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- amplification
- The process increasing of signal strength.
- amplifier
- A device which increases the amplitude or level of an electrical signal making the resultant sound
louder.
- amplitude
- Amplitude (think altitude!) is the height of a waveform above or below the zero line.
- flutter
- A rapid, periodic variation, in tape speed caused by uneven tension between the tape reels.
- frequency
- The number of cycles of a waveform occurring in a second. (Audio) frequency represents the number of cycles
per second of a sound wave or an audio signal, measured in hertz (Hz). A low frequency (100 Hz) has a low pitch
while a high frequency (10,000 Hz) has a high pitch. Go figure!
- half-track
- A tape track recorded across approximately half the width of a tape. A half-track recorder usually records
two such tracks simultaneously to produce a stereo recording.
- harmonics
- An overtone whose frequency is a whole-number multiple of the intitial or base frequency. The whole number
multiples of a frequency that determines the timbre recognition of an instrument's sound.
- hum
- An unwanted low-pitched tone (60 Hz and its harmonics). Hum is the sound of interference generated in audio
circuits and cables by AC power wiring. It is commonly caused by such things as faulty grounding, poor shielding,
and ground loops.
- μ [micro]
- The Greek letter mu represents micro or "one millionth," as in 1⁄1,000,000 of a
second.
- peak
- On a graph of a sound wave or signal, the peak is the highest point in the waveform. It is the point of
greatest voltage or sound pressure in a cycle.
- peak-to-peak value
- The difference in amplitude between positive and negative peaks. Equal to twice the peak value for a sine
wave.
- period
- The duration between the peak of one wave and the peak of the next determined by corresponding points on
successive waves. Period is the inverse of frequency.
- sine wave
- A wave following the equation y = sin x, where x is degrees and y is voltage or sound pressure level. A sine
wave is a waveform of a single frequency producing pure tone without harmonics.
- unidirectional
- A pick-up pattern which is more sensitive to sound arriving from one direction than from any other.
- unison
- Multiple performers, instruments or sound sources that are sounding at the same time and with the same
pitch.
- unity gain
- A steady state signal with no increase or decrease in strength at the output of an amplifier or device
compared to the signal strength at the input.
- upper midrange
- The frequencies between 2 kHz and 6 kHz.
- vamp
- The repeating pan of a tune at its end, commonly the chorus or part of the chorus.
- vamp and fade
- A method of ending a recording of a tune where the music has a repeating part and the engineer reduces volume
until the music is out.
- virtual controls
- Audio equipment controls simulated on a computer monitor screen and adjusted with a mouse.
- virtual track
- A sequencer recording of a single musical line, recorded as data in computer memory. A virtual track is the
computer's equivalent of a tape track on a multitrack tape recorder. A key component of mixing.
- vu meter
- A voltmeter with a specified transient response, calibrated in VU or volume units, used to show the relative
volume of various audio signals, and to set recording level.
- vu
- Accronym for the term volume unit. It is a unit used to measure perceived loudness changes
in audio.
- waveform
- A graph of a signal's sound pressure or voltage level versus time. The waveform of a pure tone is a
sine wave
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