Hayden Parkes produced a glossary of key terms related to sound design and production for computer games. He provided definitions from online research for terms like foley artistry, sound libraries, file formats like .wav and .aiff, compression types, audio hardware like sound cards and MIDI keyboards, and concepts like sampling rates and bit depths. For each term, he described how the concept relates to his own work producing game audio, such as using uncompressed formats, stereo recording, and software plugins and sequencers.

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: Hayden.J.Parkes 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 A sound effects technique for synchronous effects or live effects.
http://filmsound.org/foley/
I have used this many times during
my work many times as have had to
go out and record sounds and then
edit them in to something
completely new.
Sound
Libraries
a collection of sounds stored on file for example on CDs, DVDs, or
as digital audio files.
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sound-library
This is basically where all your
sounds and media you have
produced is stored. These can range
from pretty much anything, VSTs,
VSTi, actually media items even
sounds from the web. This has been
relevant to my work because I have
had to store my work into a sample
library to keep my media items
organised.
SOUND FILE FORMATS Uncompressed restore to its uncompressed form decompress data.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Uncompressed
We have used uncompressed file
formats in our work like when we
was doing recording it made the file
formats into .av which is a
uncompressed file format also
when we was exporting the files
from reaper it converted the files
into .wav so it was recognisable on

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
2
media players.
.wav Waveform Audio File Format is the full name of the file is normally
used on Windows. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV
We use this quite a lot in lesson for
example when exporting the audio
sounds from reaper and the file
format for when we do the audio
recordings on the field recorders.
.aiff Audio Interchange File Format is the (AIFF) is an audio file
format standard used for storing sound data for personal
computers and other electronic audio devices.
We didn’t use this audio file format
because we was using reaper which
converts the files into .wav and .aiff
is commonly found on Apple
software so probably wouldn’t be
compatible on Windows
.au This is an audio format developed for Sun workstations and often
used to distribute sound clips via the Web.
http://www.ircbeginner.com/opvinfo/webglossary.html
We didn’t use .au because it is a
rare file format to find so we
couldn’t of really used it and that I
don’t think there is any software
that I know of that could open this
file format.
.smp Music file used by SmartMusic, a music practice application for band,
orchestra, and voice; saves an accompaniment that can be used for
practicing solos and other musical parts; includes the sheet music
information and can be used for assessment; replaced by
the .SMPX in Finale 2014. http://www.fileinfo.com/extension/smp
This isn’t really relevant because it
isn’t really high definition therefore
we don’t really want low bit-rate
audio we are aiming for higher
audio bit-rate
Lossy
Compression
Lossy file compression results in lost data and quality from the
original version. Lossy Compression is typically associated with
image files, such as JPEGs, but can also be used for audio files,
like MP3s or AAC files. The "lossyness" of an image file may
show up as jagged edges or pixelated areas. In audio files, the
lossyness may produce a watery sound or reduce the dynamic
range of the audio.
http://www.techterms.com/definition/lossy
I haven’t used this as I haven’t had
to compress 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
.mp3 Stands for "MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3." MP3 is popular
compressed audio file format that helped popularize digital
music downloads beginning in the late 1990s. MP3 files are
typically about one tenth the size of uncompressed WAVE
or AIFF files, but maintain nearly the same CD-quality sound.
Because of their small size and good fidelity, MP3 files have
become a popular way to store music files on both computers
and portable devices like the iPod.
http://www.techterms.com/definition/mp3
I didn’t have to use mp3 as all of my
audio work was using wav
AUDIO LIMITATIONS Sound
Processor Unit
(SPU)
A sound card (also known as an audio card) is an
internal computer expansion card that facilitates the input and
output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of
computer. The term sound card is also applied to external audio
interfaces that use software to generate sound, as opposed to using
hardware inside the PC. Typical uses of sound cards include providing
the audio component for multimedia applications such as music
composition, editing video or audio, presentation, education and
entertainment (games) and video production.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_card
I would of used whilst doing he
reaper work on the computers
Digital Sound
Processor
(DSP)
This refers to manipulating analog information such as or photographs that has
been converted into a digital form.DSP also implies the use of a data
compression technique. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/DSP.html
We used this in sound recording
because we recorded sounds from
life which is analogue and it
converted the file format into
digital so we did use this during the
periods of recording
Random
Access
Memory
(RAM)
RAM is made up of small memory chips that form a memory
module. These modules are installed in the RAM slots on the
motherboard of your computer .
http://www.techterms.com/definition/ram
We used RAM when we was on the
computers for when we was making
the audio file if there wasn’t RAM in
the computer, the computer
wouldn’t of been able to open
reaper
Mono Audio Commonly called mono sound, mono, or non-stereo sound, this early We didn’t use mono sound because

4. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
4
sound system used a single channel of audio for sound output. In
monophonic sound systems, the signal sent to the sound system
encodes one single stream of sound and it usually uses just one speaker.
Monophonic sound is the most basic format of sound output.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/M/monophonic_sound.html
it is a single channel which isn’t that
good we tried for at least stereo
sound
Stereo Audio Commonly called stereo sound or just stereo, stereophonic sound divides sounds
across two channels (recorded on two separate sources) then the recorded
sounds are mixed so that some elements are channelled to the left and others to
the right. Stereophonic sound is generally considered the best sound technology
of the 1950 and early 1960's.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/stereophonic_sound.html
We used stereo on reaper when we
was making the audio files.
Surround
Sound
A multichannel sound technology that produces 6 channels of sound in the left,
right, centre, left surround, right surround, and rear centre positions. 6.1 systems
also have 1 channel for LFE (low frequency effects) which is usually sent to a
subwoofer.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/6/6_1_surround_sound.html
I was using surround sound when I
was using the recorder to record
my sounds for editing
Direct Audio
(Pulse Code
Modulation –
PCM)
Pulse code modulation (PCM) is a digital scheme for transmitting analogue data.
The signals in PCM are binary; that is, there are only two possible states,
represented by logic 1 (high) and logic0 (low). This is true no matter how
complex the analogue waveform happens to be. Using PCM, it is possible to
digitize all forms of analogue data, including full-motion video, voices, music,
telemetry, and virtual reality (VR).
http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/pulse-code-modulation-PCM
This pretty much was a digital
limiters which prevented us doing
some stuff on reaper
AUDIO RECORDING
SYSTEMS
Analogue Analogue recording methods store signals as a continual wave in or on the
media. The wave might be stored as a physical texture on a phonograph record,
or a fluctuation in the field strength of a magnetic recording. This is different
from digital recording of which among many possibilities include digital audio
and digital video, which digital signals are represented as data or discrete
numbers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_recording
We used analogue in recording like
for the digital recorder.
Digital Mini
Disc
A small recordable compact disc
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/minidisc
We didn’t use this because we
didn’t use a minidisc recorder
Compact Disc Known by its abbreviation, CD, a compact disc is a polycarbonate with one or
more metal layers capable of storing digital information. The most prevalent
We didn’t use CDs because we
didn’t really get any audio from CDs

5. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
5
(CD) types of compact discs are those used by the music industry to store digital
recordings and CD-ROMs used to store computer data. Both of these types of
compact disc are read-only, which means that once the data has been recorded
onto them, they can only be read, or played.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/compact_disc.html
because we used digital sound
recorders.
Digital Audio
Tape (DAT)
Digital Audio Tape is a signal recording and playback medium developed by Sony
and introduced in 1987. In appearance it is similar to a Compact Cassette, using 4
mm magnetic tape enclosed in a protective shell, but is roughly half the size at 73
mm × 54 mm × 10.5 mm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Tape
We didn’t use DAT because they are
kind of out-dated and that
computers don’t use tapes now.
MIDI Short for Musical Instrument Digital Interface 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. A single MIDI link can carry up to sixteen
channels of information, each of which can be routed to a separate device.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI
We used this on reaper when we
was editing sounds and creating
sounds we used this in combination
of software plugins and MIDI
keyboard instrument.
Software Sequencers In 1975, New England Digital (NED) released ABLE computer (microcomputer) as
a dedicated data processing unit for Dartmouth Digital Synthesizer (1973), and
based on it, later Synclavier series were developed. The Synclavier I, released in
September 1977, was one of the earliest digital music workstation products with
multi-track sequencer.
We use this on reaper for when we
are making the audio tracks so that
we can layers several sounds on top
of each other.
Software Plug-ins In computing, a plug-in (or plugin, extension, or add-on / addon) is a software
component that adds a specific feature to an existing software application. When
an application supports plug-ins, it enables customization. The common
examples are the plug-ins used in web browsers to add new features such as
search-engines, virus scanners, or the ability to utilize a new file type such as a
new video format. Well-known browser plug-ins includes the Adobe Flash Player,
the QuickTime Player, and the Java plug-in, which can launch a user-activated
Java applet on a web page to its execution a local Java virtual machine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_(computing)
We have used this on reaper when
we was making the sounds and
editing sounds using VSTs and
VSTi’s
MIDI Keyboard
Instruments
A MIDI keyboard 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. This could also be
a personal computer running software such as a digital audio workstation (DAW)
that listens to and sends MIDI information to other MIDI devices connected by
cable or running internal to the personal computer system. The basic MIDI
keyboard does not produce sound. Instead, MIDI information is sent to an
This is the default thing we used
when we was making the sounds
because it was used as a virtual
instrument

6. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
6
electronic module capable of reproducing an array of digital sounds or samples
that resemble traditional analogue musical instruments. These samples or
waveforms are also referred to as voices or timbres.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI_keyboard
AUDIO SAMPLING File Size Constraints -
Bit-depth
In digital audio using pulse-code modulation (PCM), bit depth is the number of
bits of information in each sample, and it directly corresponds to the resolution
of each sample. Examples of bit depth include Compact Disc Digital Audio, which
uses 16 bits per sample, and DVD-Audio and Blu-ray Disc which can support up to
24 bits per sample.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_bit_depth
We tried to produce the sounds in
the highest quality possible but
because .wav has a low bit-rate we
couldn’t make them really high
quality
File Size Constraints -
Sample Rate
A frequency of how many times audio is measured per second, usually measured
in kilohertz (kHz); a usual number you might see is 44.1kHz. This is tied directly to
bit depth or the number of bits measured in each cycle.
http://superuser.com/questions/388382/what-does-the-sample-rate-
and-sample-size-of-audio-means
I tried to get the audio files into a
good sample rate.