Glossary; Current Project - Roland VS-2400CD Appendices

Glossary

Analyzer
A device that divides the frequency spectrum into narrow
bands, and displays a level meter for each function band to
analyze the frequency distribution.
ATA
This is an interface for PC hard disks, and is the official
standard for the interface known as IDE.
It provides various improvements over the older IDE, such
as increased transfer speed.
ATAPI
This is a specification that was developed in order to allow
devices other than hard disks (such as CD-ROM drives) to be
connected using the ATA specification.
CD-R
Short for Compact Disc Recordable. This is a system for
reading and writing discs in the same format as that used for
CDs (CD-ROMs and music CDs). A specialized CD-R drive
allows one-time only writing of discs.
However, as long as the data has not been finalized and there
is sufficient capacity remaining on the disc, the CD-R drive
can be used for multiple additions to, and changes in the
material.
Sometimes they are referred to as "Write Once CD," "CD-
Write Once," or something similar.
CD-RW
Short for Compact Disc ReWritable. This is a system
allowing creation of discs that can be read using the same
format as regular CDs (CD-ROMs and Music CDs). While
resembling the CD-R system in that it uses a special CD-RW
drive, these discs can be rewritten any number of times.
Compressor
An effect that suppresses volume fluctuations. When the
input signal exceeds a specified level (threshold), the gain is
reduced as the input signal rises, thus suppressing signal
overload. The same algorithm can also be used as a limiter
(an effect that instantaneously suppresses peaks).
Of the effects in this system, only the compressor included in
guitar multi 1–3 simulates a compact compressor for guitar,
and works differently from a limiter. (It suppresses signal
overloads, and also evens out the volume by raising low-
level signals.)
COSM
Stands for Composite Object Sound Modeling. This is "a
technology which combines multiple sound models to create
new sounds," which was first used on the Roland's VG-8 V-
Guitar System. For example, sounds created on the VG-8 are
the result of a variety of sound models (elements) such as the
pickup, the body of the guitar, the guitar amp, mic, and
speaker etc.
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Current Project

The project currently being recorded, played back, or edited
is referred to as the current project.
DAT
Short for Digital Audio Tape. This refers both to the system
of recording digitized sound to magnetic tape, as well as to
the tapes themselves. Besides digital audio signals, all song
information is recorded on the tape, including starts and
track data, information to allow or prevent copying, etc.
Dynamics (effect)
Effects that compressor expand the range of volume changes.
These effects are used to reduce noise when recording to
tape, or to increase the dynamic range of a tape or wireless
mic. Dynamics effects provided on this system include
Enhancer, Expander, Compressor, and Limiter.
DSP
An abbreviation for Digital Signal Processing. Technology
that uses dedicated circuitry or software calculations to
process digitized audio or video signals in order to
implement the functionality of a mixer, filter, or effect
processor. By extension, DSP is also used to collectively refer
to effect devices and effect functionality that uses such
technology.
Expander
An effect that increases (by a fixed ratio) the difference in
loud and soft volume levels, by making low-level signals
softer, and high-level signals louder.
Finalize
This is the operation that writes the TOC to a prepared audio
disc. Whereas additions and changes can be made to discs
that have not yet been finalized, such discs are not playable
on regular CD players.
Formants
A formant is an important element which determine the
character of a vocal sound. It is a fixed overtone whose
location is determined by the size of the vocal chords.
Conventional pitch shifters modify the pitch in a way that
changes even the location of the formants (which by nature
do not change). For example when a conventional pitch
shifter raises the pitch, a "duck voice" is produced as if the
vocal chords had shrunk, and when the pitch is lowered a
"giant voice" is produced as if the vocal chords had
expanded.
The Voice Transformer modifies the basic pitch and the
formant separately, allowing a variety of voice characters to
be created.