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Linear Phase

A type of filter design where the phase response is a linear function of frequency. In other words, all frequencies are delayed in their passage through the filter by exactly the same amount.

Word-length

A word is a unit or block of data employed in a computer, and so the word-length defines the number of bits employed in each word. A word length of 8-bits is normally called a byte. The CD format uses a word-length of 16 bits, but more modern systems typically use a 24-bit wordlength.

Diffusion

Diffusion is the spreading of sound energy within an acoustic environment. It the context of acoustic treatment diffusion can be thought of as the opposite of absorbtion, and a range of diffusion panels and surfaces are available which are designed to reflect incident sound back into the room in various ways.

Slope

Used in the context of filters and equalisers, the term refers to the gradient or steepness of the change in signal amplitude at the turnover frequency. First-order filters have a slope of 6dB/octave, while second-order is 12dB/octave and third-order is 18dB/octave. The steepest slope typically found in audio filters (ususally in synthesizers and loudspeaker crossovers) is 24dB/Octave (fourth-order). Shelf equalisers normally have 6dB/octave slopes.  

Modal Cobalt8 Baltica
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Baltica for Cobalt8

New soundset comprises 100 patches created with the help of sound designer Soundsauca, and is free to owners of the Modal polysynth.

Published 17/3/21

Stage

In the context of electronic audio equipment, a stage is a functional block of circuitry that performs a specific task. For example, a 'four-stage' phaser effects pedal employs four all-pass filter circuits. An individual stage could be a preamplifier, an insert return buffer, a section of an equaliser, or a mix-bus amplifier, for example, and the process of optimising the signal level passing through each stage is called gain-staging. 

All-Pass Filter

Also known as a Phase-Rotator. An electronic filter circuit that doesn't change the amplitude of any signal passing through it, but which alters the phase of the signal at different frequencies in a non-linear way. Used as a core element of phaser effects pedals, and also in broadcast processors to help make asymmetrical audio signals symmetrical (which allows a slightly higher output level before clipping). 

LSB

Least Significant Bit. In a binary number the bit that carries the smallest multiplier value (units) is deemed the least significant bit, and is typically the right-most digit in a binary number. The three-bit binary equivalent of the decimal number 1 is 001, and the bit showing 1 is the LSB.

MSB

Most Significant Bit. In a binary number the bit that carries the largest multiplier value is deemed the most significant bit, and is typically the left-most digit in a binary number. So the three-bit binary equivalent of the decimal number 4 is 100, and the bit showing 1 is the MSB.

Plosive

A plosive is the strong puff of air from the mouth which is generated when speaking or singing syllables with 'b's or 'p's. if a plosive blast reaches a microphone's diaphragm it can create a large unwanted low-frequency signal and distortion (see Wind-shield).

Wind-shield

A mechanical acoustically-transparent screen placed in front of or completely enveloping a microphone to prevent moving air currents from impacting the diaphragm and generating unwanted noise. In studio use a wind-screen is typically used to prevent plosive blasts from vocals or speech reaching the mic diaphragm, and it's typically a large disc made of a two layers of mesh fabric, a perforated metal disc, or an open-cell foam disc. In location sound gathering applications a wind-shield is typically a large fabric-covered frame which completely envelopes the microphone with a volume of still 'dead air'. 

Saturation

Saturation is a mild form of dynamic and harmonic distortion typically associated with bringing 'warmth' and 'body' to a sound. The term relates to a process which can occur in transformers when the magnetic flux generated by the input signal fully magnetises the transformer core such that it cannot then accurately pass any larger audio signals, resulting in audio compression and harmonic distortion. A similar effect can occur with magnetic tape heads and tape itself. These saturation effects can now be emulated electronically and digitally, often with user controls to fine tune the effect characteristics. 

Octave Divider

A sound generation technique used in many electronic organs and string machines involves twelve oscillators which generate each note in the highest octave of the instrument. The signal (usually a square wave) from each oscillator is then passed to circuitry which acts as a mathematical divider, producing an output which sounds an octave lower, and this process is repeated for as many octaves the instrument is required to play. In this way all notes are available all the time, and the tuning between octaves is completely locked and stable.

Duophonic

The ability to play two notes at once. Some dual-oscillator mono-synths allow the keyboard to generate two control voltages (from the lowest and highest keys played) which are routed to separate oscillators allowing two notes to be played simultaneously (see Paraphonic). For example, the ARP Odyssey and the Moog Subsequent are both duophonic synths.

Polyphonic

In the context of musical instruments, the term polyphonic refers to the number of notes that an instrument can play simultaneously. Most poly-synths can play up to 6 or 8 notes at a time, some 16 or 32, and others many more depending on the technology involved.

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