The amplitude range, usually expressed in decibels (dB), between the loudest signal that can be handled by a piece of equipment and the level at which small signals disappear into the noise floor. (See AES17)

A type of microphone that works on the electric generator principle, such as Moving Coil and Ribbon mics. An acoustical sound wave impacts the microphone diaphragm which then moves an electrical conductor within a magnetic field to generate a current, the amplitude and polarity of which reflects the acoustic signal.

'Digital Vinyl System' is a way of controlling and manipulating the playback of digital audio files in a computer by using conventional analogue turntables as the interface, thus maintaining a traditional 'disk-jockey' style of hands-on 'turntablism' control, including scratching. The system is based upon using special vinyl discs which carry standard timecode signals. The output of the vinyl replay chain is routed into the computer via an audio interface in the usual way, and the software is then able to analyse the timecode to determine changes in playback speed, direction, and position of the pickup on the vinyl disc, and apply that timing and speed information to the reproduction of a digital audio file. Some latency is inevitable in such a system, but it is usually very short.

To transfer digital data from one device to another. A SysEx dump is a means of transmitting information about a particular instrument or module over MIDI, and may be used to store sound patches, parameter settings and so on.

A system for controlling the level of one audio signal with another. For example, in a broadcast radio context a music track can be made to 'duck' or reduce in volume whenever there's a voice over.

The practice of transferring material from one medium to another, or of adding further material to an existing recording (cf. Over-Dub).

A signal that has had no effects added.

- See Isolation Room

A synthetic playing surface which produces electronic trigger signals in response to being hit with drum sticks.

A sudden brief loss of signal level. In analogue recording tape this is often caused by a defect in the oxide layer caused by damage (eg. creasing) or by a temporary clogging of the replay head, and typically affects the high-frequencies most. The effect is less likely and less noticable with wider and faster tape formats.