Cockos |
| Reason |
visual studio / DAW music production and editing software from
Propellorhead |
| recorder |
(a) simple wind instrument;
(b) tape recorder or other
sound recording device
(context usually makes clear which is
referred to) |
| register |
general area of pitch level |
| reverb |
reverberation |
|
|
S |
|
|
sample |
a piece of sound which is to be used in a composition |
|
sampling rate |
the rate or frequency (number of times per
second) at which sound is sampled in a digital
recording |
|
serial |
using series, i.e. predetermined order of events |
|
signal |
desired part of recording, as opposed to noise |
|
Sone |
to understand Mistone, Pseudotone, Sone and Tone in the
context of our work, please see chapter 2 |
|
sound |
anything perceived by the ear |
|
soundbyte |
a term that can be used either to describe a sample of sound used
in a composition; or
an extract of a finished work, perhaps used
to publicise a piece which is for sale, without giving away the
whole of the work |
|
speed |
rate of tape movement when using analogue tape
equipment |
|
stereo |
using two loudspeakers issuing different signals |
|
superimposition |
addition of one layer of sound to another |
|
|
T |
|
|
tape music |
musique concrte |
|
tempo |
prevailing rate of movement made by sounds of music |
|
ternary |
of three parts (always ABA in music) |
|
texture |
consideration of simultaneous events or layers |
|
timbre |
quality of sound, distinguishing it from other sounds
independently of pitch, volume and duration |
|
tonality |
relationship of different pitches to a central pitch: the use of
key |
|
Tone |
to understand Mistone, Pseudotone, Sone and Tone in the
context of our work, please see chapter 2 |
|
tone-colour |
timbre |
|
tremolo |
rapid reiteration or alternation, as in a roll or trill |
|
|
|
U |
|
|
USB |
Universal Serial Bus a standard of connector for transferring
data between computers and other devices |
|
|
|
V |
|
|
vibrato |
regular rapid fluctuation of pitch and/or volume, usually
deliberately introduced for expressive purpose |
|
|
|
W |
|
|
wow |
fairly slow fluctuation of pitch, originally due to
irregular running of tape spool or motor, modern composers may use
their DAW software to create WOW |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
XLR |
professional audio connector, generally used between microphones
and other pieces of professional studio equipment |
|
|
|
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
Z |
|
|
zero-latency |
no time delay between an event (for example, a key being played
on a keyboard) and that event being registered by a recording or
production system |
|
|
|
|