Electroacoustic technology is rich with terminology, some of which becomes quickly dated. Here we emphasize the most generic terms dealing with audio signals and the way in which they are recorded, manipulated and reproduced. The list should be thought of as more representative than comprehensive, with emphasis placed on the original meaning of the term in analog technology with comments on how the practical aspect has changed with digital technology.
A) Basic terms:
Audio |
Signal |
Electroacoustic |
B) Recording media, their characteristics and problems:
Magnetic Tape |
Magnetic Wire |
Phonograph |
Gramophone |
Graphophone |
Bulk Eraser |
Channel |
Crosstalk |
Cue |
Dropout |
Dubbing |
Emulsion |
Flutter |
Montage |
Print-through |
Separation |
Splice |
Tape Loop |
Wow |
Tempophone |
C) Transducers, microphones, loudspeakers and their characteristic
Transducer |
Microphone |
Loudspeaker |
Binaural Recording |
Kunstkopf |
Baffle |
Enclosure |
Tweeter |
Woofer |
Diaphragm |
Directivity |
Parabolic Reflector |
Spill |
Wind Screen |
- |
D) Spatial dimensions:
Stereophonic |
Monophonic |
Quadraphonic |
- |
Diffusion |
Pan |
Reverberation |
Azimuth |
E) Intensity level, measurement and control:
Amplification |
Amplifier |
Attenuation |
Attenuator |
Gain |
Dynamic Range |
Decibel |
Compression |
Limiter |
VU Meter |
Zero Level VU |
- |
F) Spectrum, and the time domain:
Frequency |
Frequency Response |
Spectrum |
Bass |
Treble |
Filter |
Centre Frequency |
Band |
Bandwidth |
Equalization |
Waveform |
Sine Wave |
Sawtooth Wave |
Square Wave |
Triangle Wave |
White Noise |
Pulse |
- |
Presence |
- |
G) Signal quality, criteria and distortions:
Signal-to-Noise Ratio |
Fidelity |
Hi-fi |
Lo-fi |
Distortion |
Schizophonia |
Peak Clipping |
Rectification |
Flat |
Alternating Current |
Direct Current |
Hum |
H) Mixing:
Mix |
Montage |
Fade |
Cross-fade |
Potentiometer |
Fader |
Pan |
Linear |
I) Modulation as a signal processing technique:
Modulation |
Carrier |
Modulated Carrier |
Sideband |
Amplitude Modulation |
Frequency Modulation |
Modulation Depth |
Demodulation |
J) Processing using time delays:
Echo (tape) |
Feedback (tape) |
Phasing |
Comb Filter |
Acoustic Feedback |
Choral Effect |
K) Electronic display and synthesis:
Oscilloscope |
Level Recorder |
Sound Analyser |
Sound Synthesizer |
Sound Synthesis |
Generator |
Oscillator |
Switch |
L) Compositional approaches:
Oral History |
Tape Music |
Musique Concrète |
Electronic Music |
Tape Recorder |
Tape Recording |
Digital Recording |
Sound Synthesis |
Sound Effect |
Sound Object |
Sound Event |
Granular Synthesis |