Digital Audio and Recording Study Guide

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering digital audio basics, recording techniques, Pro Tools editing modes, mixing components, and hearing protection.

Digital Audio

A method of storing sound as binary numbers, specifically $0\text{s}$ and $1\text{s}$, through thousands of measurements taken every second.

Sample Rate

How many times per second the computer measures a sound; higher rates result in more accurate sound recreation.

$$44.1\text{ kHz}$$

The standard sample rate for CDs.

$$48\text{ kHz}$$

The standard sample rate for video.

.wav

A high-quality audio file type primarily associated with Windows/PC.

.aiff

A high-quality audio file type primarily associated with Mac.

.mp3

A compressed audio file type characterized by a smaller file size.

Transducer

A device that changes one form of energy into another; for example, a microphone converts sound into an electrical signal.

Proximity Effect

A phenomenon where a voice becomes muddy, boomy, or overly bass-heavy because the person is too close to the microphone.

Distortion (Clipping)

A harsh, fuzzy sound created when audio is too loud and the waveform clips; it usually cannot be fixed after recording.

3:1 Rule

A rule stating that if one microphone is $1\text{ foot}$ from the speaker, any second microphone should be at least $3\text{ feet}$ away to reduce bleed and phase problems.

Nyquist Theorem

A theory stating that the sample rate must be at least twice the highest frequency intended to be recorded.

Oversampling

The process of using more samples than required to make recordings more accurate and reduce unwanted artifacts.

Dithering

The final step before exporting audio where a tiny amount of noise is added to make the sound smoother when reducing bit depth.

Shuffle Mode (F1)

A Pro Tools editing mode that automatically closes gaps after moving or deleting clips.

Slip Mode (F2)

A Pro Tools editing mode that allows the user to move clips freely anywhere on the timeline.

Spot Mode (F3)

A Pro Tools editing mode used to place clips at an exact specified time.

Grid Mode

A Pro Tools editing mode that snaps clips to the timeline grid or a specific beat.

Zoomer Tool

An editing tool used to zoom in and out of the audio waveform.

Trimmer Tool

An editing tool used to shorten or lengthen the beginning or end of an audio clip.

Region Tool

An editing tool used to select a specific part of the audio.

Grabber Tool

An editing tool used to move audio clips around within the timeline.

Scrubber Tool

An editing tool used to listen slowly through audio to identify clicks or specific edit points.

Pencil Tool

An editing tool used to repair small waveform issues manually or draw automation.

AudioSuite

A feature in Pro Tools that applies effects directly and permanently to the selected audio clip.

Normalize

An effect that raises the level of an audio clip to a good overall volume.

Equalizer (EQ)

A tool used to adjust the volume of specific frequencies, such as bass, mids, and highs.

Compressor

A dynamics processor that makes the loud and quiet parts of a recording more even.

Relative Level

One of the five parts of a good mix; it involves balancing the volume of each individual track.

Spatial Positioning

One of the five parts of a good mix; it defines placing sounds in the left, right, or center channels.

De-Esser

A specific processor used in voice recordings to reduce harsh 'S' sounds.

Reverb

An effects processor that adds a natural sense of room sound or space to a recording.

Acoustic Trauma

Hearing damage caused by a single, extremely loud sound event such as an explosion.

Temporary Threshold(TTS)

A temporary loss of hearing after exposure to loud sounds, where hearing typically returns after a period of time.

Permanent Threshold Shift (PTS)

Irreversible hearing loss caused by repeated exposure to loud sound levels.