Audio Production Glossary

Please add your lexicographic knowledge below. Glossary entries will be referred and linked to from posts throughout Tracks – just give it some time, since this is requires a manual change in the backend.

A

B

bitrate

n – Measure for the quality of the encoding of an audio file, specifying how much data is stored per second, e.g. 128 kbps. A higher bitrate generally means a better sound quality, however other factors such as codec, bit depth, and sample rate play important roles as well.

C

codec

n – algorithm to encode and compress an audio file, such as mp3.

n – hardware device or software program to create links between studios via ISDN (ISDN codec) or IP or SIP (IP codec or SIP codec)

D

DAW

n – Digital Audio Workstation. An audio editing software like ProTools, Reaper, Audition, or Hindenburg. See also: Digital Audio Workstations

dip

vsee duck

duck

v – To lower the volume of a track and let it continue beneath another track. Often used with translations.

E

F

G

H

(k)Hz

abbr – (kilo)Hertz. Unit that means “per second”. Used for sample rates, where a sample rate of 48 kHz means 48,000 samples per second.

I

J

K

kbps

abbr – kilobits per second (also: kb/s). see bitrate

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

SIP

abbr – Session Initiation Protocol. A communication protocol that computers use, e.g. to make VoIP calls. SIP addresses can look like email addresses: echo@studio.link

T

U

V

VoIP

abbr – Voice over IP. Basically, internet telephony like you’ll find it in apps like Skype, WhatsApp, Signal, Linphone, and many more, as well as professional tools like ipDTL, Luci Live, or Studio Link.

vox pop

n – short for vox populi, Latin for “voice of the people.” Interviews with people on the street.

W

X

Y

Z