Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

Produce a glossary of terms specific to the methods and principles of sound design and production. Using a provided template, you must research and gather definitions specific to provided glossary terms. Any definitions must be referenced with the URL link of the website you have obtained the definition.You must also, where possible, provide specific details of how researched definitions relate to your own production practice.

Name: Cameron McRae RESEARCHED DEFINITION (provide short internet researched definition and URL link)

DESCRIBE THE RELEVANCE OF THE RESEARCHED TERM TO YOUR OWN PRODUCTION PRACTICE?

SOUND DESIGN METHODOLOGY

Foley Artistry Foley artists match live sound effects with the action of the picture. http://www.filmsound.org/terminology/foley.htm

I used foley artistry to create some of the background sounds for the cut sequence.

Sound Libraries A collection of sounds stored on file (for example on CDs, DVDs, or as digital audio files)http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sound-library

I used audio from a sound library to help learn how to use the Reaper software.

SOUND FILE FORMATS Uncompressed Uncompressing (or decompressing) is the act of expanding a compression file back into its original form.http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/uncompressing-or-decompressing

.wav A Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for storing an audio bit stream on PCshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV

All of the audio I used and rendered was in the .wav format.

.aiff an audio file format standard used for storing sound data for personal computers and other electronic audio devices.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Interchange_File_Format

.au AU is a file extension for a sound file format belonging to Sun, NeXT and DEC and used in UNIX. The AU file format is also known as the Sparc-audio or u-law foment. AU files contain three parts: the audio data and text for a header (containing 24 bytes) and an annotation block.http://whatis.techtarget.com/fileformat/AU-Sun-NeXT-DEC-UNIX-sound-file

.smp SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) is the processing of programs by multiple processors that share a common operating system and memory.http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/definition/SMP

Lossy Compression Refers to data compression techniques in which some amount of

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

data is lost. Lossy compression technologies attempt to eliminate redundant or unnecessary information.http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/L/lossy_compression.html

.mp3 A computer file format for the compression and storage of digital audio data.http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mp3

AUDIO LIMITATIONS Sound Processor Unit (SPU) A plug-in card that records and plays back sound. Supporting both digital audio and MIDI, sound cards provide an input port for a microphone or other sound source and output ports to speakers and amplifiers.http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Audio+processing+unit

Digital Sound Processor (DSP) A specialized microprocessor designed specifically for digital signal processing, generally in real-time computing. The DSP processes digital signals converted from analog signals.http://www.audiocodes.com/glossary/dsp

Random Access Memory (RAM) A type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly; that is, any byte of memory can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes. RAM is the most common type of memory found in computers and other devices, such as printers.http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/RAM.html

Mono Audio Typically there is only one microphone, one loudspeaker, or (in the case of headphones and multiple loudspeakers) channels are fed from a common signal path.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaural

If I was listening to mono audio, I wouldn’t be able to create the effect of movement and distance, so I didn’t use it.

Stereo Audio Reproduction of sound using two or more separate microphones to feed two or more loudspeakers through separate channels in order to give a spatial effect to the sound.http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/stereo-sound

I used stereo audio so that I could create the effect of distance, and movement from one place to another.

Surround Sound a system of sound recording and reproduction that uses three or more independent recording channels and loudspeakers in order to give the impression that the listener is surrounded by the sound sourceshttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/surround+sound

Direct Audio (Pulse Code Modulation – PCM)

Pulse-code modulation (PCM) is a method used to digitally represent sampled analog signals. It is the standard form of digital audio in computers, Compact Discs, digital telephony and other digital audio applications.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-code_modulation

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

AUDIO RECORDING SYSTEMS

Analogue An analogue recording is one that is made by changing the sound waves into electrical signals of the same type.http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/analogue

Digital Mini Disc A music medium designed by Sony as a portable replacement for music Compact Discs.http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Mini+Disc

Compact Disc (CD) A small, portable, round medium made of molded polymer (close in size to the floppy disk) for electronically recording, storing, and playing back audio, video, text, and other information in digital form.http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/compact-disc

Digital Audio Tape (DAT) Magnetic tape on which sound is recorded digitally, giving high-fidelity reproduction.http://www.wordreference.com/definition/digital%20audio%20tape

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) A standard protocol for the interchange of musical information between musical instruments, synthesizers and computers.http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/47014/midi

I used MIDI software to make background music and noises.

Software Sequencers An electronic device or software program that digitally stores sound for modification and playback through a synthesizer.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sequencer

I used sequencers to make our audio clearer, and reduce any audio spikes.

Software Plug-ins Software plug-ins are add-ons for a program that adds functionality to it.http://techterms.com/definition/plugin

I imported plugins and used them to edit our sounds.

MIDI Keyboard Instruments Typically a piano-style user interface keyboard device used for sending MIDI signals or commands over a USB or MIDI cable to other devices connected and operating on the same MIDI protocol interface.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI_keyboard

I used imported MIDI instrument to create basic background music for my cut sequence.

AUDIO SAMPLING File Size Constraints - Bit-depth Bit depth describes the potential accuracy of a particular piece of hardware or software that processes audio data. In general, the more bits that are available, the more accurate the resulting output from the data being processed.http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/bit-depth

File Size Constraints - Sample Rate

Sampling is the process of measuring an audio signal at specific points in time. The sampling rate or frequency is expressed in Hertz.http://stereos.about.com/od/glossaryoftermss/g/sampling.htm

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