Glossary of Audio, Recording and Music Terms "L"

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

L

Layering – Recording or playing a musical part with of several similar sound patches playing simultaneous.

Lead – The musical instrument that plays the melody of the tune, including the vocal. 

Lead Sheet – A written chart showing the melody, lyrics and chords of a tune with full musical notation.

Leakage – Sounds from other instruments and sources that were not intended to be picked up by the microphone. 

LED – A light that allows current to flow in one direction only and emits light whenever a voltage of a certain level or beyond is applied to it. 

Level – The amount of signal strength; the amplitude, especially the average amplitude. 

LFO – Low-Frequency Oscillator (an oscillator that puts out an AC signal between .1 Hz and 10Hz used for a control signal). 

Lift – To boost the gain of audio at a particular band of frequencies with an equalizer.  

Light Emitting Diode – A light that allows current to flow in one direction only and emits light whenever a voltage of a certain level or beyond is applied to it.

Limiter – A device which reduces gain when the input voltage exceeds a certain level.

Line – Short for line level, or a cable. 

Line Input – An input designed to take a line level signal. 

Line Level – An amplified signal level put out by an amplifier and used as the normal level that runs through the interconnecting cables in a control room.

Line Out (Line Output) – Any output that sends out a line level signal, such as the output of a console that feeds a recorder.

Link – Refers to combining the control input signals of two channels of a compressor or dynamic processing unit so that both channels always have the same gain and are triggered to change gain by either channel's signal.

Listen Circuits –  A type of solo circuit that allows listening to a channel before the fader or after the fader.

Live –The sound by instruments during a performance to an audience. It can also mean having a reverberant or reflected sound.

Live Recording – A recording session where all the musicians are playing at once with no overdubbing. Also means a recording with a lot of natural reverberation.

Lo-Z – Abbreviation for the term Low Impedance (Impedance of 500 ohms or less). 

Load Impedance – The opposition to output current flow caused by the input that it feeds.

Local On/Off – A switch in a synthesizer that connects ("On") or disconnects ("Off") the keyboard control of the synthesizer's sound module. 

Locate – A tape machine transport controller where the machine will go to a preprogrammed position on the tape. 

Loop – A term meaning the same as Anti-Node, or the points of maximum displacement of motion in a vibrating stretched string.  Also means a tape or magnetic film recording where the ends of the tape are spliced together so the tape  will continually repeat.

Loudness – How loud something sounds to the ear. Also refers frequency response changes at lower operating levels to compensate for the Fletcher Munson effect.

Low End – Refers to bass-frequency signals that are below 250 Hz.

Low Frequencies -– Audio or audible frequency below 1kHz. Also refers to the range of bass frequencies below approximately 250 Hz.

Low Impedance – Impedance of 500 ohms or less. 

Low-Pass Filter - A device that rejects signal above a certain frequency and passes signals that are lower in frequency. 

Lower Toms - The large toms (up to approximately 20' diameter heads) mounted on metal feet to sit on the floor.