GLOSSARY
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
Safe – An operational status of a track in a multitrack tape recorder where that track will not go into record when the record button is pushed for the machine.
Safe/Ready Selector - A two or more position switch, which is usually included on a tape machine and which, determines if each track will be able to go into record.
Sample - 1) In digital recording, to measure the level of a waveform at a given instant. 2) To record a short segment of audio for the purpose of playback later. 3) The short recording (made per definition 2).
Sample and Hold - In digital recording, to measure the level of a waveform at a given instant and then convert it to a voltage at that level which will be held until another sample is taken.
Sample Dump - The copying of a digitally recorded sample without converting it to analog between different storage units or sound modules thru a MIDI transmission.
Sample Playback - The reproduction (in analog signal form) of a recorded sample controlled as to pitch and sustain (by a MIDI signal).
Sample Rate - In digital recording, the number of times per second that samples are taken.
Sample Rate Conversion - The conversion of digital audio at one sample rate to digital audio at a different sample rate without first converting the signal to analog.
Sampler - A device that records and plays samples, often with features to edit and store the samples.
Sampling Frequency - Same as Sample Rate (the number samples taken per second).
Sampling Synchronization Signal - Synchronization pulses that are generated by a digital audio tape recorder, are recorded onto the tape and then used as a clock signal to time the sampling of the sampling circuits.
Saturation - The point at which the tape is fully magnetized and will accept no more magnetization.
Sawtooth Waveform - A waveform that jumps from a zero value to a peak value and then gradually diminishes to a zero value for each cycle.
Schematic Diagram (Schematic) - A diagram that shows the signal paths and electronic components of a device.
Scratch - 1) A descriptive term meaning "temporary". 2) A scratch vocal is a vocal done during a basic recording session to help the musicians play their parts. At a later date the final vocal track is overdubbed. 3) The action of a musician or disc jockey quickly moving a record back and forth with a phono cartridge reproducing the stylus motion to create a rhythm pattern of sound.
Scrub - The action or function of shuttling (moving the sound track) usually of digital audio, either forward or backward when a control is moved off a center point either left or right.
Sealed Case - The enclosure of a microphone diaphragm so that the back cannot receive sound pressure changes.
Second - Short for Second Engineer (Assistant Recording Engineer) and used to describe the action done by a second engineer.
Second Engineer - An assistant recording engineer.
Select - 1) A switch which controls where an input receives its signal from. 2) The action of choosing where an input receives its signal from.
Semi-Pro - A class of recording equipment where professional or near-professional performance can be obtained but the equipment is not built to withstand the amount of continuous use that professional equipment would be expected to receive and sometimes is missing features needed in a professional installation.
Send – A control and buss to feed signals from the console channels to some outboard device such as a reverberation effects unit.
Send Level – A control determining the signal level sent to a send buss .
Sensitivity –The output level produced in microphones by a standard amount of sound pressure level.
Separation – A term used to describe the pick up of a desired signal compared to the pick up of an undesired signal.
Sequence – A playing of musical events, such as pitches, sounding of samples, and rests, automatically by some device, in a step by step order. Also refers to the action of programming a computer to play musical events, automatically, in a stepped order.
Sequencer – A computer which can be programmed to play a stepped order of musical events including playing of pitches, sounding of samples, and rests.
Serial Data – The digital data where all of the bits are transmitted one after another over a single wire/connection.
Serial Interface – A plug and cable for a computer that sends/receives data one bit after another.
Serial Port – A jack that sends out or receives digital data one bit after another, through a single pin.
Series Connection – Connecting devices (especially circuit elements) so that the electrical signal flows from one thing to the next, to the next, so forth.
Servo-Controlled –In motors, using a control circuit where the actual speed of a motor is sensed and compared to a reference (like a pulse timing signal).
Set Up - 1) To place microphones, instruments and the controls on recorders/consoles, etc. for recording. 2) The way in which the microphones, instruments and the controls on recorders/consoles, etc. are positioned for recording.
Shelf - A frequency response of an equalization circuit where the boost or cut of frequencies forms a shelf on a frequency response graph. A High-Frequency Shelf control will affect signal levels at the set frequency and all frequencies higher than it; a Low-Frequency Shelf control will affect signal levels at the set frequency and all frequencies lower than it.
Shelf Filter - A name for the circuit in an equalizer used to obtain the shelf.
Shield - 1) The outer conductive wrapping around an inner wire or inner wires in a cable. 2)To protect the inner wire or inner wires in a cable from pick up of energy given off by such things as florescent lights.
Shielded Cable - Cable that has a shield around an inner conductor or inner conductors.
Shock Mount - An elastic mount for the microphone that reduces movement of the microphone when the stand moves (because of floor vibrations from footsteps, etc.).
Short (Short Circuit) - A direct connection between two points in a circuit that (usually) should not be connected.
Short Delay - Delay times under 20 milliseconds.
Shortest Digital Path - The routing of the digital audio signal so that there is a minimum amount of D/A conversion, A/D conversion or Sample Rate conversion.
Shortest Path - A technique in recording that routes the signal through the least amount of active (amplified) devices during recording.
Shotgun Microphone – A microphone with a long line filter, a tube that acoustically cancels sound arriving from the side, to make the microphone pick up much better in one direction than in any other direction.
Shuttle – 1) A technique of stopping the fast winding (either fast-forward or rewind) of tape in older tape machines where the engineer put the tape machine in the opposite fast mode and pressed stop after the machine just started to reverse direction. 2) Moving the reels by hand so that the tape moves past the desired point first in one direction, then in another direction, back and forth. 3) A control, which moves the sound track either forward or backward when the control is moved off a center point either, left or right.
Sibilance – Energy from a voice centered around 7 kHz caused by pronouncing "s", "sh" or "ch" sounds.
Sidechain – The control circuit of a dynamics processing device.
Signal – 1) In audio, an alternating current (or voltage) matching the waveform of, or being originally obtained from a sound pressure wave. 2) Also in audio, an alternating current (or voltage) between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz. 3) A digital audio bit stream.
Signal Flow – The path that a signal moves through an audio system such as a console.
Signal Generator – Same as Audio Oscillator, which is a device which puts out test tones at various frequencies for testing purposes.
Signal Path – The way in which current does or may travel in a circuit or through a device.
Signal Processing – Changing the sound of the instrument or other sound source with equalizers, limiters, compressors and other devices thereby "processing" them to be recorded onto a master.
Signal-to-Error Ratio – The level difference between the signal and the noise and distortion caused by converting analog audio signals into digital audio and then back into analog.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio – The amount of dB lower the noise is as compared to the signal.
Sine Wave – The waveform that would be obtained from a vibrating source that was vibrating at
just one frequency, for a pure tone.
Single-D – Single Port Distance describes a microphone where there is one distance between the port and the diaphragm.
Slap Echo – One distinct repeat added to one or more instrument sounds in the mix which creates a very live sound similar to what you would hear in an arena.
Slate – The voice recorded onto the beginning of a master tape to identify the tune and take, or the action of making it. Also refers to the circuit or control which allows you to slate masters.
Slave –The transport, which adjusts speed to be in time with the master transport when two machines are synced together.
Slide – A control that has a knob which moves in a straight line and which outputs part of an input voltage according to the position of the knob.
Smart FSK – An FSK or Frequency Shift Key sync signal where the beginning of each measure has an identification message giving the measure number.
SMPTE – Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, a professional society. Also refders to a term loosely used to mean SMPTE Time Code.
SMPTE Time Code – A standardized timing and sync signal specified by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.
Snare –Short for Snare Drum, the medium size drum directly in front of a sitting drummer which has metal strands drawn across the bottom head which rattle when the drum is hit. Also refers to the metal strands stretched across the bottom head of the snare drum.
Sock Cymbal –- An alternate name for High-Hat, a double cymbal on a stand which can be played with a foot pedal or by the top cymbal being hit with a stick.
Soft Knee –- Generic name for dbx Corporation's registered trade name of Over-Easy, named for the gradual change of compression ratio around the threshold making it difficult to detect when compression is taking place.
Soft Knob - Short for Software Knob; a knob used in computer-controlled devices which has a different function depending on the programming of the computer.
Soft Sound Source – A low-volume instrument such as an acoustic guitar.
Soldering – The action of making connections with solder, a soft mixture of metals used to make a bond between two metal surfaces by melting.
Solid State – In electronics, using transistors and semiconductor devices rather than tubes.
Solo –1) A circuit in a console that allows just one channel (or several selected channels) to be heard or to reach the output. 2) In music, the instrument or segment where an instrument is the featured instrument for a short period, often playing a melody. 2) An original Copy Code (protective digital signal recorded with the digital audio bits) which was developed by Phillips to prevent making a digital copy of a copy made from a CD thereby helping prevent illegal bootlegging.
Solo Switch – A switch that activates the solo function, allowing just selected channels to be heard or to reach the output.
Song Pointer – Short for MIDI Clock With Song Pointer, time data in the MIDI signal that advances one step each 1/24 of a beat used to sync two sequencers together and which also has a number signal for each measure indicating the number of measures into the tune).
Sound – Moving pressure variations in air caused by something vibrating between 20 times a second and 20,000 times a second or similar variations in other substances like water. Also refers to any audio signal regardless of its energy form.
Sound Absorption/Acoustical Absorption -- the action or quality of a surface or substance to absorb sound rather than reflect it.
Sound Blanket - A thick blanket that can be put on floors or hung to help prevent sound reflections.
Sound Effects - Sounds like door closings, wind, etc. added to film or video shots; sounds other than dialogue, narration or music.
Sound File (Soundfile) - A digital audio recording that can be stored in a computer or on a digital storage medium (such as a hard disc).
Sound Level - A shortening of the term Sound Pressure Level (a measure of the sound pressure created by a sound).
Sound Level Meter – A device that measures the sound pressure levels.
Sound Module – The signal-generator portion of a synthesizer or a sample playback unit that sends out an audio signal according to incoming MIDI messages and does not have keys to play it.
Sound Patch – Full name of the term Patch
Sound Pressure Level (SPL) – A measure of the sound pressure present; dB above the Threshold of Hearing (.0002 Microbars).
Sound Pressure Wave –Alternate compressions, compacting together, and rarefactions or the spreading apart of air particles moving away from something that is vibrating between 20 and 20,000 times a second or a similar occurrence in another substance like water.
Sound Quality – A microphone characteristic of how well the diaphragm movement matches the pressure changes of a sound pressure wave reaching it, especially sudden changes.
Sound Source – Something that vibrates between 20 times a second and 20,000 times a second and therefore makes a sound pressure wave.
Sound Tools – A trademark of DigiDesign for a digital audio editing system.
Sound Track - The audio recording, especially the audio recording on film or video tape.
Sound Wave – Short for Sound Pressure Wave (a wave of pressure changes moving away from something that is vibrating between 20 times a second and 20,000 times a second).
Source – Input mode on a tape machine where the meters and the output of the machine's electronics will be the signal arriving at the input connector.
Space Echo – An effect of repeating echoes of a sound.
Spaced Cardioid – A far-distant micing technique of placing cardioid microphones a distance apart (usually about 6 inches) pointing away from each other by 90 degrees.
Spaced Omni – Placing two microphones with omnidirectional patterns 4 to 8 feet apart where one microphone picks up the left side and one microphone picks up the right side.
Spaced Pair – Any two microphones spaced to get a stereo pickup especially using the Spaced Omni or Spaced Cardioid techniques.
SPDIF – Sony/Phillips Digital Interface, a standard for sending and receiving digital audio signals using the common RCA connector.
Speaker – A device that changes electrical signals to sound which can be heard; a transducer changing the electrical audio signal into a sound pressure wave.
Speaker Out Direct – Feeding the signal from the speaker output of an instrument amplifier to the recording console without using a microphone.
Speed of Sound – The wave velocity the time it takes for one point of the waveform to travel a certain distance of a sound pressure wave, 1130 feet per second at 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spin Control – A British term for Feedback Control, a control that determines the amount of delayed signal sent back to the input of a delay line, used in repeat echo effects.
SPL – An abbreviation of Sound Pressure Level, referring to a pressure of .0002 microbar, considered to be the Threshold of Hearing.
Splice – To assemble previously cut pieces of recording tape with special tape on the back side.
Splicing Block – A device that holds tape to cut it to make splices.
Split Keyboard - Keys of a synthesizer or keyboard controller will play one sound and others will play a second sound.
Spot Erase - The action or function of erasing a very small segment of one track (or several tracks) of a multitrack recording by disengaging the normal tape drive system while the machine is in record; the engineer moves the tape by hand or by using a shuttle control.
Spring Reverb - A device that simulates reverberation by driving a spring, driving it like a loudspeaker cone, and picking up the spring's vibrations with a contact microphone.
Square Wave – A wave shape where the voltage rises instantly to one level, stays at that level, instantly falls to another level and stays at that level, and finally instantly rises to its original level to form each cycle.
ST – Safety Take, indicating a take done after a take of acceptable quality had been recorded.
Stage – 1) In Reverberation Effects Devices, an echo added before the reverberation to simulate echoes that would come from a concert stage. 2) In amplifiers, one section of components that has a particular function. 3) The partially enclosed or raised area where live musicians perform.
Stage Monitor – The speaker on a stage for the performers to hear themselves and to hear what the other musicians are playing on stage - the equivalent of a cue system for performers.
Standard Operating Level - An Operating Level, or the maximum average level that should not be exceeded in normal operation, which is widely used or widely referred to.
Standing Wave – An acoustic signal between two reflective surfaces with a distance that is an even multiple of one-half of the wavelength of the signal's frequency.
Step Program/Step Mode/Step Time – To program a sequencer one note at a time with the rhythm that the time value of one step is set to.
Stereo – A recording or reproduction of at least two channels where positioning of instrument sounds left to right can be perceived.
Stereo Image – The perception of the different sound sources being far left, far right or any place in between.
Stereo Micing – Placement of two or more mics so that their outputs give a stereo image.
Stretched String Instruments – Instruments that use stretched strings to generate the tones such as guitars, violins and pianos.
Strike –- To put away equipment and clean-up after a session.
Subcode – Control information bits that are recorded along with digital audio and can be used for control of the playback deck .
Subframe - A unit smaller than one frame in SMPTE time code.
Submaster/Sub-Master –The fader which controls the level of sound from several channels during mix down or recording.
Submaster Assignment/Sub-Master Assignment – The choosing of what buss (and therefore what sub-master) the console channel will feed to; usually accomplished by pressing a button in the Switch Matrix.
Submix – A mix of audio signals that is treated as one channel or two channels (for a stereo image) in a mix.
Subtractive Synthesis – The generation of harmonically rich waveforms by various methods and then filtering those waveforms to remove unwanted harmonics to create the sound.
Sum – A signal that is the mix of the two stereo channels at equal level and in phase.
Sum and Difference Signals – When the two stereo channels are mixed at equal levels and in phase, the sum signal is created.
Super-Cardioid Pattern – A microphone pattern with maximum sensitivity on axis and least sensitivity approximately 150 degrees off axis.
Surround Sound – A technique of recording and playback of sound used in film where the sound has a front to back quality as well as side to side perspective.
Sustain – A holding out of the sounding of a pitch by an instrument. The level that a sound will continue to play at when a synthesizer key is held down.
Sweetening – Musical parts that are overdubbed to complete the music of the recording, especially the melodic instruments such as strings and/or horns.
Switch – A device that makes and/or breaks electrical connections.
Switch Matrix – A series of switches, usually arranged in push button rows and columns, which allow any input module to be connected to any output buss.
Switchable Pattern Microphone – A microphone which will have more than one directional pattern depending upon the position of the pattern switch.
Sync – The circuits in a multitrack tape recorder which allow the record head to be used as a playback head for those tracks already recorded. Also refers to the running of two devices, such as two tape decks, in time with one another.
Sync Box – A slang name for Sync Conversion Unit.
Sync Conversion Unit – A device which takes several different kinds of sync signals and puts out several kinds of sync signals, allowing a device like a sequencer to be driven by a sync signal it doesn't recognize.
Sync Level /Sync Gain – A control on a multitrack tape recorder to adjust the reproduce level when the machine is in the sync playback mode, using the record head as a reproduce head for tracks already recorded.
Sync Pulse – A pulse or a rise and then fall in amplitude that is used for synchronizing two tapes or film and audio tape, especially those recorded by the sync head of a Nagra tape recorder.
Sync Word Bits – A series of bits in the SMPTE time code to identify the end of a frame.
Synchronization –The running of two devices (such as two tape decks) in time with one another.
Synthesizer – A musical instrument that artificially (using oscillators) generates signals to simulate the sounds of real instruments or to create other sounds not possible with real instruments.
System Exclusive – A number of bits in a MIDI transmission allowing data to be transmitted that will only be recognized by a unit of a particular manufacturer.
System Exclusive Bulk Dump – A System Exclusive Bulk Dump is the transmission of internal synthesizer settings as a manufacturer specified system exclusive file from a synth to a sequencer or from a sequencer to a synth.
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