audio terminology

Audio Terminology

ASM30

Garageband

• Software that comes preloaded on most Macintosh computers

• This program gives the user the ability to record, compose and edit audio

• Users can either use the built in microphone, or an audio interface connected through USB or Firewire

Transport windowOnce tracks are activated (armed) the transport window will begin recording.

Arming a track

• On the left hand side of the screen, you see all of the tracks that are included in your work.

• In order to record, you must select the record button on the track. When you have selected the track, it will light up ‘red’ in colour.

Ducking

• This feature is particularly important in podcasts.

• On each track, you are given the option to select an arrow up or an arrow down.

• You would normally select the arrow up for voices.– This means that if a song or loop is playing at the

same time as a voice is speaking, the voice will be heard over the song or loop.

Ducking Continued…

Compression

• Audio compression reduces the dynamic range of recorded audio.

• It boosts the quiet sections, and reduces the loud sections.

• Coincidently this also reduces the overall quality of the audio.

Compression continued…

Vinyl - Records

• The sound is recorded on a very fine line or groove which goes around and around in a spiral from the outside edge of the disc to the center. The phonograph plays the sound with a needle that touches the groove. A record usually has different music on each side.

• Purists say that records more accurately capture the true nature of the recording

• Record companies have seen a decrease in CD sales, and an increase in Record sales.

Stereo Sound

• Audio that involves two speakers – Each speaker can have different sounds coming

from them. – The audio engineer determines what happens in

each speaker.

Stereo sound

Dynamics

• Simply put, dynamics means – volume• Audio records capture the interest of the

audience by having a variety of dynamics. • Music hear on the radio has virtually no

dynamics – the music is heavily compressed.

Pitch Shifting

• Sound recording technique in which the original pitch of sound is either raised or lowered

• We experimented in garageband with pitch shifting through the ‘vocal transformer’

• We were able to change a male voice into a female voice – and visa versa

Beat

• This is the pulse of the music or recording• In a band setting, the beat is usually

articulated and defined by the bass drum

Automation

• Allows you to change the levels of different aspects of music at specific points in a recording

• Most commonly used in volume

Reverb

• Is the most used studio effect• Reverb creates space within the recording• It adds echo to the recording, creating an

ambience to the sound.• Recordings with a lot of reverb sound as if

they were recorded in a large auditorium

Delay

• A very commonly used studio effect• This is similar to reverb in that it creates

ambience in the recordings• Delay produces repeats in the notes –

resembles echoes

Looping

• Prerecorded sounds files• When a recording is looped, it will play

continuously – repeating many times• In Garageband – we explored the pre loaded

loops by selecting the ‘view loop browser’ feature found in the control icon.

MIDI

• Musical Instrument Digital Interface• Literally turns musical instruments into

software controllers.• Most commonly, digital keyboards are

connected to computers via midi cables. The keyboards now controls various aspects of the software.

Synthesizer

• Synthesizers use a number of different technologies or programmed algorithms to generate signal, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

• The original synthesizer was created by the company “MOOG AUDIO”