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Chapter 11: Digital audio glossary
The glossary is your guide to unfamiliar terms in common audio workflows and multiple Adobe Soundbooth CS3
features. If you don't find a term here, search for it in Help to find a feature-specific definition.
Common audio terms
A
(analog-to-digital converter) The hardware that converts an analog audio or video signal into a digital signal
ADC
that you can process with a computer.
Noise that occurs when a high frequency sound exceeds the Nyquist frequency for a given sample rate. (See
aliasing
"Nyquist frequency" on page 82.) Most analog-to-digital converters prevent aliasing by filtering out sounds above
the Nyquist frequency.
Amplitude represents the volume of an audio signal. A waveform's amplitude is measured by its distance
amplitude
from the center line, which represents an amplitude of 0. There are different standards for measuring amplitude, but
the decibel (dB) is the most common. (See "decibel (dB)" on page 80.)
Traditional audio recording with devices such as magnetic tape machines and vinyl records.
analog recording
Analog audio recording consists of a continuous curve, as opposed to digital recording, which consists of discrete
samples.
(Audio Stream In/Out) A standard for low-latency drivers, created by Steinberg Media Technologies.
ASIO
The first part of the sound that you hear. Some sounds (like pianos and drums) have a very fast attack; the
attack
loudest portion of the sound occurs very quickly. A sound with a slow attack rate (such as a soft string section) slowly
increases in volume.
To reduce volume or signal level.
attenuate
B
A filter that allows some audio frequencies to pass through unchanged.
band pass filter
Musical tempo, which is defined by the number of beats that occur every 60 seconds.
beats per minute (bpm)
The number of bits used to represent audio amplitude. For example, 8-bit resolution provides 256 possible
bit depth
amplitude levels and a 48-dB dynamic range; 16-bit resolution provides 65,536 levels and a 96-dB range. Soundbooth
supports up to 32-bit resolution with 4,294,967,296 possible levels. For the best audio quality, remain at 32-bit
resolution while transforming audio in Soundbooth, and then convert to a lower bit depth for output.
C
In digital audio, distortion that occurs when the amplitude of a signal exceeds the maximum level for the
clipping
current bit depth (for example, 256 in 8-bit audio). Visually, clipped audio produces broad flat areas at the top of a
waveform. If you experience clipping, lower the recording input or the source output levels.
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