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© 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.

WDM driver (Windows Driver Model)

32-bit driver architecture for Windows. MIDI interfaces and audio hardware that run on Windows 2000 WDM drivers.