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

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