Defi Nition Of Terms - Behringer DEEPMIND 12 User Manual

129 DeepMind 12 User Manual

23. Defi nition of Terms

This glossary provides an explanation of the symbols, terms and abbreviations
used in this manual.
16'/8'/4' Used to describe the range of an oscillator, this term originates from
pipe organs. The length of the pipe is inversely proportional to the pitch it
produces e.g. a 4' pipe is one octave higher than an 8' pipe.
ADC or A/D Analog to Digital Converter, used to describe the process of signal
conversion
AC Alternating Current
ADSR Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release, an envelope with four stages.
Aftertouch - The pressure applied to a key after it has been pressed. This
pressure is converted into a MIDI signal to allow the amount of pressure to
modulate another parameter.
Algorithm: A process or set of rules used to accomplish an operation.
Amplifi er A circuit which increased the level of a signal.
Amplitude Modulation (AM) Modulation of the amplitude (or level) of a sound
by another signal source. AM is used to produce tremolo using a low frequency
modulation source.
Analog Something which is proportional or similar to something else. In the
case of the synthesizer, audio electronic circuits are another form of air pressure
waves. Analog signals contain distortions from the components, topology,
circuits and designs which are often perceived as warmer and more natural than
their digitally generated counterparts.
Arpeggiator An "Apreggio" is a number of notes played sequentially instead
of simultaneously. The Arpeggiator responds to a number of keys being held by
playing a sequence of notes. The notes, and their sequence can be confi gured
using the preset modes of operation.
Attack Time The fi rst stage of an ADSR envelope, used to control the initial
part of a sound. Specifi ed as the duration of time for an envelope to reach the
maximum level after it has been triggered on by a key press or gate signal.
Attenuate To reduce the level of a signal.
Automation The recording and playback of control signals.
Auto-panning An eff ect which cyclically adjusts the position of the audio signal
within the stereo fi eld.
Balanced Audio A type of audio connection that uses the three wires in a cable
as part of a phase-cancelling arrangement to boost the signal and reduce noise.
Band A range of frequencies.
Bandwidth The diff erence between the upper and lower frequencies of a fi lter.
Bank A group of programs
Bass Lower frequencies in a signal ranging from 60 Hz to 250 Hz (Approximately
B1 to B3).
Beat Frequency When two waveforms of diff erent frequencies are mixed
together the resulting waveform will have points of constructive and destructive
interference. The beat frequency is equal to the diff erence in frequencies and is
heard as a "beating" or amplitude modulation.
Beats Per Minute (BPM) Used to describe the tempo of a composition by
specifying the number of beats which should occur in every minute.
Cent Unit of measurement for pitch tuning. There are one hundred cents
in a semitone.
Chorus An eff ect which uses multiple copies of a signal played together and
slightly out of time, to create a shimmering eff ect. Sometimes referred to as
"Ensemble".
Clock A digital waveform typically square which is used as a timing source for
other components in a system.
Comb Filtering Removal of signal components using a fi lter shape with a
number of regularly spaced frequencies.
Compressor A dynamics processor that reduces the level of any signal exceeding
a specifi ed threshold volume.
Continuous Controller A type of MIDI message assigned to a specifi c
parameter. When the parameter is adjusted a continuous controller messages are
sent. If the assigned continuous controller is received then the parameter will be
adjusted.
Control Voltage (CV) A voltage signal used to control any parameter. Was
common on synthesizers before MIDI, and is now found mostly on modular
synthesizers.
Cross-Modulation (X-Mod) Two oscillators modulating each other at the same
time. The outputs is a mix of the sum and diff erence of the oscillators. The term
is also used to describe the ability for parameters of a synthesizer to be able to
modulate other parameters.
Cut-Off Frequency The frequency which a fi lter is set to. Beyond this frequency
(in a lo-pass fi lter, the most common), the sound is cut off (attenuated) at a rate
set by the slope of the fi lter response curve.
Cycle In a sound wave, the cycle refers to a single repetition of a wave-shape.
E.g. in a square waveform it is the time from a positive edge, to the next positive
edge.
DAC or D/A Digital to Analog Converter, used to describe the process of signal
conversion
Data Digitally stored information
dB Symbol for "decibel". A unit of measurement of the loudness of sound.
See dBu.
dBu A unit of measurement of sound used in professional audio. Derived from
the decibel, where the "u" stands for unloaded, this unit is an RMS measurement
of voltage based on 0.775 VRMS, which is the voltage at which you get 1mV of
power in a 600 ohm resistor. This used to be the standard impedance in most
professional audio circuits.
DC Off set An imbalance that sometimes occurs in A/D converters . It is a
constant voltage that is present which can eat up headroom and cause clicks and
pops during editing.
Decay Time The second stage of an ADSR envelope. Specifi ed as the duration of
time for an envelope to reach the sustain level after the maximum level has been
reached during the attack stage.
Default An initial value for parameter, i.e., the value before any changes have
been made.
Delay An eff ect by which a reproduction of a signal is played back later then
its original. Primarily used for echo, but also is the basis for phasing, fl anging,
chorus and basic reverb type eff ects.
Detuning The action of adjusting the pitch of an oscillator from a reference point
or another oscillator. When oscillators are detuned slightly they will make the
output sound "fatter" or "wider". When oscillators are detuned heavily to note
intervals it can create harmonies.
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) A computer based recording system.
More commonly used to describe the software package used to record, process
and mix.