Sound Terminology Flashcards by Rachel Chin

The science that deals with the behaviour of sound and sound control, including its generation, transmission, reception and effects. The properties of a room that affect the quality of sound

ACOUSTICS

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Process of re-recording dialogue in the studio in synchronization with the picture

Usually this is needed when there is a minor audio problem on set during the original shoot

NOTE: Because it is often difficult to record high-quality sound on location, the soundtrack is essentially re-built from scratch. Production audio can be noisy and inconsistent from shot to shot

Actors are brought into the studio for ____, or ‘looping’ - they watch their image on screen while they re-speak their lines.

The originally recorded dialogue is repeated over and over (“looping”) with the corresponding picture until the performer can synchronically re-record their speech.

An actor watches the image repeatedly while listening to the original production track on headphones as a guide. The actor then re-performs each line to match the wording and lip movements. Actors vary in their ability to achieve sync and to recapture the emotional tone of their performance.

These cleanly recorded dialogue tracks are then mixed into the soundtrack to recreate the original sound - only better.

ADR (Automatic Dialog Replacement)

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audio file format for storing audio/sound data on computers and other devices

uncompressed and lossless as opposed to heavily compressed audio file formats such as MP3. Because of this, AIFF uses much more disk space than compressed formats - about 10MB for one minute of 16-bit, 44.1kHz stereo audio

leading format (along with SDII and WAV) for use by professional audio and video applications.

AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format, the standard for Mac audio and video-editing systems)

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natural environmental noise that surrounds a scene. The sound of the space where the story takes place. Ambient sound is part of the sound recorded on location. Sounds such as reverberation, noise and atmosphere that form a background to the main sound. A scene with only dialogue will seem empty and hollow without such sound, which may be recorded by a separate microphone during shooting or added later to the mix from a separate source.

Ambience

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the act or result of independently increasing voltage, power, or current with the intention of making a stronger signal. In the world of audio, amplification is ubiquitous (everywhere, ever-present) – every form of recorded audio requires amplification to be appropriately heard through a speaker

one of many crucial components that affect the overall fidelity and quality of audio playback.

opposite is ATTENUATION

Amplificiation

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The magnitude of a sound wave or electric signal, measured in decibels.

Amplitude

bigger amplitude = bigger sound

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a recording where the original sound signal has been modulated onto another physical non-digital medium

physical quality in the medium is related or analogous to the physical properties of the original sound

Analogue audio

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unintended and undesirable by-product of a process/treatment which has been applied to an audio track in excess

Artifact

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the way a sound begins (plucking, bowing, striking, etc)

first part of the sound envelope - how a sound starts and after a sound source has been vibrated

Attack

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reduction in amplitude

opposite of amplification

Attenuation

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digital audio data stored in computer file format

Audio File

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secondary copy kept on hard for disaster recovery

Backup

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filter that attenuates above and below selected bandwidth, allowing freq in bt to pass

Band-pass Filter

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range of freq w/i given band, typically measured in Hz

range of human hearing is 20Hz to 20 000hz

Bandwidth

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low range of audible freq spectrum (usually 20 - 320 Hz(

Bass

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binary digit with a value of either 0 or 1

8 ____ = 1 byte

Bit

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amount of bits recorded for each audio sample

refers to clarity of an audio signal

greater ___ ____ has greater precision

*buckets

Bit Depth

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how fast that signal is delivered to us

number of bits that are conveyed or processed per unit of time

Bit Rate

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long, mobile telescopic arm with mic attached at one end held over speaker’s head outside the camera frame

Boom

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to adjust timing bt sound and picture in precise frame or sub-frame units while both are running

Bump

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basic unit of digital info (data) storage

eight bits equal one ___-

Byte

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mics that are most sensitive to sounds coming from front, less from sides, and least sensitive from behind

name derives from pickup pattern that is heart-shaped when viewed from above

Cardioid Mics

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audio tracks on tape, film, of DAW or a channel strip on mixing board

Channel

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short, sharp, transient audio anomaly that is bigger than a tick but shorter than a pop

Click

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phenomenon where input signal exceeds capability of the electronic/digital equipment to reproduce the signal distortion of incomprehensible noise often noticed by the sound editor

Clipping

device or program that is capable of encoding and/or decoding digital data stram or signal via specialized algorithms

Codec

shrinking file size and data flow of digital audio to represent the audio signal reducing a signal's output level in relation to its input level to reduce dynamic range

Compression *Data compression - used to maximize the fidelity of the product within data restrictions of playback medium

simplest type of mic where vibrations of a diaphragm in relation to a fixed plate cause a variation in voltage

Condenser Microphone

Conforming, also known as synchronization, is the act of placing audio in a matching time reference with picture so that sound coincides with image. Picture and sound, when recorded separately, need to be synced

Conform

Crackle is a section of densely packed tick

Crackle

used to blend one piece of audio into another. During a cross-fade, the volume of the tail of one piece of audio gradually decreases, while the volume of the start of the next piece of audio gradually increases

Cross-fade

digital audiocassette format

DAT (digital audio tape)

digital audio workstation where operator can record and manipulate digital audio in NON LINEAR order

DAW

Part of the natural envelope of a sound (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release). In post production, decay is one of the parameters of a reverberation effect and refers to the time it takes for the reverb to become silent. When editing production audio with natural reverb, the decay can be interrupted or upcut, creating an unnatural or anomalous effect.

Decay

logarithmic, relative scale for measuring power or amplitude, and it is used in a wide variety of disciplines

Decibel (dB)

conversation bt two people

Dialogue

realistic sound that would logically exist in the audio world depicted on the screen

Diegetic Sound

representation of sound in digital form

Digital Audio

any transformation in a sound signal that makes it lose its original clarity and quality

Distortion

sound recording in most professional filming, where the sound is recorded on a separate magnetic or digital tape and not on the film, though both are in synchronization. A clapper board is used to synch the sound and video. This system allows for greater fidelity in sound and greater facility

Double-system sound

A way of counting timecode so that frame numbers stay, on average, in sync with real-world time. No actual frames are dropped in the process.

Drop frame

The sudden absence of sound from a sound track, sometimes intentional and sometimes because of a malfunction during the recording or mixing a momentary and instantaneous loss of program level partial but noticeable loss of level or complete loss of level in program

Drop out

To record dialogue and various sounds and then integrate them into the film after it has been shot. This is often done for scenes where the original recording is faulty, for scenes where it is simply more convenient to add other dialogue or sound later – or – for films which require dialogue in a different language

Dub Dubbing Postdubbing

A microphone that operates by means of a moving coil. A diaphragm reacts to sound waves by vibrating and causing a coil to move in a magnetic field. The coil creates voltage that corresponds to the waves and is the source of sound in a recording. These mics are typically used by musical performers, amateur recordists and many professionals. They are simpler and less sensitive than condensers, but usually quite rugged and resistant to handling noise and they require no batteriesor special power supply

Dynamic (moving coil) microphones

The range between the loudest signal a system can carry without distortion and it's low-level noise that would obscure the softest signals, expressed in decibels

Dynamic range

When most people think of ______ they think of a sound repeating one or more times with decreasing intensity. To audio engineers however, _____ means reverb. After an audio event, reverb is the reflected sound (echoes) of the physical space in which the event has occurred. The bigger the space and the more reflective its surfaces, the longer the reverb will last and the brighter it will sound. There are many analog and digital processes that can create reverb to varying degrees

Echo

defines the placement of every clip used on a timeline. They are most often used in video editing

EDL

a process or function that manipulates audio

Effect

boosting or cutting of specified frequencies in an audio sign

Equalization

gradual increase or decrease in volume of a program

Fade

familiar sound system squeal occurting when an open mic output is amplified and applied to a loud speaker with sufficient gain

Feedback Acoustic ("howl round")

represents faithfulness, accuracy, and ability to authentically reproduce an original source in another medium

Fidelity

generation SFX by duplicating the actor's on-screen movements in a sound studio

Foley

specialist in sound effects, especially in body movements, named after Jack Foley

Foley Artist

frames per second the rate of consecutive frames in moving image video runs at 30 fps while film 24 fps

FPS

number of cycles per second of air compression at a given point, caused by a vibrating object in the production of sound waves measured in HERTZ (1 cycle/sec)

Frequency

amplification of sound in an audio system loudness of a sound as it passes through a camera or audio recorder Expressed in dB

Gain Level

When a shot's audio track is delivered with _______, it contains not only the audio for the shot, but also a few seconds of audio from both before and after it. These extra 'before and after' audio clips are considered the shot's _____

Handles

unit of freq in cycles per second

Hertz (Hz)

higher frequencies of the audible audio spectrum commonly referred to as treble

High End

type of EQ that reduces the amount of low frequency info in an audio source by gradually rolling off the low end starting at a specified freq point this type of EQ filter is generally used to remove rumble or hum in a track

High-pass filter

sounding like broad spectrum white noise, it is the result of any kind of electronic amplification and is also inherent in reproduction any analog audio source

Hiss

steady state, low freq anomaly usually audible in narrow bands of one or more frequencies common source of ___ is interference from the electric power supply

Hum

process of digitizing or capturing media as data and then storing it on a computer/server is known as ingestion.

Ingest

Sound level so quiet that it barely "kicks" the VU or peak met

In the mud

Sound level so loud that the VU meter "rides" over 100 percent of modulation

In the red

very small mic generally intended to be clipped on the subject's clothing most of these are OMNIDIRECTIONAL although HYPERCARDIOID ones are avialable

Lavaliere mic (Lapel mic)

perceived quality of sound directly correlated to an increase/decrease in amplitude (volume)

Loudness

lower frequencies of the audible audio spectrum

Low End

type of EQ that reduces the amount of high frequency information in an audio source by gradually "rolling off" the high

Low-pass filter

Music and Effects, a submix of a production's soundtrack, but with no dialogue, for use with foreign language re-recording of a film or video program

M&E Track

An instrument for converting sound waves into electrical energy variations

Microphone

To mix is to combine a variety of source audio elements in order to create a finished, cohesive, combined audio track finished, cohesive, combined audio track

Mix

refers to noise levels that noticeably rise and fall with program level.

Modulating hiss

Short for monaural, literally, "one ear". An audio signal with no directional information, frequently recorded with a single m

Mono

Scenes shot without sound. short for “mit out sound”, the

MOS

lossy compression scheme yielding file sizes that are much smaller than AIFF with quality depending on the amount of compression. This format became popular for consumer for use with digital music playe

MP3

similar to dialogue (see above), except the narrator is speaking directly to the audicnce, not to someone else on screen

Narration

something that impacts only a small segment of the audio frequency spectrum

Narrow Band

electrical interference or other unwanted sound introduced into the system (i.e. hiss, hum, rumble, crosstalk, air conditioning background, etc).

Noise

Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action - it is represented as coming from a source OUTSIDE the story space, such as:narrator's commentary, sound effects added for the dramatic effect, mood music.

Non-diegetic sound

to make an overall level adjustment to a digital audio file (or portion of a file) to adjust its level to a pre-determined target valu

Normalize

respond equally to sounds coming from ANY direction

Omnidirectional microphone

ion occurs when a signal, (either from an acoustic source, such as sound recorded into a microphone, or an electronic signal passing through a console), is too loud for its intended target to han

Over modulation

To move a mono audio signal across the stereo field, or place it in a specific left/right or front/back position. (Editing)

Pan

pulse-code modulation uncompressed digital audio

PCM

loudest portion of an audio signal

Peak

external power source/battery supply for microphones that require power

Phantom Power

configuration of directions in space in which a mic is sensitive to sound

Pick-Up Pattern (Mics)

audio signal that contains a full range of frequencies at the same loudness with equal energy in all octaves

Pink Noise

perceived frequency of a sound or musical note

Pitch

transient anomaly that is longer in duration and lower in freq than a tick

Pop

practical sound effects that occur on-set when recording production audio

Production Effects (PFX)

any audio recorded on set during the original production

Production Sound

the audio material itself

Program

mic system using a radio transmission link

Radio Microphone

temporary drawing apart of vibrating molecules causing a partial vacuum to occur

Rarefaction

After an audio event, ____ is the reflected sound (echoes) of the physical space in which the vent has occurred

Reverb

for background extras who have to mime dialogue, this word is mouthed over and over, no words can be discerned

Rhubarb

"noise" of the room, set, or location where dialogue is recorded during production used as a bed

Room Tone

original-music composition for a motion picture or television production which is generally recorded after the picture has been edited

Score Scoring - the composition of music specifically for certain visuals

an audio file format originally created by Digidesign Sound Designer II

SDII

highly directional mic, usually with a long tubular body used by the production sound mixer on location or on the set for film and tv productions

Shotgun Mic

device that isolates a microphone from mechanical vibrations can be attached externally or built into a microphone

Shock Mount

refers to the presence of audio in electronic devices or, more commonly, audio being transmitted from one device to another

Signal

compares the level of the desired signal to the level of unwanted background noise the higher the ratio, the less obtrusive

Signal to Noise Ratio (S/N)

recording sound on the same film/video that is photographing the scene

Single System Sound Recording

the frame-accurate time data recorded on video and audio tapes to control editing and keep elements together named for the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers who invented the format

SMPTE

vibration that propagates as a typically audible mechanical wave of pressure and displacement through a medium such as air or water

Sound

process of specifying, acquiring, manipulating, or generating audio elements

Sound Design

one who practices the art of sound design

Sound Designer

a recorded or electronically produced sound that matches the visual action taking place onscreen often used for: simulating reality, creating illusion or mood

Sound Effect

changes in the loudness of a sound over time described as occurring in four stages: attack, initial decay, sustain, and release

Sound Envelope

Sound Geek

record kept by a production sound recording corresponding to each reel of tape used, noting scene and take information and including any notes regarding wild sound

Sound Log

all audio sources combined together form the ____ ____

Sound Mix

person responsible for capturing sound as it plays out live, determining microphone types and placement

Sound Mixer

person responsible for capturing sound as it plays out live, determining mic type and placement

Sound Mixer

music contained in a film; entire audio portion of a film, video, or tv production

Soundtrack

vibrational disturbance that involves mechanical motion of molecules transmitting energy from one place to another

Sound Wave

background music from an on-screen source such as a stereo, radio, or jukebox added during post-production

Source Music

One-dimensional sound that creates the illusion of two-dimensional sound

Stereo

adding new sound to an already existing track, often additional sound effect catchall phrase for fine-tuning sound in postproduction

Sweetening

a transient anomaly of very short duration, represented in a waveform as a little spike

Tick

linear audio program of a sequence of numbers generated by a timing system that specifies location by hours:minutes:seconds:frames

Time Code

unique tone quality or colour of a sound often referred to as its brightness or richness

Timbre

frequency range between roughly 5120 Hz and 20 000 Hz, the highest two octaves in teh audible frequency spectrum

Treble

music that provides emotional or atmospheric background to the primary dialogue or narration onscreen

Underscore

narration or non-synchronous dialogue taking place over the action onscreen

Voice-over

voices of people in a crowd recorded at an event or studio or taken from a sound effects CD

Walla

physical manifestation of sound - the movement of air through space

Waveform

format known by many names: Waveform Audio File Format Broadcast Wave Files V-WAV

WAV File

distance bt the peaks of adjacent waves in given freq lower freq have longer wavelengths, higher freq have shorter wavelengths

Wavelength

sound containing all the audible frequencies generated with the same power intensity, sounding like intense static

White Noise

lines of dialogue not recorded in sync while shooting but recorded either on set or later during the looping stage

Wild Lin

audio recording intended to be synced with film or video but recorded separately from picture

Wild Track

rubber covering that is specially designed to fit over the outside of microphone head, used to reduce plosive and blowing sound

Windscreen

mic with radio transmitter and receiver

Wireless (Radio) Microphones

all recorded media designed to play back at specifics stable rates of speed if the record or playback speed fluctuates, random variations in the pitch of the program

Wow

one of several varieties of sound connectors having three or more conductors plus an outer shell which shields the connectors and locks the connectors into place

XLR

long plastic tube with holes that is placed over a shotgun mic to avoid noise from the wind

Zeppelin Windscreen

Sound Terminology Flashcards

(141 cards)