This document contains a glossary created by a student at Salford City College for their BTEC Extended Diploma in Games Design unit on sound for computer games. The glossary defines 20 key terms related to sound design and production methods and principles. For each term, the student provided a short internet-sourced definition and described how the term relates to their own production practice.

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: Kieran Dixon 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/
A technique used to synchronise and
desynchronise soundeffects both
ordinaryand‘live’.
Sound Libraries A collectionof sounds storedon file (for example on CDs, DVDs, or as
digital audiofiles).
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sound-library
A place for sounds andfilesof music
(including soundtracks and videofiles) to
be organisedneatlyandefficiently.
Whilst alsoreferred to as a playlist in
some smaller devices, in larger hardware
areas, like PCs andLaptops, theyare
referredto as libraries, as theyfunction
differentlyinthat theyhold more space
and compse the sounds easier and
quicker, andmanage to allow insight as
to what, exactly, the file youare listening
to is;what type it is andsoforth.
In smaller, media devices such as MP3/4
players andphones, the file name, and
often size, are not shown.
SOUND FILE FORMATS Uncompressed Uncompressedaudiofiles are the most accurate digitalrepresentationof a
soundwave, but canalsobe the most resource-intensive methodof
recording andstoring digital audio, bothinterms of storage and
management.
http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/guide/uncompressed-audio-file-formats

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
2
.wav A Wave file is anaudiofile format, created byMicrosoft, that hasbecome
a standard PCaudiofile format for everything from system and game
sounds to CD-qualityaudio. A Wave fileis identifiedbya file name
extension ofWAV (.wav). Used primarilyinPCs, the Wave file format has
been accepted as a viable interchange mediumfor other computer
platforms, suchas Macintosh. This allows content developers to freely
move audiofiles betweenplatforms for processing,for example.
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/Wave-file
.Wavfilesare, from myunderstanding,
the most common, aside from.Mp3 and
.Mp4, music playbackfile andgeneral
soundformat. Created for the sole
purpose of soundand files similar, this
type of file, made and developed by
Microsoft for use withits systems, is
convertible andreliable inthe playback
area;high qualitysounds depending on
the file- andusuallygoodperformance-
easyto load anduse withmost other
systems.
From myfirst hand experience of a WAVE
file, it significantlydiffers from an
MP3/MP4 file, and other soundfiles;the
reasonbeing it was specificallydesigned
for soundmodificationandplayback, not
leasurelyaudiolistening. WAVE files are
also able to facilitate lengthyaudio clips,
and oftentimesother fileswcannot
handle that without a change inthe
audioqualityand/or lengthoverall.
.aiff Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF)is anaudiofile format standard used
for storing sound data for personal computers andother electronic audio
devices.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Interchange_File_Format
An audiofile format used to store and
analyse interchangeablemusic files and
allowing storage on computers andother
digital andaudiatory(audio) devices.
.au The Au file format is a simple audio file format introducedbySun
Microsystems. The format was common on NeXTsystems and onearly
Web pages.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_file_format
.smp SMP (symmetric multiprocessing)is the processingof programs by
multiple processors that share a common operating system and memory.
http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/definition/SMP
A wayof processing filesandstorage
data usingsimilar processors withthe
same memoryandOperating System
(OS).
Lossy Compression A term describinga data compressionalgorithmwhichactuallyreduces the
amount of information in the data, rather thanjust the number of bits
usedto represent that information.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lossy
A wayof compresing a file, so that the
file size, in a sense, does not affect the
performance andsoundof the files, but
does lessenthe amount of data and

3. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
3
memoryit takesup.
.mp3 It is a lossycompressionalgorithmthat removes certainfrequencies that
humans can't hear.
http://mp3.about.com/od/glossary/g/mp3def.htm
Allows for sound and music, as well as, in
some cases, videofiles, to be heard and
seenbythe humanear andeye
respectively. While not generallyused for
video files, it can be reprogrammed
towards that effect andpurpose, while
also retaining the abilityto holdsound
files. Mp3 files can alsobe used, not only
as videofiles, but alsoas convertabel
files, so they, if theyholdtoomuch
informationor a format not suitable, can
be changedto either anMP4 file, or
some other similar playback format.
AUDIO LIMITATIONS Sound Processor Unit (SPU) The SPU is the unit responsible for allaural capabilities ofthe psx. It
handles 24 voices, hasa 512kb soundbuffer, has ADSR envelope filters for
each voice andlots of other features.
http://psx.rules.org/spu.txt
From what I can gather, a sound
processor unit (SPU)is a piece of
software that canprocess andanalyse
multiple soundformats andfiles, and
store them for either later use of
modification.
Digital Sound Processor (DSP) Short for digital signal processing, whichrefers to manipulatinganalog
information, suchas soundor photographs that hasbeen convertedintoa
digital form. DSPalso implies the use of a data compression technique.
When usedas a noun, DSPstands for digital signalprocessor, a special
type of coprocessor designedfor performing the mathematics involvedin
DSP. Most DSPs are programmable, whichmeans that theycanbe usedfor
manipulatingdifferent types of information, includings ound, images, and
video.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/DSP.html
Digital sound processingcanbe used
with mathematics to imporove the fileof
soundin some wayor another, either
performance wise or similarly. Usually
usedto measure, filter and/or compress
soundfiles, and often analogue signals.
It is a specialisedmicroprocessor with
goals to further the sounddata
measurements.
Random Access Memory
(RAM)
RAMis made up ofsmall memorychips that form a memorymodule.
These modulesare installedinthe RAMslots onthe motherboard of your
computer.
http://techterms.com/definition/ram
Multiple, smallmemorychips that are
formed together as one unit, which can
be usedas a memorymodule; a place to
store andcollect data and files, andallow
for temporaryor permanent storage.
Mono Audio Mono is just one channel. Usuallythe left andright channel combined. In
the earlydays of reproduced soundthere was onlymono recordings.
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091214070855AAuPcIC
It uses onlya single soundchannel, often
being referredto as mono sound, though
the full title is monophonic;it is called
mono for the singular use, distant and

4. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
4
dissimilar to that of the stereo sound, of
its single soundchannel. This differs from
the other, more direct vversionof sound
recording anduse, whichis stereo, that
uses twochannels.
Stereo Audio Stereo means two channel as ina seperate right channel and a seperate
left channel.
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091214070855AAuPcIC
Stereo audiois usedinmanymodernand
some old machines andpiecesof
electronic adiorecording andplayback
equipments.
Surround Sound A system of soundrecording andreproductionthat uses three or more
independent recording channels andloudspeakers inorder to give the
impression that the listener is surrounded bythe sound sources.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/surround+sound
A sound system and, in a sense, software
device, that allows for the feel of sound
surroundingthe listener through nodes
acting as speakers. This can alsobe used
to integrate withnon-digital, electronic
devices, suchas televisionspeakers and,
in rare scenarios that are becoming more
common, headphones.
Direct Audio (Pulse Code
Modulation – PCM)
Pulse-code modulation(PCM) is a method usedto digitallyrepresent
sampledanalog signals.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-code_modulation
AUDIO RECORDING
SYSTEMS
Analogue Refers to recording audio in a format of continuous vibrations that are
analogous to the original soundwaves. Before audio recording became
digital, sounds were "carved" intovinyl records or written to tape as
magnetic waveforms. Contrast withdigital audio.
http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/60827/analog-audio
Digital Mini Disc The MiniDisc (MD)is anobsolete magneto-optical disc-based data storage
device for 74 minutes and, later, 80 minutes, of digitizedaudio or 1
gigabyte ofHi-MD data.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDisc
A small, miniature storage disk, a
somewhat ancestor of the modernCD,
that can store upto 1 gigabyte of data, or
roughly70 to 80 minutes of music or
video playback. Now obsolete, but often
usedinthe dayof its making(1992), this
diskis extremeplysimilar to the current
floppydisks and CDs, creating similarity
betweenthe three different hardwares.
Compact Disc (CD) A compact disc [sometimesspelleddisk](CD) is a small, portable,round
medium made of molded polymer (close insize to the floppy disk) for
electronicallyrecording, storing, andplaying backaudio, video, text, and
other information indigital form.
http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/compact-disc
Allows the storage andmultidudal use of
information, whether it be video, sound,
text or other forms andfiles. Insome
cses, it can be used to store simple text
files and, later, usedto run prgrammes

5. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
5
and executable files, if the data
allowance of said diskis highenough.
Digital Audio Tape (DAT) magnetic tape onwhichsound is digitallyrecorded withhighfidelityfor
playback.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/digital+audio+tape
Used as a means of recording and
transmitting ,as well as playing sound and
video files. Oftenreferredwith the use of
VHS systems and oldtape recorders.
MIDI Short for Musical Instrument Digital Interface: is a technical standard that
describes a protocol, digital interface and connectors and allows a wide
varietyof electronic musical instruments, computers andother related
devices to connect andcommunicate withone another.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI
Software Sequencers An electronic device or software program that digitallystores sound for
modification and playbackthrougha synthesizer.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sequencer
Allows for playback and modifcication
through storage of soundfiles, music
files, andeffects. Alsocanbe usedwitha
synthesiser, a piece of equipment that
can allow for one or more soundto
playback at the same time, andcanalso,
in some cases, be usedto modifyand
change the sound(s) completely.
These allow for you to change sounds
accordingto what you want them to
soundlike; for example, you maychoose
and decide the pitch ofthe audio file, as
well as whether it fades in and out or
not, alongwith the fade duration and
length.
Software Plug-ins A hardware or software module that adds a specific feature or service to a
larger system. The idea is that the new component simplyplugs into the
existingsystem.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/plug_in.html
An example would be a USB
stick/memorystick, or a floppydisk. It
(Either disk or USB) canbe usedto
download filesto andfrom an existing
piece of hardware (for example, a
computer{PC}) and can be used as simple
storage.
MIDI Keyboard Instruments A MIDI keyboard is typicallya piano-style user interface keyboard device
usedfor sending MIDI signals or commands over a USB or MIDI cable to
other devices connectedandoperating onthe same MIDI protocol
interface.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI_keyboard

6. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
6
AUDIO SAMPLING File Size Constraints - Bit-
depth
In digital audio, bit depthdescribes the potential accuracyof a particular
piece of hardware or software that processes audiodata. In general, the
more bits that are available, the more accurate the resulting output from
the data being processed.
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/bit-depth
File Size Constraints - Sample
Rate
The number of times an analog signal is measured(sampled) per second.
The unit of sample rate is "samples per second". This is often expressed in
kiloHertz (kHz). For example, "CD quality" soundhas a sample rate of44
kHz.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sample+rate