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The precise timing of digital audio samples is critical to the correct operation of interconnected digital audio equipment. The 'metronome' that governs sample timing is called the Word Clock (sometimes conjoined to 'Wordclock', or abbreviated to 'Wclk'). However, word clock does more than merely beat time; it also identifies the start and end of each digital word or sample, and which samples belong to the left or right channels. Digital interfaces such as the AES3 and S/PDIF embody clock signals within the data stream, but it is often necessary to convey a discrete word clock between equipment as a square wave signal running at the sampling rate. Dedicated word clock inputs and outputs on digital equipment generally use BNC connectors.

The parameter of tape head alignment related to the rotation angle of the head in a vertical axis which determines how the tape arrives and leaves the head gap. (cf. Azimuth and Zenith)

Short for Reverberation. The dense collection of echoes which bounce off acoustically reflective surfaces in response to direct sound arriving from a signal source. Reverberation can also be created artificially using various analogue or, more commonly, digital techniques. Reverberation occurs a short while after the source signal because of the finite time taken for the sound to reach a reflective surface and return - the overall delay being representative of the size of the acoustic environment. The reverberation signal can be broadly defined as having two main components, a group of distinct ‘early reflections’ followed by a noise-like tail of dense reflections.

The time delay experienced between a sound or control signal being generated and it being auditioned or taking effect, measured in seconds.  (cf. Delay) Each 1ms of latency = approximately being 1 foot away from your speakers, which means with headphones/IEMs (In-ear Monitors) you might get away with slightly higher audio interface latency than with speakers/wedges. If your computer can handle it, switching to higher sample rates like 96kHz when recording can reduce latency.