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Intermediate Sound Design Vocabulary and Study Guide
List of sound terms
56
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Undergraduate 2
01/14/2013

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Term
Hertz
Definition
Frequency = cycles per second
Term
Pitch
Definition
A musical term for frequency or cycles/second
Term
Compression/Rarefaction
Definition
vehicle for sound transmission: compression is an increase over the norm in pressure; rarefaction is a decrease below the normal pressure
Term
Interference Pattern
Definition
complex pattern of nodes (wave crests doubled) and anti-nodes (wave troughs doubled) brought about by acoustical laws of wave reflection, wave absorption, wave refraction and wave diffusion
Term
Basic Harmonic Waveforms
Definition
derived from Periodic Motion also known as “Simple Harmonic Motion” Sine wave=few, if any discernable harmonics:
Term
Wave Length(expressed in feet)
Definition
speed of sound in air (1127 ft/sec) divided by Frequency(cycles/sec)
Term
Phase
Definition
The Time relationship created when sound arrives at your ears: the sine of X expressed in degrees from 0 to 360: Phase is responsible for localization in Binaural hearing
Term
Phase Cancellation
Definition
A generally undesirable recording phenomenon, when two or more mics are employed to pickup the same signal, but due to the placement of the mics, the same signal arrives out of phase/time, canceling out selected harmonics and frequency content creating a hollow or non-sonorous element of the original sound;
Term
Sound Envelope
Definition
(ADSR) Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release (note –off) or silence
Term
Timbre
Definition
Musical term describing the character of a sound which is determined by the Harmonic
Term
Octave
Definition
Musical term; a doubling of frequency or a frequency Ratio of 2:1/
Term
Frequency Response
Definition
Sensitivity to Frequency or bandwidth
Term
Dynamic Range
Definition
Sound Pressure Level measured subjectively in decibels/SPL from soft to loud
Term
Equalization
Definition
Addition or subtraction of gain (amplitude) for small selected bands of frequencies
Term
Attenuate
Definition
Weaken or rarefy a signal, normally accomplished by increasing impedance
Term
Transducer
Definition
Transmission of power from one form of energy to another
Term
Decibel (dB)
Definition
Logarithm or ratio type of Unit for measuring the volume/amplitude/pressure of a
Term
Transient
Definition
Sudden and abrupt, normally undesirable signal or voltage/ trigger voltage/spike
Term
Speed of Sound
Definition
1127ft/sec in air @59F; 283, 280 ft/sec in water; 990,000 ft/sec in steel;
Term
Wave Length
Definition
Speed of sound (1127 ft./sec.) divided by Frequency (cycles/sec.) = length in feet
Term
Sibilance
Definition
Portion of speech that requires high frequency bandwidth; hiss
Term
Noise
Definition
All frequencies, at equal levels, averaged over time / Aperiodic Motion
Term
Pink Noise
Definition
white noise that has been modified thru a pinking filter providing a 3db/octave roll-off
Term
Equal Loudness Theorum
Definition
States that human hearing does not exhibit flat frequency response; Scientists Fletcher-Munson and Robinson-Dodson proved that human hearing is not linear across the range of hearing from 20 Hertz to 20,000 Hertz
Term
Nyquist Theorem
Definition
In order to recover all Fourier components of a periodic waveform, it is necessary to sample more than twice as fast as the highest waveform frequency. The Nyquist frequency, also called the Nyquist limit, is the highest frequency that can be coded at a given sampling rate in order to be able to fully reconstruct the signal.
Term
Proximity Effect
Definition
An increase in low frequency response when a microphone is very close to the sound source
Term
Threshold of Hearing
Definition
“0 dB SPL” of a young and undamaged ear
Term
Threshold of Pain
Definition
Between 120 and 130 (phons or dB SPL) measured at 1Khz
Term
DSP
Definition
Digital Signal Processing
Term
Gain Based DSP
Definition
Equalization, Gating, Compression/limiting, Normalize, Filtering
Term
Time Based DSP
Definition
Reverb, Delay, Chorusing, Flanging, Phasing, Doppler
Term
Inverse Square Law
Definition
The intensity of the sound (dB SPL) varies with the distance: For each doubling of distance(in meters) from the source, the SPL with drop by 6 dB
Term
Resistance
Definition
Impedance (measured in ohms) Note: Adding resistance/impedance attenuates a signal
Term
Inductance
Definition
A basic phenomenon of electricity; the basis of the electrical transformer where a voltage is passed thru a coil which is interleaved with another coil: Inductance occurs as electrons gravitate toward the “empty wire” or lowest energy state, thus providing isolation from the original source: Inductance via a transformer also provides changes in impedance or resistance depending on the length and number of wrappings of the copper wire: for instance from Hi Z (10K ohms RCA Phono or 1/4 connector types) to Low Z (600ohms XLR, TRS connectors) or vise versa
Term
Capacitance
Definition
The ability to retain or store an electrical charge (measured in farads)
Term
Masking
Definition
A Form of interference caused by presence of several sounds (with similar Freq content)
Term
Modulation Types
Definition
Amplitude Modulation (AM); Frequency Modulation (FM); Ring Modulation
Term
Polar Field Patterns
Definition
Patterns of radiation in the case of a speaker, or patterns of sensitivity, in the case of a mic: Omnidirectional, Uni-Directional, Cardiod, Hyper-cardiod, Super Cardiod, Bi-directional, and Ellipsoidal to name a few
Term
Piezo Element
Definition
Basic, high impedance, signal inducing transducer: bi-directional; use as a pickup, responds to transients; use as a signal emitter as in fire alarms. 126 dB SPL fire code spec.
Term
Ceramic Mic
Definition
older microphone elements used in early telephone technology and phonograph
Term
Dynamic Mic
Definition
Uses inductance as a vehicle to pickup waves of compression/rarefaction
Term
Condenser Mic
Definition
Uses capacitance to bias the backplate/diaphragm producing wide range and high freq sensitivity : Power/phantom power is necessary; dual diaphragm = Bidirectional polar pattern
Term
Ribbon Mic
Definition
A light, thin, corrugated piece of metal foil is used to produce a warm, rich and full freq response; does not normally like phantom power
Term
PZM and PCC Mics
Definition
While both microphones are considered boundary or surface-mounted microphones, they are quite different in application and use. The Pressure Zone Microphone (PZM) has an omnidirectional capsule that "looks down" at the boundary, while the Phase Coherent Cardioid (PCC) microphone has a supercardioid capsule that "looks across" the boundary.
Term
Phantom Power
Definition
Called Phantom because it is unseen and uses the mic cable to send 9 to 48 volts DC up to the condenser mic; this voltage polarizes the backplate/gold diaphragm providing electrical bias. In professional microphones, a provision is made to supply this voltage directly through the microphone cable. This procedure is called phantom powering, and the most common phantom supply voltage available in mixing consoles is 48 VDC, although other supplies of between 18-24 VDC are widely used. How does it work? In a balanced microphone cable are two inner wires surrounded by a shield. It is on these two signal lines that the polarizing voltage is placed, with the same regulated positive voltage on each line. With the positive voltage on the two inner wires, the shield wire is used as the negative return to ground. The audio signal uses the same cable on its way to the mixer, and is not affected by the phantom DC voltage since the signal is AC.
Term
Inline Matching Transformer
Definition
A transformer that changes impedance from hi to low Z via: inductance also provides electrical isolation; sometimes called an isolation transformer
Term
Direct Injection Box
Definition
Often called a DI box, it allows for a parallel hi Z (unbalanced)input/output while outputs only balanced low Z signal (XLR); an audio (pin 1) ground lift is provided and often can input speaker (8 Ohms) or instrument level (2k-7K Ohms)
Term
Balanced Signal
Definition
A noise canceling method of signal transmission employing XLR or Tip-Ring-Sleeve (TRS) connector using three conductor wiring, shield or ground pin 1: program signal pin2: inverted polarity pin3; (XLR- X refers to “trans” or “across” - the LR refers to low(L) and high(R) portions of the phase of the signal. The program signal is first divided into its two major phase components, in-phase and out of phase 0 degrees and 180 degrees; When the signal is re-combined, the noise induced (in and out of phase) is cancelled, leaving only the original program signal. An XLR cable can extend hundreds of feet in length before noticeable signal deterioration.
Term
Professional Mic/Line Level Signal
Definition
A balanced, low impedance 1.23 volts @ 600 ohms Signal. A volt-ohm meter will indicate = +4dB Vu
Term
Unbalanced Signal
Definition
two conductor wiring RCA phono or Tip-Sleeve (TS) connectivity: program(+) and ground shield(-); can only extend about 30-40 feet before signal deterioration
Term
Consumer Line Level Signal
Definition
An unbalanced, high impedance signal employing RCA phono or Tip-Sleeve (TS) connectivity -10dBVu (volt/ohms as in a VU meter) .77 volts @ 10K ohms
Term
Input Trim
Definition
(on a mic preamplifier) sometimes referred to as “gain = an Attenuator which adds resistance or impedance to cut down signal strength
Term
Signal Types
Definition

-Professional Mic Line Level

-Consumer Line Level

-Speaker

Term
Profesional Mic Line Level(+4dBu):
Definition

3 Wire Conductor

Balanced

1.23 Volts

600 ohms

XLR/TRS(Tip Ring Sleeve)

200-300 feet

Term
Consuer Line Level(-10dbU):
Definition

.77 volts

10,000 ohms of impedance

RCA Phono, 1/4" Tip Sleeve

Two Wire Conductors

Unbalanced 20-3 feet

Term
White Noise
Definition
inherently has a 3dB rise of energy per octave(+3dB/Octave)
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