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Glossary

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Welcome to Sound On Sound's indispensible, regularly updated, explanations of technical terms from the fields of Recording, Audio Production, Music Technology, MIDI, Music Software, Audio Plug-ins, Mac and PC Computing, Live Sound, Acoustics, Electronics and more...

If we do not explain a particular term below, please email glossary@soundonsound.com and we will add it to our next update.

Last updated: 01/02/24

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Buffer Memory

A buffer is essentially a short term data storage facility used to accommodate variable data read or write periods, temporarily storing data in sequence until it can be processed by, or transferred to, some other part of the system. 

Bug

A term most commonly used in reference to a software fault or equipment design problem. In the context of sound recording a bug may also refer to a contact microphone.

Bus

(Also sometimes referred to as a buss) An electrical signal path along which multiple signals may travel. A typical audio mixer contains several (mix) buses which carry the stereo mix, subgroups, the PFL signal, the aux sends, and so on. Power supplies are also fed along buses.

Byte

A collection of digital data comprising eight bits.

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