Sequencer
A device for recording and replaying MIDI data, usually in a multitrack format, allowing complex compositions to be built up a part at a time.
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Shockmount
a mechanical isolator intended to prevent the transfer of vibrations which may be transmitted through a microphone stand from reaching a microphone where they would otherwise produce unwanted low frequency sound.
Short-Circuit
A very low resistance path that allows electrical current to flow. The term is usually used to describe a current path that exists through a fault condition. (See Open Circuit)
Sibilance
A high-frequency whistling or lisping sound that affects vocal recordings, due either to poor mic technique or excessive HF equalisation.
Sine Wave
The waveform of a pure sinusoidal tone which has a waveform defined by a mathematical function derived from a classic periodic oscillation, such as the movement of the tip of swinging pendulum. In a musical context, a sine wave contains only a single fundamental frequency, and no harmonics.
Sound Card
A dedicated interface to transfer audio signals in and out of a computer. A Sound Card can be installed internally, or connected externally via USB2 or FireWire, and they are available in a wide range of formats, accommodating multiple analogue or digital audio signals (or both) in and out, as well as MIDI data in and out.
S/PDIF
Sony/Philips Digital InterFace. Pronounced either ‘S-peedif’ or ‘Spudif’. A stereo or dual-channel self-clocking digital interfacing standard employed by Sony and Philips in consumer digital hi-fi products. The S/PDIF signal is essentially identical in data format to the professional AES3 interface, and is available as either an unbalanced electrical interface (using phono connectors and 75ohm coaxial cable), or as an optical interface called TOSlink.
Toslink
Shorthand for 'Toshiba Link', an optical audio connection. See S/PDIF.
Triangle Wave
A symmetrical triangular shaped wave containing odd harmonics only, but with a lower harmonic content than the square wave.
TRS Plug
TRS refers to the 3-terminal 'Tip, Ring and Sleeve' format of various types of jack plug, typically used either for stereo unbalanced connections (such as on headphones) or mono balanced connections (such as for line-level signals). A 2-terminal alternative is also available, referred to as the TS (Tip, Sleeve) version, used for mono unbalanced signals. The term is applicable to A-type, mini-jack, B-type, and Bantam connectors.
True Peak Meter
– A form of digital audio meter which is capable of determining the absolute amplitude value of a digital signal by using oversampling to fully reconstruct the waveform.
Truss Rod
A metal bar within a guitar neck which is tensioned so as to counteract the tendency for the neck to bend under the tension of the strings.
Tube
see Valve
Tweeter
The colloquial term to describe a loudspeaker drive unit optimised for the reproduction of high frequencies. (See Woofer).
Unbalanced
A 2-wire electrical signal connection where the signal conductor is surrounded by a screen which provides a 0V reference and also guards against electrical interference.
Unison
To play the same melody using two or more different instruments or voices.
Unity Gain
A condition where the output signal is the same amplitude as the input signal; the overall system gain is then x1 or unity.
USB
Universal Serial Bus. A computer interface standard introduced in 1996 to replace the previous standard serial and parallel ports more commonly used. The USB1.1 interface operated at up to 12Mb/s, but this was superseded in 2000 by USB2.0 which operates at up to 480Mb/s. Most USB interfaces can also provide a 5V power supply to connected devices. USB3.0 was launched in 2008 and is claimed to operate at rates up to 5Gb/s.
USB connectors can be indentified by having a blue insert in the Type-A sockets and the letters SS (SuperSpeed). The latest edition, USB3.1 (launched in 2013) offers transfer rates of 10Gb/s, approaching that of the first generation of Thunderbolt interfaces. Like earlier USB interfaces, the USB3 format provides a 5V power supply, but the current rating has been increased from USB2.0's 200mA (1.0 Watts) to 900mA (4.5 Watts), and sockets designated as charging sockets can manage 1500mA (7.5 Watts).
USB-C
The latest (2014) incarnation of a Universal Serial Bus interface, carrying bidirectional data at speeds of 10Gb/s. USB-C is not compatible with previous generations (USB 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.1) as it has a very different 24-pin connector which is symmetrical and employed at both ends of a free cable, and all devices have the same socket. Power is optionally available over USB-C connections at 5V with a current capacity of either 1.5A (7.5W) or 3A (15W).