glossary

1. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
1
Produce a glossary of terms specific to the methods and principles of sound design and production. Using a provided template, you must
research and gather definitions specific to provided glossary terms. Any definitions must be referenced with the URL link of the website you
have obtained the definition.
You must also, where possible, provide specific details of how researched definitions relate to your own production practice.
Name: Thomas
Dowson
RESEARCHED DEFINITION (provide short internet researched definition and URL link) DESCRIBE THE
RELEVANCE OF
THE RESEARCHED
TERM TO YOUR
OWN
PRODUCTION
PRACTICE?
SOUND DESIGN
METHODOLOGY
Foley Artistry A sound effects technique for synchronous effects or live effects"
http://filmsound.org/foley/
I understandthat
the soundeffects
do well with the
techniques for the
live effects.
Sound Libraries A sample library is a collection of digital sound recordings, known as samples, for use by
composers, arrangers, performers, and producers of music.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sample_library
I understandthis
term because ofthe
liabaryof samples
and also
compsoers.
SOUND FILE
FORMATS
Uncompressed There is onemajor uncompressedaudio format, LPCM, which is thesame variety ofPCMas used inCompactDiscDigitalAudio.
Although LPCMcan bestoredon a computeras a rawaudioformat,it is usually stored ina .wavfileon Windows or ina .aiff file on
Mac OS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_file_format
I understandthat
there is just one
major
uncompressed
audioformat.
.wav The formatfor storing sound in files developed jointlyby Microsoftand IBM. Support for WAV files was built
into Windows 95 making itthe de facto standard for sound on PCs.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/WAV.html
I understandwhat
wavis andalsohow
it is createdto the
audiofile.
.aiff Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) is an audio file format standard used for storing sound data
for personal computers and other electronic audio devices.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Interchange_File_Format
I understandthe
relevance to this

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
2
term because I
understandabout
the file format and
how the sounddata
is stored.
.au Short for audio,a common formatfor sound files on UNIX machines.It is also the standard audio file
formatfor the Java programming language.
http://www.webopedia.com/sgsearch/results?cx=partner-pub-
8768004398756183%3A6766915980&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=au
I understandwhat
the relevance of the
term means
because of the java
programing.
.smp SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) is the processing ofprograms bymultiple processors thatshare a
common operating system and memory.
https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=what+is+a+smp
I understandwhat
this term means to
the relevant
programming.
Lossy
Compression
Refers to data compression techniques in which some amountofdata is lost.Lossycompression
technologies attemptto eliminate redundantor unnecessaryinformation.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/L/lossy_compression.html
I understandthe
relevance to the
term because ofthe
lossycompression.
.mp3 a means ofcompressing a sound sequence into a very small file,to enable digital storage and transmission.
https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=what+is+a+.mp3
I understandwhat
the term means by
mp3 because it
stores a lot of music
for people to listen
to.
AUDIO
LIMITATIONS
Sound Processor
Unit (SPU)
A sound card (also known as an audio card) is an internal computer expansion card that
facilitates economical input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control
of computer programs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_card
I understandabout
the audiocard and
how it uses
software to
generate sound.
Digital Sound
Processor (DSP)
A Digital Signal Processor, or DSP, is a specialized microprocessor that has an architecture which is
optimized for the fast operational needs of digital signal processing.
http://www.futureelectronics.com/en/microprocessors/digital-signal-processors.aspx
I understandthat it
can process data in
fast time.
Random Access
Memory (RAM)
RAM (pronounced ramm) is an acronym for random access memory,a type of computer memorythat can
be accessed randomly;that is,any byte of memory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random-access_memory
I understandabout
the Random Access
Memory(RAM) that
it stores data so the

3. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
3
item canbe
accessed.
Mono Audio Mono Audio. When you're using headphones,you may miss some audio ifyou're deaf or hard of hearing in
one ear. That's because stereo recordings usuallyhave distinctleft- and right-channel audio tracks.
https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=what+is+an+mono+audio
I understandthe
definitionof the
mono audio
meaningthat I
understandthat it
helps people who
cannot hear can
read the text on
their iPhone or
iPad.
Stereo Audio Stereo(or Stereophonic sound) is the reproduction of sound using twoor more independent audiochannels
in a way that creates the impression of sound heard from various directions, as in natural hearing.
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Mono_vs_Stereo
I understandthe
relevance of the
term because of
audiochannelsthat
create the
impression.
Surround Sound Surround sound is a term used to describe a type of audio output in which the sound appears to "surroundthe
listener" by 360 degrees. Surroundsoundsystems use three or more channels and speakers in front and behind
the listener to create a surroundingenvelope of soundand directional audio sources.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/surround_sound.html
I understandthe
term of surround
soundbecause it
basicallysurrounds
the listener or
anyone else inthe
room.
Direct Audio
(Pulse Code
Modulation –
PCM)
Pulse-code modulation (PCM) is a method used to digitallyrepresentsampled analog signals.Itis the
standard form of digital audio in computers, CompactDiscs,digital telephonyand other digital audio
applications.In a PCM stream,the amplitude ofthe analog signal is sampled regularlyat uniform intervals,
and each sample is quantized to the nearestvalue within a range of digital steps.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-code_modulation
I understandthe
relevance of the
term because it
digitallyrepresents
sampledanalogy
signals.
AUDIO
RECORDING
SYSTEMS
Analogue relating to or using signals or information represented bya continuouslyvariable physical quantity such as
spatial position,
https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=what+is+Analogue+
I understandthe
relevance of the
term because I
understandthat it
uses signals of
variationor physical
quantity.
Digital Mini Disc The MiniDisc (MD) is an obsolete magneto-optical disc-based data storage device for 74 minutes and,later, I understandthe

4. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
4
80 minutes, ofdigitized audio or 1 gigabyte of Hi-MD data. The Sony brand audio players were on the
marketfrom September 1992 until March 2013.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDisc
relevance of the
term because ofthe
optical based data
in the storage
devise.
Compact Disc
(CD) A compact disc [sometimes spelled disk] (CD) is a small, portable, round medium made of molded polymer (close in size
to the floppy disk) for electronically recording, storing, and playing backaudio, video, text, and other information in digital
form.
http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/compact-disc
I understandwhat
the relevance of the
term means bythe
compact diskit uses
electronically
recordings.
Digital Audio
Tape (DAT)
DAT (Digital AudioTape)is a standard mediumandtechnologyfor the digital recordingofaudioon tape at a
professional level of quality. A DAT drive is a digitaltape recorder withrotatingheads similar to those foundin a
video deck.
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/DAT-Digital-Audio-Tape
I understandwhat
the relevance of the
term means by
digital audiotape
because of the
digital tape
recorder.
MIDI MIDI (/ˈmɪdi/; shortfor Musical InstrumentDigital Interface) is a technical standard thatdescribes a protocol,
digital interface and connectors and allows a wide variety of electronic musical instruments
https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=what is midi inmusic
I understandthe
relevance of the
term because ofthe
protocol andthe
digital interface.
Software
Sequencers
1. A music sequencer (or simply sequencer) is a device or application software that
can record, edit, or play back music, by handling note and performance
information in several forms, typically MIDI or CV/Gate, and possibly audio and
automation data for DAWs and plug-ins.
https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=what+is+a+software+sequencer
I understandthe
relevance of the
term because ofthe
software that can
record andedit.

5. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
5
Software Plug-ins1. In computing, a plug-in (or add-in / addin, plugin, extension or add-on / addon) is
a software component that adds a specific feature to an
existing software application. When an application supports plug-ins, it enables
customization.
https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-
instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=what+is+Software+Plug-ins
I understandthat
the software
components adda
specific feature to
the existing
software.
MIDI Keyboard
Instruments
A MIDI keyboard is typically a piano-style user interface keyboard device used for
sending MIDI signals or commands over a USB or MIDI cable to other devices connected
and operating on the same MIDI protocol interface. This could also be a personal computer
running software such as a digital audio workstation (DAW) that listens to and sends MIDI
information to other MIDI devices connected by cable or running internal to the personal
computer system.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI_keyboard
I understandthe
relevance of the
term typicallyknow
to the piano style
because of the
keyboard device
usedfor sending
the MIDI signals.
AUDIO SAMPLING File Size
Constraints - Bit-
depth
In digital audio using pulse-code modulation (PCM), bit depth is the number of bits of
information in each sample, and it directly corresponds to the resolution of each
sample. Examples of bit depth include Compact Disc Digital Audio, which uses 16 bits
per sample, and DVD-Audio and Blu-ray Disc which can support up to 24 bits per
sample.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_bit_depth
I understandthe
relevance of the
term because using
the pulse code is
the bits of
informationinto
each sample.
File Size
Constraints -
Sample Rate
Sampling rate; 3.1.2 Bit depth; 3.1.3 Speech sampling ... or any other dimension,
and similar results are obtained in two or more dimensions. ... The sampling
frequency or sampling rate, fs, is the average number of samples ..... which is
unambiguous because of the constraint that the pre-sampled signal was analytic.
https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-
8#q=what+is+File+Size+Constraints++-+Sample+Rate
I understandthe
relevance of the
term because it
explains about the
sampling rate of the
bit depth.