ELECTROACOUSTIC AND TAPE STUDIO TERMS
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 characteristics:
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
home
