This glossary is made to help students and people who are interested in Music Production. This will help you to understand concepts and technicalities in the field.
Amplifier
noun
Device to increase the intensity of an electric current or sound signal that reaches it.
Example: The receiving transducers would feed from amplifiers to earphones.
es: Amplificador
Analog to Digital Converter
noun
Electronic device capable of converting an analog signal, either voltage or current, into a digital signal by means of a quantifier and coded in many cases into a particular binary code.
Example: The microphone converts acoustic waves to electrical signals for transmission.
es: Conversor analógico a digital
Audio Filter
noun
They are electronic devices used in audio, whose purpose is to attenuate the signal from a given frequency forward or backward, or create a step band, using two filters simultaneously.
Example: You can apply audio filters to capture the most relevant data.
es: Filtro de audio
Channel
noun
It is a workspace where you work with a track independent of the others.
Example: Press this button and the video will automatically tune itself to the next channel.
es: Canal
Compression
noun
It is an electronic sound processor intended to reduce the dynamic margin of the signal without too much notice of its presence.
Example: Advances in compression technology mean that you can now send even quite large files by email.
es: Compresión
Decibel
noun
Decibel is the measure used to express the power level or intensity level of the sound.
Example: The typical lawn mower makes about 90 decibels of noise.
es: Decibelio
Delay
noun
Is a sound effect that consists of the multiplication and modulated retardation of a sound signal.
Example: The delayed signal may be played back multiple times.
es: Retraso
Digital to Analog Converter
noun
Device to convert digital signals with binary data into current or analog voltage signals.
Example: There's no sound coming out of the right-hand speaker.
es: Convertidor digital a analógico
Distortion
noun
It is the difference between the signal entering a system and the signal coming out of it. Therefore, it can be defined as the deformation that the signal suffers after its passage through a system.
Example: The producers insisted the show was a truthful portrayal and there was no distortion.
es: Distorsión
Dynamics
noun
Set of nuances that affect the behavior of a sound in the purpose of giving it movement.
Example: Dynamics are how loud or soft music is sung or played, or the words and signs that show this.
es: Dinámicas
Enveloping
noun
It is the tool that allows you to modify the parameters of an audio.
Example: The new model has larger speakers and surround sound.
es: Envolvente
Equalizer
noun
It is a device that modifies the volume of content at frequencies of the signal it processes.
Example: The iPod's built-in equalizer made subtle changes to the sound.
es: Ecualizador
Fade
noun
The appearance or progressive disappearance of a sound.
Example: Fade up natural sound.
es: Desvanecido
Feedback
noun
Return a modified signal to its emitter.
Example: Punk Rock Girl opens the disc with plenty of guitar feedback.
es: Realimentación
Four on the Floor
noun
Rhythm in 4/4 time in which the bass drum is played on every beat, characteristic of some styles of dance music.
Example: The bass drum plays four on the floor throughout.
es: Cuatro en el suelo
Gate
noun
The noise gate is a dynamic processor that performs the work of improving the noise signal ratio.
Example: A logic gate.
es: Compuerta
Glide
noun
It is a parameter that allows notes to blend and gently move the tonal height between those notes.
Example: The glide is the curved line that indicates that all notes should be played without interruption.
es: Ligadura
Hertz
noun
Frequency unit of the International System, symbol Hz, which is equivalent to the frequency of a periodic phenomenon whose period is 1 second.
Example: Visual observations of the turbulent fluctuations suggested that a low frequency response flat down to 0.2 hertz would have been useful.
es: Hercios
Knob
noun
Control knob is a rotary control used to provide input to a device when it is grabbed by an operator and rotated, so that the degree of rotation corresponds to the desired input.
Example: The knob to adjust the volume.
es: Perilla
Modulation
noun
It is the change from one shade to another during the development of a work, without indicating it with double bar.
Example: It is best to write what sounds smooth and natural, so we should forget about modulations to far-distant keys.
es: Modulación
Mono
noun
It is the sound that is only defined by a channel (whether a recording captured with a single microphone or a final mix) and that originates a sound like that heard with a single ear.
Example: The recording was available in mono or stereo.
es: Único
Peak
noun
This is defined by IEC 60268-10 as "the duration of a sine voltage shot at 5000 Hz at a reference level, which results in an indication of 2 dB below the reference rate".
Example: Peak rate voltage.
es: Pico
Phantom Power
noun
It is a way to provide power (continuous current) to audio devices that need it, such as a condenser microphone.
Example: Provide phantom power to audio devices, such as a condenser microphone.
es: Fuente de poder
Reverb
noun
It is a sound phenomenon produced by reflection, consisting of a slight permanence of the sound once the original source has stopped emitting it.
Example: The best available Barios recording, despite reverb.
es: Reverberación
Sample
noun
Sound recorded on any media for later reuse as a musical instrument or a different sound recording.
Example: This song has been heavily sampled.
es: Muestra
Side Chain
noun
It is a music production technique commonly associated with pop and dance music, although it is also used more discreetly in other genres.
Example: Sidechain compression allows you to use one signal to affect the processing of another.
es: Cadena Lateral
Stereo
noun
It is the interpretation of an audio on two channels.
Example: Tape was the format that introduced stereo sound into the home.
es: Estéreo
Synthesizer
noun
It is an electronic musical instrument that, through circuits, generates electrical signals that are then converted to audible sounds.
Example: Instruments in this model may be computer systems, electronic synthesizers and signal processors, in addition to acoustic and electroacoustic instruments.
es: Sintetizador
Tonality
noun
The tonality, understood more specifically as a tone or key of a musical work, that is, the tonic, together with the chords and associated scales, around which the musical phrases and progressions revolve.
Example: There has been a wonderful history of written documents calling for the expansion of the sonic domain of music beyond the classical notions of tonality.
es: Tonalidad
Wheezing
adjective
It is the sound of the "S" in an exaggerated and uncontrolled way.
Example: I could hear the old man behind me wheezing.
