Preset
An effects unit or synth patch that cannot be altered by the user.
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Pressure
An alternative term for Aftertouch.
Print-through
The undesirable process that causes some magnetic information from a recorded analogue tape to become imprinted onto an adjacent layer. This can produce low level pre or post echoes.
Processor
A device designed to treat an audio signal by changing its dynamics or frequency content. Examples of processors include compressors, gates and equalisers.
Program Change
A MIDI message designed to change instrument or effects unit patches.
Project Studio
A relatively small recording studio facility, often with a combined recording space and control room.
Pulse Wave
Similar to a square wave but non-symmetrical. Pulse waves sound brighter and thinner than square waves, making them useful in the synthesis of reed instruments. The timbre changes according to the mark/space ratio of the waveform.
Pulse-width Modulation
A means of modulating the duty cycle (mark/space ratio) of a pulse wave. This changes the timbre of the basic tone; LFO modulation of pulse width can be used to produce a pseudo-chorus effect.
Punch-in
The action of placing an already recorded track into record at the correct time during playback, so that the existing material may be extended or replaced.
Punch-out
The action of switching a tape machine (or other recording device), out of record after executing a punch-in. With most multitrack machines, both punching in and punching out can be accomplished without stopping the tape.
Quantisation
Part of the process of digitising an analogue signal. Quantisation is the process of describing or measuring the amplitude of the analogue signal captured in each sample, and is defined by the wordlength used to describe the audio signal - eg. 16 bits.
Quantiser
A means of moving notes recorded in a MIDI sequencer so that they line up with user defined subdivisions of a musical bar, for example, 16s. The facility may be used to correct timing errors, but over-quantization can remove the human feel from a performance.
RAM
An abbreviation for Random Access Memory. This is a type of memory used by computers for the temporary storage of programs and data, and all data is lost when the power is turned off. For that reason, work needs to be saved to disk if it is not to be lost.
R-DAT
A digital tape machine using a rotating head system and a tape cassette.
Real-time
An audio process that can be carried out as the signal is being recorded or played back. The opposite is off-line, where the signal is processed in non-real time.
Red Book CD
A term used to imply a standard audio CD. The name comes from the fact that the original specifications documents for the audio CD created by Sony and Philips had a red cover! Recordable CD-Rs are described as 'orange book' for similar reasons.
Reflection
The way in which sound waves bounce off surfaces.
Release
The time taken for a signal level or processor gain to return to normal. Often used to describe the rate at which a synthesized sound reduces in level after a key has been released. Also used to describe the time taken for a compressor top restore unity gain after a signal has fallen below the threshold. Also known as ‘recovery time .‘
Resistance
Opposition to the flow of electrical current. Measured in Ohms.