This document is a glossary created by Callum Drake defining audio and sound design terms for a games design course. It contains over 20 entries with short definitions sourced from online references related to methods of sound design and production. For each term, Callum provides a brief explanation of how the term relates to his own production practice, such as using sample libraries to organize sound files, uncompressed video for finding online sounds to edit, and MIDI keyboards for editing or creating new sounds.

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: Callum Drake 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 Reproduction of everyday sound effects that are added to
film, video, and other media in post-production to enhance
audio quality
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foley_(filmmaking)
I can see how this will work in my
production process when I would need to
complete a large task. This would also be
used in my production process when
needing to recreate specific elements or
pieces of sound and to be able to assure
that the sound is authentic and sounds
believable.
Sound Libraries 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
I have used this in my production process
when I complete specific sounds and store
them in files allocated for those sounds to
help organize my work.
SOUND FILE FORMATS Uncompressed Digital video information that has not been compressed, or
was not processed with compression on it when the video
was captured directly via video capture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncompressed_video
I can see how this is useful in my production
process if I can’t find a sound I need I can go
on the internet and use and then edit this
sound to what I need.
.wav Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for storing an
audio bitstream on PCs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV
This is used in my production process when
I created sounds and then render them out
to be able to upload them to the internet.
.aiff Is an audio file format standard used for storing sound data
for personal computers and other electronic audio devices.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Interchange_File_Format
I can see how this will be useful in my
process when storing small sample of sound
and music.
.au The Au file format is a simple audio file format introduced
by Sun Microsystems
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_file_format
This would be used if I were creating sounds
and completing my production a UNIX

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
2
machine.
.smp The SNP file format is used by Microsoft Access to store
Report Snapshots in a single file which can be viewed and
printed by the Microsoft Snapshot Viewer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SNP_file_format
Useful for when multiple processors can be
collaborated onto the same operating
system.
Lossy Compression "lossy" compression is a data encoding method that
compresses data by discarding (losing) some of it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lossy_compression
It is used to remove the bad data in the file
so that it can compress it into better audio
files
.mp3 More commonly referred to as MP3, is an encoding format
for digital audio which uses a form of lossy data compression.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3
This would be used if I were creating music
to be able to be played on my phone or on
windows media player.
AUDIO LIMITATIONS Sound Processor Unit (SPU) Sound processing unit, an integrated circuit specialized in
processing audio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPU
This would be useful in my work when
needing to process sounds and make clearer
sounds than analogue would make.
Digital Sound Processor (DSP) Is the mathematical manipulation of an information signal to
modify or improve it in some way
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_signal_processing
This would be used when creating a clearer
sound than analogue and would not be a
copy of the source sound.
Random Access Memory (RAM) Is a form of computer data storage. A random-access
memory device allows data items to be read and written in
roughly the same amount of time regardless of the order in
which data items are accessed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random-access_memory
This would be useful when needing to have
fast memory that can be easily accessed
quickly to help me with my production
process
Mono Audio Commonly called mono sound, mono, or non-stereo sound,
this early sound system used a single channel of audio for
sound output.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/M/monophonic_sound.html
I used this in my production process when
creating short single sounds in my work or
when importing audio from files or sound
resources.
Stereo Audio Is a method of sound reproduction that creates an illusion of
directionality and audible perspective.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonic_sound
I see how I would use this in my work when
needing to listen to sounds coming from
multiple outputs. Also when I wear
earphones to work on the sounds and music
that I create.
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
This would be used when listening to music
for clearer and higher quality sound for
analysis.
Direct Audio (Pulse Code Is a method used to digitally represent sampled analog Unless you specifically render a sound they

3. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
3
Modulation – PCM) signals.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-code_modulation
would be in this format. Useful for being
able to edit before rendering out.
AUDIO RECORDING SYSTEMS Analogue is any continuous signal for which the time varying feature
(variable) of the signal is a representation of some other time
varying quantity, i.e., analogous to another time varying signal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_signal
I would use this in my production process
when making a record or audiotape so It
would be helpful to use this process.
Digital Mini Disc is an obsolete magneto-optical disc-based data storage
device
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDisc
This would be used in my production when
recording short but high quality pieces of
sound.
Compact Disc (CD) is a digital optical disc data storage format. The format was
originally developed to store and play back sound recordings
only (CD-DA)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_disc
I have not used this in my production
process but I can see how it would be useful
in the case where it might have a trailer or
film that I would listen to and recreate
sounds from
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
I would use this in my work when recording
sounds and needing them to be in high,
clear and professional sounding quality
whether indoors or out.
MIDI is a technical standard that describes a protocol, digital
interface and connectors and allows a wide variety
of electronic musical instruments
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI
I used this is my work process when I need
to create a new line to place sounds and
music on.
Software Sequencers is a device or application software that can record, edit, or
play back music,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_sequencer
Reaper manages the software sequences
automatically. I used this for a lot of my IG
work that was for sounds and editing
them/creating them.
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)
This would be used when placing software
onto the computer that couldn’t be found
or downloaded and can only be placed onto
it.
MIDI Keyboard Instruments 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
I have used this in my production process
when editing or creating new sounds for my
assignments.
AUDIO SAMPLING File Size Constraints - Bit-depth bit depth is the number of bits of information in each sample,
and it directly corresponds to the resolution of each sample.
This would be useful when choosing what
hardware or software I would need to

4. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_bit_depth process audio data for the best choice for
me and my work.
File Size Constraints - Sample Rate Sample rate indicates the number of digital samples taken of
an audio signal each second. This rate determines the
frequency range of an audio file. The higher the sample rate,
the closer the shape of the digital waveform is to that of the
original analog waveform
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Soundbooth/2.0/WS41FBD92E-
39EA-4eda-B490-EDE8EA1175C8a.html#WS2E825A07-
11AB-4f2f-A1FD-A1E4D93C3B9Aa
This would be used in my production
process for when I need the audio to play at
a faster rate.