Sound recording glossary

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: Amy
Brockbank
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 FoleyArtist is a person who creates (or re-creates)
sounds for movies. For example, if the sound of an actor's
footsteps were not recorded well or lost when the voice
was re-recorded, a Foley artist will recreate them. In fact,
except for dialogue and music, almost all the sounds you
hear in Hollywood films is Foleysound.”
~ http://www.mediacollege.com/employment/film/foley-
artist.html
Foleyartistryis sound that is recorded for a game to fillinsoundeffects that
should be there. The personwhorecords this is knownas a foleyartist.
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/soun
d-library
A sound libraryis a collectionof sounds that are storedinone area that canbe
usedfor different purposes.
SOUND FILE
FORMATS
Uncompressed “Uncompressed formats like CD Audio, WAV, or AIFF are
pretty much perfect representations of the audio that was
recorded. If you convert something from one
uncompressed format to another, it's a completelyperfect
copy. So, for instance, if you rip audio off a CD into WAV
format on your computer, then burn another CD using the
WAV you created, those two CDs will be virtually identical,
despite the fact that you copied it multiple times.”
~ http://www.prx.org/help/posting-audio/compressed-
versus-uncompressed
Uncompressedaudiois audio that is savedusing a lossless format. File formats
tend to be quite big, but noqualityis lost withinthe file.
.wav “WAV is an audio file format that was developed by .WAV files are similar to .AIFF files, but used mainlyon Windows PC’s. The format

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Microsoft. It is so wide spread today that it is called a
standard PC audio file format. A Wave file is identified by a
file name extension of WAV (.wav). Used primarily in PCs,
the Wave file format has been accepted as a viable
interchange medium for other computer platforms, such as
Macintosh. This allows content developers to freelymove
audio files between platforms for processing, for example.”
~ http://www.coolutils.com/Formats/WAV
is lossless, meaning noqualityis lost, but files in this format are quite big, meaning
this file format is not the best whenconverting full tracks, as theywill quickly
mount up andstart to fill hard-drives quickly. This file format is ideal for recording
soundeffects, as sound effects are quite short, theywillnot buildupas quicklyas
full audio tracks.
.aiff “AIFF is short for Audio Interchange File Format, which is
an audio format initiallycreated by Apple Computer for
storing and transmitting high-quality sampled audio data.
It supports a variety of bit resolutions, sample rates, and
channels of audio. This format is quite popular upon Apple
platforms, and is commonly adopted in professional
programs that handle digital audio waveforms.
AIFF files are uncompressed, making the files quite large
compared to the ubiquitous MP3 format. AIFF files are
comparable to Microsoft's wave files, because they are
high quality they are excellent for burning to CD. There is
also a compressed variant of AIFF known as AIFF-Cor AIFC,
with various defined compression codecs. Though AIFF files
are popular among Macintosh users and audio
professionals, PC users tend to use wave files instead.”
~ http://www.abyssmedia.com/formats/aiff-format.shtml
.AIFF files are similar to .WAV files, although.AIFFfiles are more commonlyused
with Apple products, whereas .WAV files are mainlyusedon PC’s withWindows
installed. .AIFFfiles are lossless, meaning noqualityis lost when convertingthe
file, but the size of the file canbe quite large.
.au “AU is a file extension for a sound file format belonging to
Sun, NeXT and DEC and used in UNIX. The AU file format is
also known as the Sparc-audio or u-law fomat.
AU files contain three parts: the audio data and text for a
header (containing 24 bytes) and an annotation block.”
~ http://whatis.techtarget.com/fileformat/AU-Sun-NeXT-
DEC-UNIX-sound-file
.AU soundfiles are typicallyused withUNIXmachines, and are commonlyused
with Java, too.
.AU files are alsousedwithAudacity in some cases.
.smp “An ".smp" file maybe one of several different types of
audio file. For example, it could be a SampleVision audio
sample file. This 16-bit audio file was originally used by
Turtle Beach SampleVision;you can open it with Adobe
An .SMP file is commonlyassociatedwith Turtle Beach’s Sample Visionsoftware,
which was the first software onPCto edit samples.

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3
Auction, Sound Forge Pro or Awave Studio. It could also be
a sample file for AdLib Gold, a PC sound card released in
1992; Scream Tracker, a mid-1990s music editing program;
or Swell. Reason, a music recording and production
program, uses the ".smp" extension for sampler instrument
patches.”
~ http://www.ehow.com/info_12198596_file-smp.html
Lossy
Compression
“Refers to data compression techniques in which some
amount of data is lost. Lossy compression technologies
attempt to eliminate redundant or unnecessary
information. Most video compression technologies, such as
MPEG, use a lossytechnique.”
~
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/L/lossy_compression.
html
Lossycompressionis a type of compressionwhich causes some data to be lost
when compressingdata, meaning the final result will not be as clear, unlike
lossless compression whichkeeps the finalfile untouched, but takes upmore
storage space.
.mp3 “MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer 3 or MPEG-
1 or 2 Audio Layer III, more commonlyreferred to as MP3,
is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of
lossydata compression. It is a common audio format for
consumer audio storage, as well as a de facto standard of
digital audio compression for the transfer and playback of
music on digital audio players.”
~ http://www.winxdvd.com/resource/mp3.htm
An MP3 file is one of the most commonlyusedfile formats when dealing with
audio, it is mainlyusedfor playing backaudiofiles in everydaylife, as the .MP3 file
format is supportedbymanydifferent devices.
AUDIO
LIMITATIONS
Sound
Processor Unit
(SPU)
“Also called a "sound board" or "audio adapter," it is a
plug-in card that records and plays back sound. Supporting
both digital audio and MIDI, sound cards provide an input
port for a microphone or other sound source and output
ports to speakers and amplifiers. Sound circuits are
typically built into the chipset on the motherboard, but can
be disabled if a separate sound card is installed. See Sound
Blaster, AC'97 and HD Audio.”
~
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Audio+proces
sing+unit
A sound processor unit is more oftenreferredto as a sound card. Soundcards are
found in computers, andgive the computer the abilityto playand recordsound,
more expensive soundcards give off higher qualitysound, andare generallyused
in professional settings, or occasions where sound qualityis important.

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(Image ofa Sound Processor Unit.)
~ http://static.trustedreviews.com/94/9a0e67/0557/5096-IMG7110s.jpg
Digital Sound
Processor (DSP)
“A Digital Signal Processor, or DSP, is a specialized
microprocessor that has an architecture which is optimized
for the fast operational needs of digital signal processing.
A Digital Signal Processor (DSP) can process data in real
time, making it ideal for applications that can’t tolerate
delays. Digital signal processors take a digital signal and
process it to improve the signal into clearer sound, faster
data or sharper images. Digital Signal Processors use
video, voice, audio, temperature or position signals that
have been digitized and mathematicallymanipulate them.
A digital signal processor is designed to perform these
mathematical functions rapidly. The signals are processed
so the information contained in them can be displayed or
converted to another type of signal.”
~
http://www.futureelectronics.com/en/microprocessors/di
gital-signal-processors.aspx
A Digital SoundProcessor is a device whichoptimises a digital signal to produce a
clearer sound from the signals, andmakes the soundmuchsharper. This is done
through a series ofmathematicalfunctions, whichare performedquite quickly.
(Image ofa Digital SoundProcessor)
~ http://www.itwissen.info/bilder/digital-sound-processor-dsp-foto-technics.png
Random Access
Memory (RAM)
“Alternatively referred to as main memory, primary
memory, or system memory, Random Access Memory
Random Access Memory, or RAM, is memorywhich storesdata temporarily, so
the data can be accessedquicker thanif it was taking data straight from a hard-

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(RAM) is a computer storage location that allows
information to be stored and accessed quickly from
random locations within DRAM on a memorymodule.
Because information is accessed randomly instead of
sequentiallylike it is on a CD or hard drive, the computer
can access the data much faster. However, unlike ROM and
the hard drive RAMis a volatile memoryand requires
power in order to keep the data accessible, if power is lost
all data contained in memorylost.”
~ http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/r/ram.htm
drive. RAMis put into the system in the form of RAMsticks, whichare small
boards that slot intothe computer.
(Image ofa RAMstick.)
~
http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140922143300/wwstechnology/images/a/
ac/RAM-0.jpg
Mono Audio “Commonly called mono sound, mono, or non-stereo
sound, this early 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_soun
d.html
Mono soundis sound that plays the exact same audiofromallchannels;whereas
stereoandsurround soundhave their audio split acrosschannels.

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(Image ofa monosound system.)
~ http://www.nady.com/wp-content/uploads/RPA6.jpg
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 channeled 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_soun
d.html
Stereo audiois audio that puts out audiothrough twochannels, a left channel and
a right channel. This can be used to create the effect ofsoundtravellingfrom one
ear to the other.
(Image ofa stereo soundset up.)
~ http://salestores.com/stores/images/images_747/CDX10i.jpg
Surround
Sound
“Surround sound audio is, simplyput, sound that
completelysurrounds you. It means a speaker in virtually
every corner of the room, projecting high-quality digital
sound at you from all angles just as though you were in a
theater.”
~
http://peripherals.about.com/od/speakersandheadphones
/a/whatis_ss.htm
Surroundsoundis similar to stereosound, except it usesmore channels to create
a much more defined set of sounds.

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(Image ofa surroundsoundset up.)
~ http://www.cedia.org/files/image/surround-sound-setup-5-1-vs-7-1.jpg
Direct Audio
(Pulse Code
Modulation –
PCM)
“Pulse code modulation (PCM) is a digital representation of
an analog signal that takes samples of the amplitude of
the analog signal at regular intervals. The sampled analog
data is changed to, and then represented by, binary data.
PCM requires a very accurate clock. The number of
samples per second, ranging from 8,000 to 192,000, is
usually several times the maximum frequencyof the
analog waveform in Hertz (Hz), or cycles per second, which
ranges from 8 to 192 KHz.”
~ http://www.techopedia.com/definition/24128/pulse-
code-modulation-pcm
Direct Audio is an analogue signal, which is converted intoa digitalsignal, instead.
AUDIO
RECORDING
SYSTEMS
Analogue “In analog technology, a wave is recorded or used in its
original form. So, for example, in an analog tape recorder,
a signal is taken straight from the microphone and laid
onto tape. The wave from the microphone is an analog
wave, and therefore the wave on the tape is analog as
well. That wave on the tape can be read, amplified and
sent to a speaker to produce the sound.”
~ http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/question7.htm
Analogue sound is sound that is taken fromananalogue signal.
Digital Mini
Disc
“A recordable MiniDisc is a magneto-optical device capable
of storing 140 megabytes of information. Music can be
A digital mini disc is a small disc, similar to a compact disc (Or CD), created bySony
back in1992. Sonyoriginallytriedto make the MiniDisc a popular solution for

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scattered all over the disk and the player can "put it
together" correctly when playing the disk. This means that
you can erase and re-record songs on a MiniDisc without
having to worry about how they fit together. This is
tremendouslyconvenient compared to a cassette tape,
where you have to basicallyre-record the entire tape if you
want to change any of the songs on it. There are also 4-
track MiniDisc recorders for musicians, which are great for
recording songs as they are performed and then mixing the
tracks.”
~ http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/question55.htm
CD’s, but failed to doso, as theydied out aroundthe mid2000’s
(Image ofa MiniDisc.)
~ http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Memorex-minidisc.jpg
Compact Disc
(CD)
“Abbreviated as CD, a compact disc is a flat, round storage
medium that is read by a laser in a CD-ROMdrive that was
invented by James Russell and first created at a Philips
factory in Germanyon August 17, 1982. The standard CD is
capable of holding 72 minutes of music or 650 MB of data.
80 minute CDs are also commonly used to store data and
are capable of containing 700 MB of data.”
~
http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/c/compactd.htm
A compact disc, or CD, is a shiny, flat disc whichstores information. CD’s more
commonlyholdmusic tracks.

IG2 Task 1
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(Image ofa compact disc.)
~ http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Compact_Disc.jpg
Digital Audio
Tape (DAT)
“DAT (Digital Audio Tape) is a standard medium and
technology for the digital recording of audio on tape at a
professional level of quality. A DAT drive is a digital tape
recorder with rotating heads similar to those found in a
video deck. Most DAT drives can record at sample rates of
44.1 kHz, the CD audio standard, and 48 kHz. DAT has
become the standard archiving technology in professional
and semi-professional recording environments for master
recordings. Digital inputs and outputs on professional DAT
decks allow the user to transfer recordings from the DAT
tape to an audio workstation for precise editing. The
compact size and low cost of the DAT medium makes it an
excellent way to compile the recordings that are going to
be used to create a CD master.”
~ http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/DAT-Digital-
Audio-Tape
Digital AudioTape, or DAT, is a bit like a cassette tape, although it is usedin
professional recordings due to the highqualitysound. The tape is also lowcost,
which allows studios to create manyhigh qualityrecordings, at a minimal cost
(Image ofdigital audiotape.)
~ http://happyireland.com/sites/default/files/dat.jpg
MIDI “MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a protocol
developed in the 1980's which allows electronic
instruments and other digital musical tools to
communicate with each other. MIDI itself does not make
sound, it is just a series of messages like "note on," "note
off," "note/pitch," "pitchbend," and many more. These
messages are interpreted by a MIDI instrument to produce
sound. A MIDI instrument can be a piece of hardware
(electronic keyboard, synthesizer) or part of a software
environment (ableton, garageband, digital performer,
logic...).”
~ http://www.instructables.com/id/What-is-MIDI/
MIDI is a type ofdata that reads signals createdbyMIDI instruments. MIDI data
records how longthe keys were heldpressed, andwhenthe keys stoppedbeing
presseddown, whichis then turnedinto sound, that canbe changedusingcertain
software.
Software “In digital audio recording, a sequencer is a program in a Software sequencers allowthe user to input MIDI recordings, andchange the

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Sequencers computer or stand-alone keyboard unit that puts together
a sound sequence from a series (or sequence) of Musical
Instrument Digital Interface ( MIDI ) events (operations).
The MIDI sequencer allows the user to record and edit a
musical performance without using an audio-based input
source. The performance is recorded as a series of events
that would ordinarily be played in from a keyboard
instrument. The MIDI sequencer does not record the actual
audio, but rather the events related to the performance -
what note was played at what time, how hard the key was
pressed, when did the sustain pedal get depressed, and so
forth. This data is then played back into a MIDI instrument
or sound module. Using this method, the performer can
select a piano sound for a musical passage and later decide
that the passage would work better as an organ sound.
The editor can simplychange the sound program on the
MIDI keyboard to alter the sound without needing to
rerecord the entire performance.”
~ http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/sequencer
soundof these recordings. Theycan alsochange the arrangements of these
recordings and layer them withother recordings.
Software Plug-
ins
“They are called that because these are little computer
applications that run inside a "host" application, i.e., a
sequencer, typically. These plugin devices are very
important, as they have led the software revolution
towards our virtual studios which is changing all recording
studios, both home and pro. Today there are few
hardware devices left that cannot be emulated by plugins
and software. As you see from this page, software based
synthesizers, effects processors, samplers and multi-track
recorders can all work together on one single computer.”
~ http://tweakheadz.com/software-plugins/
Software Plug-Ins are extensions to the software, which allow the user to change
the software however theylike. Insound engineering, theyare usedto emulate
instruments that can be played via hardware.
MIDI Keyboard
Instruments
“There are two basic types of devices that generate MIDI
data: MIDI musical instruments and MIDI controllers. MIDI
musical instruments, also known as synthesizers, come in
all different shapes and sizes. Their chief characteristic -- or
what differentiates them from MIDI controllers -- is that
they generate sound as well as MIDI data.
MIDI keyboardinstruments are physical devices that allow the user to record MIDI
data. Whenkeys are pressed or hit onthese devices, the system shouldturn this
into MIDI data, whichreads how longthe keywas pressed and when it stopped
being pressed. MIDI instruments come indifferent kinds of designs, for example;
some electric drumkits can be used to create MIDI data.

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The classic MIDI synthesizer is the electronic keyboard,
resembling a small piano. When you press a key on the
keyboard, you hear a tone. Most new keyboards come with
hundreds of different preset instrument sounds and effects
from which to choose.”
~ http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/midi2.htm
(Image ofa MIDI keyboard.)
~
https://www.musicmatter.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/800x800
/17f82f742ffe127f42dca9de82fb58b1/a/l/alesis_q25_midi_keyboard.jpg
AUDIO
SAMPLING
File Size
Constraints -
Bit-depth
“In digital audio, there has to be a certain value set for
describing the resolution of the sound data (samples) that
is to be captured and stored in an audio file -- this attribute
is called Bit Depth. Similarlyfor video files (images, videos),
this measurement range is also used to determine the
resolution of a picture -- the higher the bit depth (e.g. 16
bit versus 24 bit) the better the image will be. This
attribute is exactly the same for digital audio and thus a
higher bit depth will give a much more detailed sound
recording.”
~ http://mp3.about.com/od/glossary/g/Bit-Depth-
Definition-What-Does-Bit-Depth-Mean.htm
The bit-depth ofa soundrecording determinesthe amount of different tones that
can be usedina soundrecording. The lower the amount of bits, the smaller the
file size is;however, it also decreases the amount of sounds that can be used. This
is verysimilar to howbit-depth is usedin images. The more colours that are used
in the image, the higher the bit-depth.
File Size
Constraints -
Sample Rate
“The audio sampling rate is number of samples per second
that are used to digitize a particular sound. Most digital
video (DV) cameras can record at several audio sampling
rates, where higher rates produce better results.”
Sample rate is the number of samplestaken to accuratelyreplicate a sound. The
higher the sample rate, the more accurate the soundwill be from the original.

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~
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/audio_sampling_rat
e.html

Sound recording glossary

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