This document contains a glossary template for sound design and production terms. It includes definitions for terms like foley artistry, sound libraries, audio file formats like .wav and .mp3, audio hardware like sound cards and DSPs, recording methods like analog and digital, storage media, MIDI, software tools, and aspects of audio sampling like bit depth and sample rate. For each term, the student provided a short definition from an online source as well as how the term relates to their own production work.

1. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
1
Produce a glossary of terms specific to the methods and principles of sound design and production. Using a provided template, you must
research and gather definitions specific to provided glossary terms. Any definitions must be referenced with the URL link of the website you
have obtained the definition.
You must also, where possible, provide specific details of how researched definitions relate to your own production practice.
Name: RESEARCHED DEFINITION (provide short internet researched definition
and URL link)
DESCRIBE THE
RELEVANCE OF THE
RESEARCHED TERM
TO YOUR OWN
PRODUCTION
PRACTICE?
SOUND DESIGN
METHODOLOGY
Foley Artistry is the reproduction of everyday sound effects that are
added to film, video, and other media
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foley_(filmmaking)
Using background noise
in our recordings
Sound Libraries A sample library is a collection of digital sound recordings,
known as samples, for use by composers, arrangers,
performers, and producers of music
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sample_library
used in our work to make
certain sound FX
SOUND FILE FORMATS Uncompressed Uncompressed audio formats, such as WAV, AIFF, AU or
raw header-less PCM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_file_format
Converting out recordings
to .WAV files
.wav Waveform Audio File Format Type of file out recordings
Render into
.aiff Audio Interchange File Format used on Apple computers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Interchange_File_Format
Type of audio file on a
Apple computer
.au is a simple audio file format A simple audio file type
.smp SMP is a Sample vision sound format which for storing
audio data on a computer system
Simple format of storing
audio data on a screen
Lossy Compression lossy compression is a data encoding method that A term to make Audio

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
2
compresses data by discarding (losing) some of it smaller by cutting it down
.mp3 is an encoding format for digital audio which uses a form of
lossy data compression.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3
MP3 is a digital audio file
the has been edited
AUDIO LIMITATIONS Sound Processor Unit
(SPU)
is an internal computer expansion card that facilitates the
input and output of audio signals to and from a computer
under control of computer programs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_card
Part of a computer that
processes the audio
Digital Sound Processor
(DSP)
is a specialized microprocessor with an architecture
optimized for the operational needs of digital signal
processing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_signal_processor
A part of a computer that
optimises audio
Random Access Memory
(RAM)
is a form of computer data storage Data storage type
Mono Audio Typically there is only one microphone, one loudspeaker,
or (in the case of headphones and multiple loudspeakers)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaural
When audio is coming
from one source
Stereo Audio is a method of sound reproduction that creates an illusion
of directionality and audible perspective
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonic_sound
When sounds appears 3D
ad has a sense of
direction
Surround Sound Surround sound is a technique for enriching the sound
reproduction quality of an audio source with additional
audio channels from speakers that surround the listener
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surround_sound
Making Stereo sound
clear and more immersive
Direct Audio (Pulse Code
Modulation – PCM)
is a method used to digitally represent sampled analog
signals
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-code_modulation
A representation of
Analog
AUDIO RECORDING
SYSTEMS
Analogue is a technique used for the recording of analog signals
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_recording
A way of recording Analog
Signals
Digital Mini Disc is an obsolete magneto-optical disc-based data storage An unused type of data

3. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
3
device for 74 minutes and, later, 80 minutes, of digitized
audio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDisc
storage
Compact Disc (CD) Compact disc (CD) is a digital optical disc data storage
format
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_disc
The current way of data
storage
Digital Audio Tape (DAT) is a signal recording and playback medium developed by
Sony and introduced in 1987
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Tape
An old type of Data
storage
MIDI is a technical standard that describes a protocol, digital
interface and connectors and allows a wide variety of
electronic musical instruments, computers and other
related devices to connect and communicate with one
another
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI
A way digital interface
works with the rest of a
system
Software Sequencers is a device or application software that can record, edit, or
play back music, by handling note and performance
information in several forms, typically MIDI or CV/Gate,
and possibly audio and automation data for DAWs and
plug-ins.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_sequencer
A software used to edit
audio in most ways
Software Plug-ins is a software component that adds a specific feature to an
existing software application.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_(computing)
An Add-On to an existing
software
MIDI Keyboard
Instruments
is typically a piano-style user interface keyboard device
used for sending MIDI signals or commands over a USB or
MIDI cable to other devices connected and operating on
the same MIDI protocol interface
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI_keyboard
A digitally produced
instrument
AUDIO SAMPLING File Size Constraints - Bit-
depth
bit depth is the number of bits of information in each
sample, and it directly corresponds to their solution of each
The data that is used to
read information in an

4. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
4
sample
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_bit_depth
audio sample
File Size Constraints -
Sample Rate
Sample rate is the number of samples of audio carried per second,
measured in Hz or kHz
http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Sample_Rates
A specific measurement
in an audio sample