An abbreviation for Compact Disc, or a small optical disk with digital audio recorded on it.
The frequency of an audio signal that is most affected by an equalizer, either boosting or attenuating the frequency. Drawn graphically, this is the very top or bottom (the “peak”) of the frequency bell-shaped curve.
1) An audio recording made on a portion of the width of a multitrack tape, or isolated within a digital audio workstation, usually for the purpose of combining with other channels. 2) A single path that an audio signal travels or can travel through a device from an input to an output.
The complete signal path from the sound source to the multitrack recorder (or DAW). For example, an audio signal that travels from the microphone to the preamplifier, then into a channel strip on the mixing console, then is sent through the outputs into the recorder. This is different from the monitor path, which feeds a mix of signals into monitor speakers or headphones without affecting the recorded signals. (See also “Monitor Path.”)
The automatic adjusting of the speed of a recorder (or sequencer) to keep time with another recorder.
Three or more musical pitches sung or played together.
A shorthand form of musical notation that provides the basic chord changes and essential rhythmic information of a song. Most commonly used by studio session players, rhythm sections or jazz bands to provide the skeletal structure of the song while allowing players room to create their own parts and improvise. While lead sheets typically focus on melody line and chord structure, chord charts display mainly chord changes and rhythm. (See also “Lead Sheet.”)
1) The part of a song that is repeated with the same music and lyrics each time, often containing the main point or hook of the song. 2) A musical singing group with many singers. 3) A delay effect that simulates a vocal chorus by adding several delays with a mild amount of feedback and a medium amount of depth.
1) One complete path of electric current. 2) Similar to definition 1, but including all audio signal paths and components to accomplish a particular audio function.
A metronome “click” fed into headphone monitors for the purpose of helping the musicians play in time with the song.
The distortion of a signal due to overloading an electronic device, so named because the resulting graphic waveform looks like the edges of the waveform have been “clipped.”
A signal sent by a device within the circuit that generates steady pulses or codes to keep other devices in sync with each other. An example in the music world is sequencing via MIDI. The sequencer sends a clock signal so connected devices will play in time.
A microphone placement technique that places the mic close to the sound source to pick up the direct sound and reject ambient sound.
(abbreviated “Coax”) A two-conductor cable that consists of one conductor surrounded by a shield.
A stereo miking technique in which two microphones are placed with their heads as close to each other as possible. This prevents phase cancellation problems in the mix because the distance from the sound to either microphone is the same.
