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CD-R
A recordable type of Compact Disc that can only be recorded once and it can't be erased or reused. The CD-R’s technical characteristics are defined in the ‘Orange Book’
CD-R Burner
A device capable of recording data onto blank CD-R discs.
Channel
A path carrying audio or data. In the context of a mixing console a channel is a single strip of controls relating to one input. In the context of MIDI, Channel refers to one of 16 possible data channels over which MIDI data may be sent. The organisation of data by channels means that up to 16 different MIDI instruments or parts may be addressed using a single cable.
Chase
A term describing the process whereby a follower device attempts to synchronise itself with a master device. In the context of a MIDI sequence, Chase may also involve chasing events - looking back to earlier positions in the song to see if there are any program change or other events that need to be acted upon.
Comb-Filter
A series of deep filter notches created when a signal is combined with a delayed version of itself. The delay time (typically less than 10ms) determines the lowest frequency at which the filter notches start.
Compressor
A device (analogue or digital) which is designed to reduce the overall dynamic range of an audio signal either by attenuating the signal if it exceeds a set threshold level according, or by increasing the level of quiet signals below a threshold. The amount of attenuation is defined by a set ratio, while the speed of response (attack) and recovery (release) can usually also be controlled.
Convolution
A mathematical process whereby the characteristics of one function (or signal) are imposed upon a second function (signal) , to produce a third function which combines both of their characteristics. (See Convolution Reverb). This process is performed in the digital domain by multiplying each individual sample value of a source signal with the impulse response of the wanted effect signal, so that the characteristics of the latter are imposed on the former.
DBX
A manufacturer of audio processing equipment, most notably compressors and tape noise reduction systems. The DBX NR systems were commercial encode/decode analogue noise-reduction processors intended for consumer and semi-pro tape recording. Different models varied in complexity, but essentially DBX compressed the audio signals during recording and expanded them by an identical amount on playback.
Delay
The time between a sound or control signal being generated and it auditioned or taking effect, measured in seconds. Often referred to as latency in the context of computer audio interfaces.
Digital
A means of representing information (eg audio or video signals) in the form of binary codes comprising strings of 1s and 0s, or their electrical or physical equivalents. Digital audio circuitry uses discrete voltages or currents to represent the audio signal at specific moments in time (samples). A properly engineered digital system has infinite resolution, the same as an analogue system, but the audio bandwidth is restricted by the sample rate, and the signal-noise ratio (or dynamic range) is restricted by the word-length. (cf. Analogue)
Digital Reverberator
A digital processor which simulates acoustic reverberation.
DMA
Direct Memory Access. Part of a computer operating system that allows peripheral devices to communicate directly with the computer memory without going via the central processor (CPU).
Dolby Noise-Reduction
A manufacturer of analogue and digital audio equipment in the fields of tape noise-reduction systems and cinema and domestic surround-sound equipment. Dolby’s noise-reduction systems included types B, C and S for domestic and semi-professional machines, and types A and SR for professional machines. Recordings made using one of these systems must also be replayed via the same system. These systems varied in complexity and effectiveness, but essentially they all employed the principlals of spectral noise-masking in ever-more complex ways using multiband encode/decode processing to raise low-level signals during recording, while reversing the process during playback.
Dynamic Microphone
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.
Dynamic Range
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)
Equaliser
A device which allows the user to adjust the tonality of a sound source by boosting or attenuating specific ranges of frequencies. Equalisers are available in the form of shelf equalisers, parametric equalisers and graphic equalisers — or as a combination of these basic forms. (cf Filter)
Expander
A hardware or software plug-in device designed to increase the dynamic range, typically by reducing the volume of low level signals (below a set threshold), or to increase the volume of high level signals (above a threshold). (See Compressor.)