This document provides a glossary of terms related to sound design and production for computer games. It contains definitions for over 20 key terms researched from online sources. For each term, the student also describes how the definition relates to their own production practice for a game sound project involving a cut sequence. The glossary covers areas such as sound design methodology, sound file formats, audio limitations, audio recording systems, audio sampling, and MIDI instruments.

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: Cameron McRae 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 Foleyartists matchlive sound effects with the action ofthe picture.
http://www.filmsound.org/terminology/foley.htm
I usedfoleyartistryto create some of
the background sounds for the cut
sequence.
Sound Libraries A collectionof sounds storedon file (for example on CDs, DVDs, or
as digital audiofiles)
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sound-library
I usedaudiofrom a sound libraryto help
learn how to use the Reaper software.
SOUND FILE FORMATS Uncompressed Uncompressing (or decompressing) is the act of expandinga
compressionfile backinto its original form.
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/uncompressing-or-
decompressing
.wav A Microsoft andIBMaudio file format standard for storinganaudio
bit stream onPCs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV
All of the audio I usedandrenderedwas
in the .wavformat.
.aiff an audiofile format standardusedfor storing sound data for
personalcomputers and other electronic audiodevices.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Interchange_File_Format
.au AU is a file extensionfor a soundfile format belongingto Sun, NeXT
and DECandusedin UNIX. The AU file format is also knownas the
Sparc-audioor u-law foment. AU files contain three parts:the audio
data andtext for a header (containing 24 bytes) and an annotation
block.
http://whatis.techtarget.com/fileformat/AU-Sun-NeXT-DEC-UNIX-
sound-file
.smp Music file usedbySmartMusic, a music practice application for
band, orchestra, andvoice; saves an accompaniment that can be
usedfor practicing solos andother musical parts.
http://fileinfo.com/extension/smp
Lossy Compression Refers to data compression techniques in which some amount of

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
2
data is lost. Lossycompressiontechnologiesattempt to eliminate
redundant or unnecessaryinformation.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/L/lossy_compression.html
.mp3 A computer file format for the compressionand storage of digital
audiodata.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mp3
AUDIO LIMITATIONS Sound Processor Unit (SPU) A plug-incardthat records andplays back sound. Supporting both
digital audioandMIDI, soundcards provide aninput port for a
microphone or other sound source andoutput ports to speakers and
amplifiers.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Audio+processing+unit
Digital Sound Processor (DSP) A specialized microprocessor designedspecificallyfor digital signal
processing, generallyin real-time computing. The DSPprocesses
digital signalsconverted fromanalogsignals.
http://www.audiocodes.com/glossary/dsp
Random Access Memory (RAM) A type of computer memorythat canbe accessedrandomly;that is,
anybyte of memorycanbe accessed without touching the
preceding bytes. RAMis the most common type of memoryfoundin
computers and other devices, suchas printers.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/RAM.html
Mono Audio Typicallythere is onlyone microphone, one loudspeaker, or (inthe
case of headphones andmultiple loudspeakers) channelsare fed
from a common signal path.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaural
Stereo Audio Reproduction of sound usingtwo or more separate microphones to
feed two or more loudspeakers throughseparate channels inorder
to give a spatial effect to the sound.
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/stereo-sound
Surround Sound a system of soundrecording andreproduction that uses three or
more independent recording channels and loudspeakers inorder to
give the impressionthat the listener is surroundedbythe sound
sources
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/surround+sound
Direct Audio (Pulse Code
Modulation – PCM)
Pulse-code modulation(PCM) is a methodusedto digitallyrepresent
sampled analog signals. It is the standard formof digital audioin
computers, Compact Discs, digital telephonyandother digital audio
applications.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-code_modulation

3. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
3
AUDIO RECORDING
SYSTEMS
Analogue An analogue recordingis one that is made bychanging the sound
waves into electrical signals of the same type.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/analogue
Digital Mini Disc A music mediumdesignedbySonyas a portable replacement for
music Compact Discs.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Mini+Disc
Compact Disc (CD) A small, portable, round medium made of moldedpolymer (close in
size to the floppydisk)for electronicallyrecording, storing, and
playing backaudio, video, text, andother informationindigital
form.
http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/compact-disc
Digital Audio Tape (DAT) Magnetic tape onwhich soundis recorded digitally, giving high-
fidelityreproduction.
http://www.wordreference.com/definition/digital%20audio%20tape
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) A standardprotocol for the
interchange of musical informationbetween musical instruments,
synthesizers andcomputers.
http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/47014/midi
Software Sequencers An electronic device or software program that digitallystores sound
for modification and playbackthrougha synthesizer.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sequencer
Software Plug-ins Software plug-ins are add-ons for a program that adds functionality
to it.
http://techterms.com/definition/plugin
I importedplugins and used themto
edit our sounds.
MIDI Keyboard Instruments Typicallya piano-style user interface keyboarddevice usedfor
sending MIDI signals or commands over a USB or MIDI cable to other
devices connectedandoperatingon the same MIDI protocol
interface.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI_keyboard
I usedimportedMIDI instrument to
create basic background music for my
cut sequence.
AUDIO SAMPLING File Size Constraints - Bit-depth Bit depthdescribes the potential accuracyof a particular piece of
hardware or software that processes audio data. Ingeneral, 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
Sampling is the process of measuringanaudiosignal at specific
points intime. The sampling rate or frequencyis expressed inHertz.
http://stereos.about.com/od/glossaryoftermss/g/sampling.htm