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: Terence Byrne 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 Foley is the reproduction of everyday sound effects that are
added to films.In addition, Foley artists recreate the
realistic ambient sounds that the film portrays. Also, without
these crucial background sounds, movies feel somewhat
unnatural and unrealistic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foley_(filmmaking)
As a class we have recently
used Foley Artistry to do
various recordings around the
college. Then we edited the
sound effects e.g. footsteps
from talking,in Reaper
(software) to change the
qualities of the sounds for the
tasks.
Sound Libraries A sample library is a collection of digital sound recordings,
known as samples. There is various sample libraries from
tempo based to note to note recordings and even one shot hits
usually used for sound effects.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sample_library
We have created various sound
libraries for the different tasks
we have participated in, in this
lesson. Furthermore, we then
uploaded the sounds to
souncloud and then embedded
them to blogger to portray that
the work was complete.
SOUND FILE FORMATS Uncompressed Uncompressed is used to reduce a file size. In addition, it can
be RawBitstream but it is usually a container format and or
In class we have been using
this technique as we have

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
2
mostly an audio data format with defined storage layer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_file_format
created and developed many
different sounds meaning we
needed to reduce the file size
of each of them for more
usable space
.wav WAV is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for
storing an audio bitstream on PCs. It is an application of
(TheResource Interchange File Format) (RIFF)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV
We have always used WAV
when rendering out our
sounds on Reaper as a class.
.aiff This is an audio file format standard used for storing sound data
for personal computers and other electronic audio devices. The
format was created and developed by Apple Inc. in 1988, based
on Electronic Arts- Interchange File Format(IFF)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Interchange_File_Format
.au The Au file format is an audio file format introduced by Sun
Microsystems. This format was common on (NeXT) systems
and on early Web pages
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_file_format
.smp Symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) involves
a multiprocessor computer hardware; and software architecture,
where two or more of the same processors, connect to one
single, shared main memory.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symmetric_multiprocessing
Lossy Compression Lossy compression enables even bigger reductions in file size
by removing some of the data from the audio production.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_file_format
I used lossy compression to
compress my sounds in which I
have been producing for
different tasks. This way I could
make more sounds without them
taking up too much storage.
.mp3 This is an encoding format for digital audio which uses a form
of lossy data compression in order to reduce file size. It is a
As a class we could convert our
sound files into MP3s to make

3. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
3
common audio format mainly used for consumer
audio streaming or storage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3
sure the sound we produce still
sounds good, and the file size is
not too much.
AUDIO LIMITATIONS Sound Processor Unit (SPU) 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 programs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_card
I have recently usedaudio cards
inside the PC to listen to the
sounds I have produced. Without
one, I could not hear what I am
producing so it would be very
hard to produce anything.
Digital Sound Processor (DSP) Sometimes referred to as audio processing, is the manipulation
of auditory signals, or sound, often through an audio
effect or effects unit. In addition,audio signals may be
electronically represented in either digital or analogformat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_signal_processing
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
With a decent size RAM, we are
able to use more programs on a
computer all at once without the
work of them becoming too
much for the machine. In
addition, I could also use RAM to
portray loading times and
programs run quickly and
smoothly
Mono Audio Is single-channel. Typically there is only one microphone,
oneloudspeaker, or (in the case of headphones and multiple
loudspeakers)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaural
I could use mono audio to hear
what our sound, sounds like all at
once through one headphone.
Stereo Audio This is a method of sound reproduction that creates an illusion
of directionality and audible perspective. This is usually
achieved by using two or more independent audio channels
through a configuration of two or moreloudspeakers (or
To use stereo audio, you can
connect 3 or more speakers to a
computer. Then you could play
the audio file and play it to hear

4. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
4
stereo headphones)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonic_sound
your sound production at a
greater volume. This way you
could hear the sound more
clearer making improvements in
the sound easier to fix.
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 (surround
channels)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surround_sound
Using surround sound, as a class,
we could set up several speakers
around a room connected to one
PC, and then play the sound file
so that thesound fills the room
and sounds more realistic.
Direct Audio (Pulse Code
Modulation – PCM)
Is a method used to digitally represent sampled analog signals.
It is the standard form of digital audio in computers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-code_modulation
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, e.g. analogous to another time varying signal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_signal
Digital Mini Disc Is a disc-based data storage device for 74 minutes and, later,
80 minutes, of digitizedaudio or 1 gigabyte of Hi-MD data
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDisc
We could use a digital mini disc
to save our files too as a backup
for example. Mini discs are more
portable due to their smaller size,
so it should also be easier tostore
and keep safe.
Compact Disc (CD) Is a digitaldisc data storage format. The format was originally
developed to store and play back sound recording.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_disc
Digital Audio Tape (DAT) This is a signal recording and playback medium developed
by Sony and introduced in 1987.
[1]
In appearance, it is similar to
a Compact Cassette, using 4 mm magnetic tape protected in a
protective shell.
We could also store our files on a
DAT, however, DATs are seen to
be out of date, so say you want

5. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
5
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Tape to use a DAT to play your files,
you would probably struggle to
find a device which play this
format.
MIDI Is a technical standard that describes a protocol, digital
interface andconnectors and allows a wide variety of electronic
musical instruments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI
In class we have used some
MIDI’s for sound effects and
soundtracks we are making.
Software Sequencers Is a device of music software to record, edit, and play back
the music, by handling musical notes and performance
information in various forms
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_sequencer
In class I have used this to
perform different notes and
play them back in various
forms with the assist of a MIDI.
Software Plug-ins Is a software component that adds a specific feature to an
existing software application. Some components have the ability
to utilize a newfile type such as a new audioformat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_(computing)
These are very useful on sound
editing software’s like Reaper.
For our practice, we could
download a bunch of plugins for
the MIDI so we can experiment
with various types of instruments
to create pieces. Plugins are
made usually by the public as a
means to improve the software.
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.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI_keyboard
In class I have used the MIDI
keyboard to produce sound
effects and soundtracks for
various tracks.
AUDIO SAMPLING File Size Constraints - Bit-
depth
Is the number of bits of information in each sample, and it
directly relates to the resolution of each sample.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_bit_depth
File Size Constraints - Sample
Rate
is the reduction of a continuous signal to a discrete signal. A
common example is the conversion of a sound wave (a

6. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
6
continuous signal) to a sequence of samples (a discrete-time
signal).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampling_(signal_processing)