 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
© S. Wilkins 9 April, 2005
Technical Terms
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Arpeggiator
A device or software functionality that breaks down a chord and plays it in a rhythmic pattern as individual notes.
Arrangement
The
order of musical parts in a song.
Arranging
The
process of putting in order musical parts, their sequence and timing - in
short, mapping out the plot of a song.
ASIO (Audio
Streaming Input Output)
Driver
architecture developed by Steinberg for the purpose of optimizing audio
hardware for use with music software.
Audio
Anything
that can be heard - noise, speech and music.
Audio card
PC plug-in
card that is used to record and play back audio signals. Audio cards are
often equipped with a MIDI sound generator.
Audio data
Audio
signals that are recorded via audio hardware or computed by a computer.
Audio editor
Software
application that is used for editing the details of individual audio files
and for mastering of mixed-down songs.
Audio file
A file
that contains digitized audio signals; also called a sample in musician's
jargon.
Audio hardware
In this
context, this means all devices that serve the computer for the purpose
of recording (A/D conversion) and playing back (digital/analog conversion)
any audio signal.
Backup
A copy
by any another name, a backup is used to secure data against inadvertent
loss brought on by improper handling or software or hardware faults.
Bouncing
A process
by which the processor computes all audio tracks, effects and VST instruments
into a single audio file. In Cubase VST and Cubasis VST, the Export Audio
function is used to bounce tracks.
BPM (beats
per minute)
Number
of quarter notes per minute, it is the sequencer's measure of a song's tempo.
Chorus (Refrain)
A musical
phrase normally based on a single-note melody line. A key component of an
arrangement, it is a song's central motif that ups its recognition factor.
Cutting
The
process of removing unnecessary or undesirable sections of an audio or MIDI
recording.
DAO (Disc
At Once)
CD recording
process whereby a CD is burned without pauses in a single pass. It is an
essential prerequisite for compliance with Red Book specifications.
Defragmentation
A process
by which data on a hard disk is rearranged in an order that enhances performance.
Special defragmenting utilities are available for Windows and Mac OS.
DirectSound
Driver
architecture developed by Microsoft that, among other things, serves to
optimize audio hardware latency.
Driver
Software
that is responsible for enabling communication between hardware devices,
for example audio cards or MIDI interfaces, and software applications.
Drum loop
Audio
file containing a sampled rhythm phrase or drum pattern.
DSP (digital
signal processor)
Special
chip that was developed specifically for generating and processing sounds.
Editors
Processing
windows in which MIDI and audio tracks are processed or edited in detail.
Effects
Devices
or plug-ins that refine or reshape audio signals. Reverb, delay and chorus
are typical effects that see widespread use.
Enhanced
IDE (Integrated Device Electronics)
This
standard serves to connect hard disks and other mass storage media to a
computer.
Game-port
Found
on many PC audio cards, it is a connector designed to take joysticks. With
a MIDI adapter, it can be used as a simple MIDI interface.
Hard disk
recording
Process
by which audio data is loaded to hard disk.
High-end
music studio
Studio
environment that is equipped with exceptionally high-quality, exorbitantly
expensive devices.
Intro
The
beginning of an arrangements. It gradually introduces the song and slowly
builds up musical tension.
Insert effect
An effect
that is inserted between an audio track and the mixer.
InWire
A technology
that lets users exchange sequencer data (audio and MIDI) via Internet.
InWire Studios
Based
on InWire technology, these virtual studio rooms may be used by Steinberg
customers. Musicians can collaborate in real time and worldwide on shared
music projects.
Latency
This
term describes the amount of time computers and audio hardware audio hardware
take to generate or process audio signals. It is the delay between the actual
start of an event and the moment in which it becomes audible.
Linear frequency
response
This
means that the frequencies that make up an audio signal are rendered by
audio hardware at levels that are directly proportionate to the input volume.
Loudness
Another
term for volume.
Mastering
A process
by which a mixed-down piece of music is given a final sonic and electronic
buff; the final step before the track is burned onto CD.
Megacycle
A unit
of measure for processor clock frequency. This is a benchmark specification
that provides some insight into the computing speed and performance capability
of a computer.
Melody line
Single-note,
instantly recognizable motif that conjures up a specific musical atmosphere.
MIDI (Musical
Instrument Digital Interface)
Created
in 1982, this is the industry standard governing the transmission of control
commands for electronic music instruments and studio devices.
MIDI adapter
A cable
connector that turns the game-port of an audio card into a MIDI port.
MIDI event
A term
used to describe an individual command or message sent via MIDI.
MIDI hardware
Any
MIDI-compatible device.
MIDI instruments
Sound
generators that can be played via MIDI.
MIDI interface
Accessory
that connects MIDI devices to the computer.
MIDI keyboard
A keyboard
used to play MIDI sound generators. It may or may not be equipped with an
audio generator.
Mixer
A device
that lets you voice or shape the signals of several audio sources and converge
them into a single master audio signal.
Mixman
Software
for the arrangement of music tracks on the basis of drum loops and other
sampled phrases, distributed by Steinberg.
Monitoring
environment
Combination
of loudspeakers and amp by which audio signals are made audible.
MP3 (MPEG
1 Layer 3)
A data
reduction process for audio files developed by Fraunhofer Institute; it
has become the established format for distributing music over the Internet.
Multimedia
software
Programs
for playing back or processing static images, audio and video.
Multi-tracking
This
describes a process in which several tracks are played back simultaneously,
which allows a song to be recorded step by step rather than all at once.
Musician's
portal
Website
on which musicians can publish music and swap stories with other musicians.
Music production
The
full sweep of musical activity involved in going from an idea to a finished
song.
Noise
Any
background noise, hissing, or interference caused by other computer components
such as hard disks.
Non-destructive
editing
Audio
data on the hard disk remains in its original state, meaning that it is
not physically changed during the editing.
Normalize
A process
by which the volume of an audio file is boosted to peak level.
OMS (Open
Music System)
System
expansion for Mac OS that allows MIDI devices and Apple computers to communicate.
Partitions
Subdivisions
of the data area on a hard disk. Every partition has its own disk drive
ID.
Parts
Individual
sections of a MIDI or audio track.
Patch editor
Software
application that provides the means to process and exchange the instrument
sounds of an audio card's MIDI sound generator.
PC Card
(formerly PCMCIA)
Standardized
slot designed to connect hardware accessories to mobile computers.
PCI bus
(Peripheral Component Interface)
Slot
in the PC or Mac (bus) designed to take internal expansion cards.
Plug-ins
Unable
to run on their own, these software modules plug into a sequencer, adding
new sound generators or effects to it.
PowerBook
Product
name for mobile Apple computers.
Processor
Highly
complex arithmetic unit built into a chip - the brain of a computer, so
to speak.
Quantize
An editing
function of the sequencer. Out-of-time notes that don't fall into the desired
rhythmic pattern are automatically shifted so that they are in time.
RAM (Random
Access Memory)
Term
for the main memory of a computer.
Real time
In this
context, real time means that an event - changes in pitch, sound or volume
- is rendered as it occurs.
Recording
Level
Volume
setting of the recorded audio signal.
ReCycle
Software
tool for adjusting the tempo of drum loops and other sampled phrases, distributed
by Steinberg.
Red Book
Specification
developed by Sony and Philips that sets forth the format of an audio CD.
Refrain
(Chorus)
A musical
phrase normally based on a single-note melody line. A key component of an
arrangement, it is a song's central motif that ups its recognition factor.
Sampling
CD
Sound
library in which digitized musical phrases, drum loops, vocal recordings,
instruments or natural sounds are archived for use in self-produced songs.
SCSI (Small
Computer Systems Interface)
This
standard interface serves to connect hard disks and end devices such as
scanners or samplers to the computer.
Send effect
An effect
that is applied to several tracks at the same time.
Sequencer
Music
software application for creating, editing and arranging music to create
finished songs.
Song tempo
Describes
the speed at which the notes of a song are played. Largely dictated by the
choice of musical style, tempo is indicated in BPM.
Sound generator
Device
or software that produces sounds suitable for use in musical applications.
Sounds
Generic
term that in this term describes the auditory effects produced by instruments.
Standard
Term
for a uniform, generally accepted method or process.
Step sequencer
A device
or software function that facilitates the process of coming up with melody
lines or rhythmic phrases intuitively by experimentation.
Studio equipment
All
the gear in a music studio. This includes mixers, effects and synthesizers
and a bunch of other fun toys.
Studio environment
The
entirety of all devices required for a musical production, for example,
mixers, instruments and effects.
Synthesizer
An electronic
musical instrument that generates sounds unobtainable from ordinary musical
instruments. It can be manipulated in variety of ways.
Toolbox
Menu
containing editing tools for arranging and editing audio and MIDI editors.
Tracks
Tracks
contain the individual musical elements and MIDI or audio data.
Transport
bar
Central
control panel of a sequencer. Among other things, it lets you start record,
play back and navigate through the arrangement.
Update
Newer
software version that offers new functions.
USB (Universal
Serial Bus)
An easy
way to connect external computer accessories such as MIDI interfaces and
audio hardware, among others.
USB port
Connector
designed to take USB-enabled devices.
Velocity
Engine
Additional
arithmetic unit in the G4 processor. It does require special support on
the part of music software, but given this support, it boosts performance
markedly.
Verse
The
more subdued musical passages between refrains or choruses.
Voicing
The
process of shaping a signal's characteristic tone, that is the relative
intensity of its low, middle and high frequency components.
VST Instruments
Software
sound generators that are plugged into a sequencer. The sounds of VST instrument
are computed by the computer in real time.