Glossary

Noise Floor

The level of the noise present below the audio signal, measured in dB. Every electronic device emits a minimum level of noise, even when no audio is traveling through it; this is described as its noise floor. Generally speaking, the lower the noise floor in these devices, the higher the quality of the device. The noise floor also translates to the recorded signal; the noise floor of a recording is the sum of all the noise generated by connected devices. The objective is always to keep the noise floor as low as possible.

Noise Gate

A gate that is used reduce audible noise by automatically turning off an audio channel when the signal is not present.

Noise Reduction

Any of a number of processes to remove noise from a signal, device or system.

Non-destructive Editing

A feature in recording systems (most common in Digital Audio Workstations, or DAWs) in which the original signal or content stays intact while edits are performed, allowing the engineer to revert to the original version at any time. (Sometimes also called “Nonlinear editing.”)

Nondirectional

See “Omnidirectional.”

Normalize

To apply a fixed amount of gain to audio so that the highest peak is set at the highest acceptable recording level.

Normalled

Describes the configuration within a patch bay in which the jacks form a connected pathway until a patch cord is inserted to change the path. When a patch bay is “full-normalled,” the connection is altered by inserting a cord into either the input or output side; when it is “half-normalled,” the path changes only when a cord is plugged into the input. “Non-normalled” or “open” means there are no internal connections, and each input sends the signal through its corresponding output.

Notch

A narrow band of audio frequencies.

Notch Filter

A band stop filter set to reject frequencies within a very narrow band. So called because the attenuated frequency band looks like a “notch” in the spectrum it is displayed visually (for example, in an EQ plugin). (See also “Band Stop Filter.”)

NW/m

See “Nanowebers per Meter.”

Nybble (or Nibble)

One half byte of computer data, or 4 bits.

Nyquist Frequency

In digital recording, the highest frequency that can be recorded and reproduced properly, equivalent to a one-half the sampling rate. (For example, with the common sampling rate of 44,100 kHz per second, the Nyquist frequency would be 22,050 kHz.) Aliasing begins to occur with frequencies that exceed this threshold. (See also “Aliasing.”)

Nyquist Rate

The lowest sampling rate that can be used to record and reproduce a given audio signal, equivalent to twice the highest frequency. If the highest frequency found in an analog signal or sound is 18,000 kHz, theoretically the signal must be sampled at a minimum of 36,000 kHz per second—otherwise, the signal is considered to be undersampled and aliasing will occur. This is essentially the inverse principle of the Nyquist Frequency. (NOTE: the sample rate of 44,100 kHz/second is considered the standard sample rate because it easily covers the upper range of human hearing, which is about 20,000 kHz.)

Octave

An interval or difference of pitch of 12 half-steps. In our standard tuning system, the higher note in an octave is exactly double the frequency of the lower note.

Off Axis

Veering away from the imaginary line (axis) directly in front of the receiving end of a microphone. Measured as degrees of an angle. (For example, a sound coming from directly behind the microphone is said to be 180 degrees off-axis.)

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