Sound recording glossary

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: Phillip Norris Wynne 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 soundeffects technique for synchronous effects or live effects"
http://filmsound.org/foley/
FoleyArtistryis where you matchthe
soundto the image.
Sound Libraries a collectionof sounds storedon file (for example on CDs, DVDs, or as digital
audiofiles)
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sound-library
Anyamount ofsoundstoredontoa
storage device.
SOUND FILE FORMATS Uncompressed Commonlyused for storinguncompressed (PCM), CD-qualitysound files,
which means that theycanbe large insize—around10 MB per minute.
Wave filescanalsocontain data encodedwith a varietyof (lossy) codecs to
reduce the file size (for example the GSMor MP3 formats).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_file_format
A large amount of data before it goes
through compression
.wav Short for WAVeform AudioFormat, it is normallyusedin anuncompressed
format on the Microsoft Windows platform. This rawaudioformat, which
was developedjointlybyIBMandMicrosoft, stores audiodata in blocks.
http://mp3.about.com/od/glossary/g/WAV_def.htm
Wavor waveformaudioformat
stores uncompresseddata into
blocks
.aiff Stands for "Audio Interchange File Format." AIFFis a file format designed to
store audiodata. It wasdeveloped byApple Computer, but is basedon
Electronic Arts' IFF(Interchange File Format), a container format originally
usedon Amiga systems.
http://techterms.com/definition/aiff
Audio Interchange File Format,
design for apple, doesthe same as
Wavas it stores uncompressed data
into chunks
.au AU file (AUdiofile)A digital audiofile format from Sunthat is usedon the
Internet andcan be playedbya Java program. It provides toll-qualitysound
and uses the .AU extension. It generallyuses the u-Law(mu-Law)encoding
method, and raw u-Law filesand AU filesare the same except for the file
header.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Au+file+format
Audio File, java usesthis to play
sounds.

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
2
.smp An ".smp" file maybe one of several different types ofaudio file. For
example, it could be a SampleVisionaudiosample file. This16-bit audiofile
was originallyusedbyTurtle BeachSampleVision;you canopen it with
Adobe Auction, SoundForge Pro or Awave Studio.
http://www.ehow.com/info_12198596_file-smp.html
SampleVision audio sample file, it’s a
16bit audiofile usedbyturtle beach
origianly
Lossy Compression Lossless andlossycompression are terms that describe whether or not, in
the compressionof a file, alloriginaldata canbe recoveredwhenthe file is
uncompressed. lossycompressionreduces a file bypermanentlyeliminating
certaininformation, especiallyredundant information. Whenthe file is
uncompressed, onlya part ofthe original informationis still there (although
the user maynot notice it). Lossycompressionis generallyusedfor video
and sound, where a certainamount of informationloss will not be detected
bymost users.
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/lossless-and-lossy-compression
Lossy, whena file is uncompressed
onlypart of the original file is still
there usedfor audio where the info
lost willnot reallybe detected bythe
user.
.mp3 There are manyaudiofile formats ofwhichthe first was MPEG-1 Audio
Layer 3 -- or more commonlyreferred to as MP3. It is a lossycompression
algorithmthat removes certainfrequencies that humans can't hear
http://mp3.about.com/od/glossary/g/mp3def.htm
MP3 is a type oflossycompression,
where it removes frequency’s
unheardto humans
AUDIO LIMITATIONS Sound Processor Unit (SPU) The SPU is the unit responsible for allaural capabilities ofthe psx. It handles
24 voices, has a 512kb soundbuffer, has ADSR envelope filters for each
voice and lots of other features.
http://psx.rules.org/spu.txt
The spuis responsible for producing
the soundof the media file
Digital Sound Processor (DSP) A Digital Signal Processor, or DSP, is a specializedmicroprocessor that has
an architecture whichis optimizedfor the fast operational needs ofdigital
signal processing. A Digital Signal Processor (DSP) canprocess data inreal
time, making it idealfor applications that can’t tolerate delays.
http://www.futureelectronics.com/en/microprocessors/digital-signal-
processors.aspx
The DSPmakes the soundfile into a
clearer sound for you to hear
Random Access Memory
(RAM)
RAM(pronounced ramm) is anacronym for randomaccessmemory, a type
of computer memorythat canbe accessedrandomly;that is, any byte of
memorycan be accessedwithout touching the preceding bytes. RAMis the
most common type of memoryfoundincomputers andother devices, such
as printers.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/RAM.html
Random access memoryis a
temporarymemorythat stores info
until you come awayfrom the
program
Mono Audio Mono or monophonic describes a systemwhere all the audiosignalsare
mixed together androutedthrough a single audiochannel. Monosystems
can have multipleloudspeakers, andevenmultiple widelyseparated
loudspeakers
http://www.mcsquared.com/mono-stereo.htm
This is where a singal soundis mixed
through a single audio channel

3. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
3
Stereo Audio True stereophonic soundsystems have two independent audiosignal
channels, andthe signals that are reproduced have a specific level and
phase relationshipto each other sothat when playedbackthrougha
suitable reproductionsystem, there will be anapparent image ofthe
originalsoundsource.
http://www.mcsquared.com/mono-stereo.htm
Stereo sound is where twodifferent
channels are used to produce a single
sound
Surround Sound Surroundsoundaudiois, simplyput, sound that completelysurrounds you.
It means a speaker invirtuallyeverycorner of the room, projecting high-
qualitydigital sound at you fromallanglesjust as though youwere in a
theatre.
http://peripherals.about.com/od/speakersandheadphones/a/whatis_ss.htm
SurroundSoundis where sound
comes at you for all different
directions,
Direct Audio (Pulse Code
Modulation – PCM)
Pulse code modulation (PCM) is a digital representationof an analogue
signal that takessamples of the amplitude of the analogue signal at regular
intervals. The sampled analogue data is changedto, andthen represented
by, binarydata. PCMrequiresa veryaccurate clock.
http://www.techopedia.com/definition/24128/pulse-code-modulation-pcm
PCM data is raw digital audio
samples, henit converts it into
analogue signals for the speakers
AUDIO RECORDING
SYSTEMS
Analogue An analogue recordingis one that is made bychanging the sound waves into
electricalsignals ofthe same type.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/analogue
It changes soundwaves into
electronic signals
Digital Mini Disc A music mediumdesignedbySonyas a portable replacement for music
Compact Discs. In1994 Sonyannounced a data versionwhich can hold140
MB or about 100 MB usingerror correction.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Mini+Disc
It’s a replacement for cds from sony
Compact Disc (CD) A compact disc [sometimesspelleddisk](CD) is a small, portable,round
medium made of moulded polymer (close insize to the floppydisk)for
electronicallyrecording, storing, andplaying backaudio, video, text, and
other information indigital form.
http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/compact-disc
CD is a small portable diskthat can
store audiofiles
Digital Audio Tape (DAT) Digital AudioTape (DAT or R-DAT) is a signal recordingandplayback
medium developed bySonyandintroduced in 1987. In appearance it is
similar to a Compact Cassette, using 4 mm magnetic tape enclosedina
protective shell, but is roughlyhalf the size at 73 mm × 54 mm × 10.5 mm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Tape
A tape is a magnetic tape closed into
a plastic shell, verysimilar to a CD
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) A standardprotocol for the
interchange of musical informationbetweenmusical instruments,
synthesizers andcomputers. MIDI wasdevelopedto allowthe keyboard of
one synthesizer to playnotesgeneratedbyanother
MIDI designs code for a musical note
as well as buttons.

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://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/47014/midi
Software Sequencers an electronic device or software programthat allows a sequence ofmusical
sounds, recorded indigital form, to be alteredbefore beingplayed back
http://www.yourdictionary.com/sequencer
It allows a device or programto alter
a sequence of music before being
played back to the user
Software Plug-ins Software plug-in is anadd-onfor a program that adds functionalityto it. For
example, a Photoshop plug-in(such as Eye Candy) mayaddextra filters that
you can use to manipulate images.
http://techterms.com/definition/plugin
Software plugins adds extra infoand
or functionalityto the software
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
A MIDI keyboard is a piano type
keyboard, used for sendingsignals
over USB or MIDI cable, this is where
you can create your own music.
AUDIO SAMPLING File Size Constraints - Bit-
depth
In digital audiousing pulse-code modulation(PCM), bit depthis the number
of bits of informationin each sample, and it directlycorresponds to the
resolution ofeachsample.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_bit_depth
Bit Depthis the number of bits in a
sample of music
File Size Constraints - Sample
Rate
a frequencyof howmanytimes audiois measured per second, usually
measured in kilohertz (kHz);a usual number you might see is 44.1kHz. This
is tieddirectlyto bit depthor the number of bits measuredineachcycle
http://superuser.com/questions/388382/what-does-the-sample-rate-and-
sample-size-of-audio-means
Sample Rate is the recordedtime of
the frequencymeasured in Kilohertz