IG2 Task 1 Work Sheet

Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
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: Kyle Fielding 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 A Foley is sound effects technique for synchronous effects or live effects,
Foley artists makes these effects with anything.
http://www.filmsound.org/foley/
I could use this as I could
create my own sounds using
old and new recordings
Sound
Libraries
A sound library is a collection of digital sound recordings
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sample_library
I could use this so put all my
sounds that are reverent to
each other in one place to help
sort and keep my folders clean
SOUND FILE FORMATS Uncompressed There is one major uncompressed audio format, PCM, which is usually
stored in a .wav file on Windows or in an .aiff file on Mac OS. The AIFF
format is based on the Interchange File Format (IFF). The WAV format is
based on the Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF), which is similar to
IFF. WAV and AIFF are flexible file formats designed to store more or less
any combination of sampling rates or bitrates. This makes them suitable file
formats for storing and archiving an original recording.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_file_format#Uncompressed_audio_format
I could use this to help me
save and open files so that
they are not broken up or
saved incorrectly.
.wav Waveform Audio File Format (WAVE, or more commonly known as WAV due
to its filename extension) (rarely, Audio for Windows) is
a Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for storing an audio bit stream
on PCs. It is an application of the Resource Interchange File
Format (RIFF) bitstream format method for storing data in "chunks", and thus
is also close to the 8SVXand the AIFF format used
on Amiga and Macintosh computers, respectively. It is the main format used
on Windows systems for raw and typically uncompressed audio. The usual
bit stream encoding is the linear pulse-code modulation (LPCM) format.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV
I use this all the time with
reaper as it saves the files that
I use and save as this format.

IG2 Task 1
2
.aiff
Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) is an audio file format standard used
Or storing sound data for personal computers and other electronic audio
devices. The format was developed by Apple Inc. In 1988 based
on Electronic Arts' Interchange File Format (IFF, widely used
on Amiga systems) and is most commonly used on Apple
Macintosh computer systems.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Interchange_File_Format
.aiff is very useful as many
people use this as it is popular
with many apple users.
.au The Au file format is a simple audio file format introduced by Sun
Microsystems. The format was common on NeXT systems and on early Web
pages. Originally it was header less, being simply 8-bit µ-law-encoded data at
an 8000 Hz sample rate. Hardware from other vendors often used sample
rates as high as 8192 Hz, often integer factors of video clock signals. Newer
files have a header that consists of six unsigned 32-bit words, an optional
information chunk and then the data (in big endian format).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_file_format
.au is great for high and low
sounds that I may need during
my work, and it will help to
create better sounds.
.smp The file extension ".smp" shows up on several different types of files used for
very different programs including audio files, images and email
http://www.ehow.com/info_12198596_file-smp.html#ixzz31LEX32Fg
.smp is used not as much as
the others but it is used very
well over emails and the
internet. Other than that I may
not use it but still it is useful
Lossy
Compression
In information technology, "Lossy" compression is the class of data
encoding methods that uses inexact approximations (or partial data
discarding) for representing the content that has been encoded.
It is possible to compress many types of digital data in a way that reduces the
size of a computer file needed to store it, or the bandwidth needed to transmit
it, with no loss of the full information contained in the original file.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lossy_compression
Lossy compression is a good
thing to have unless I want files
to be distorted or broken
.mp3 MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is
an encoding format for digital audio which uses a form of lossy data
compression. It is a common audio format for consumer audio streaming or
storage, as well as a de facto standard of digital audio compression for the
.mp3 is the most widely used of
the sound formats as it is old
and updated all the time, many
people call old Walkman’s

IG2 Task 1
3
transfer and playback of music on most digital audio players.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3
players mp3 as this is what
was used on them.
AUDIO LIMITATIONS Sound
Processor Unit
(SPU)
A sound Processor Unit (also known as a sound card) is an
internal computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio
signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs. The
term sound card is also applied to external audio interfaces that use software
to generate sound, as opposed to using hardware inside the PC. Typical
uses of sound cards include providing the audio component for multimedia
applications such as music composition, editing video or audio, presentation,
education and entertainment (games) and video projection.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_processing_unit
A sound processor is needed if
I want to hear any sound from
the computer at all,
headphones or speakers this is
well needed for my work.
Digital Sound
Processor
(DSP)
Short for digital signal processing, which refers to manipulating analogue
information, such as sound or photographs that has been converted into a
digital form. DSP also implies the use of a data compression technique.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/DSP.html
A DSP is used daily by many
while hearing songs over the
internet or hearing people
voices over Skype.
Random
Access
Memory
(RAM)
Random-access memory (RAM /ræm/) is a form of computer data storage. A
random-access memory device allows data items to be read and written in
roughly the same amount of time regardless of the order in which data items
are accessed. In contrast, with other direct-access data storage media such
as hard disks, CD-RWs, DVD-RWs and the older drum memory, the time
required to read and write data items varies significantly depending on their
physical locations on the recording medium, due to mechanical limitations
such as media rotation speeds and arm movement delays.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random-access_memory
RAM is needed for almost
everything in computers it is
the thing that we see, hear and
do on a computer.
Mono Audio Mono or monophonic describes a system where all the audio signals are
mixed together and routed through a single audio channel. Mono systems
can have multiple loudspeakers, and even multiple widely separated
loudspeakers. The key is that the signal contains no level and arrival
time/phase information that would replicate or simulate directional cues.
Common types of mono systems include single channel centre clusters;
mono split cluster systems, and distributed loudspeaker systems with and
without architectural delays. Mono systems can still be full-bandwidth and
full-fidelity and are able to reinforce both voice and music effectively. The big
advantage to mono is that everyone hears the very same signal, and, in
properly designed systems, all listeners would hear the system at essentially
the same sound level. This makes well-designed mono systems very well
suited for speech reinforcement as they can provide excellent speech
Mono audio is well used for all
people but many prefer Stereo,
mostly I will use Mono as
stereo is slightly more
complicated and I am more
experienced with Mono sound.

IG2 Task 1
4
intelligibility.
http://www.mcsquared.com/mono-stereo.htm
Stereo Audio Stereophonic sound or, more commonly, stereo, is a method of sound
reproduction that creates an illusion of directionality and audible perspective.
This is usually achieved by using two or more independent audio channels
through a configuration of two or more loudspeakers (or stereo headphones)
in such a way as to create the impression of sound heard from various
directions, as in natural hearing. Thus the term "stereophonic" applies to so-
called "quadraphonic" and "surround-sound" systems as well as the more
common two-channel, two-speaker systems. It is often contrasted
with monophonic, or "mono" sound, where audio is in the form of one
channel, often centred in the sound field (analogous to a visual field). Stereo
sound is now common in entertainment systems such as broadcast radio and
TV, recorded music and the cinema.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonic_sound
Stereo seen better as mono
but as I do prefer it but not as
skilled using it very well in my
work. Stereo is the next thing
to surround.
Surround
Sound Surround sound is a technique for enriching the sound reproduction quality of
an audio source with additional audio channels from speakers that surround
the listener (surround channels), providing sound from a 360° radius in the
horizontal plane (2D) as opposed to "screen channels" (centre, [front] left,
and [front] right) originating only from the listener's forward arc.
Surround sound is characterized by a listener location or sweet spot where
the audio effects work best, and presents a fixed or forward perspective of
the sound field to the listener at this location. The technique enhances
the perception of sound spatialization by exploiting sound localization; a
listener's ability to identify the location or origin of a detected sound in
direction and distance. Typically this is achieved by using multiple
discrete audio channels routed to an array of loudspeakers.
There are various surround sound based formats and techniques, varying in
reproduction and recording methods along with the number and positioning of
Surround sound is the new age
sound instead of mono and
stereo, I do not prefer it, but it
can be seen as better and
louder, it can be used to create
more realistic sounds.

IG2 Task 1
5
additional channels.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surround_sound
Direct Audio
(Pulse Code
Modulation –
PCM)
Pulse-code modulation (PCM) is a method used to digitally represent
sampled analogue signals. It is the standard form of digital audio in
computers, Compact Discs, digital telephony and other digital audio
applications. In a PCM stream, the amplitude of the analogue signal is
sampled regularly at uniform intervals, and each sample is quantized to the
nearest value within a range of digital steps.
Linear pulse-code modulation (LPCM) is a specific type of PCM where the
quantization levels are linearly uniform. This is in contrast to PCM using, for
instance, A-law algorithm or μ-law algorithm where quantization levels vary
as a function of amplitude. Though PCM is a more general term, it is often
used to describe data encoded as LPCM.
PCM streams have two basic properties that determine their fidelity to the
original analogue signal: the sampling rate, which is the number of times per
second that samples are taken; and the bit depth, which determines the
number of possible digital values that each sample can take.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-code_modulation
PCM are used all the time but
now with research creating a
better PCM it gets better all the
time. I use this in my work all
the time, even without knowing
about it.
AUDIO RECORDING
SYSTEMS
Analogue
Analog (or analogue) recording (Greek, ana is "according to"
and logos "relationship") is a technique used for the recording of analog
signals which among many possibilities include audio frequency, analog
audio and analog video information for later playback.
Analog recording methods store signals as a continual wave in or on the
Analogue is used not used as
much as it used to be, but it
started recording sounds, we
do not usually record this way
but it can give you a sort of old
timey effect depending on what
you use.

IG2 Task 1
6
media. The wave might be stored as a physical texture on a phonograph
record, or a fluctuation in the field strength of a magnetic recording. This is
different from digital recording of which among many possibilities
include digital audio and digital video, which digital signals are represented
as data or discrete numbers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_recording
Digital Mini
Disc The Minidisc (MD) is an obsolete magneto-optical disc-based data storage
device for 74 minutes and, later, 80 minutes, of digitized audio or 1 gigabyte
of Hi-MD data. The Sony brand audio players were on the market from
September 1992 until March 2013.
Minidisc was announced by Sony in September 1992 and released that
November for sale in Japan and in December for the USA and Europe. The
music format was originally based exclusively on ATRAC audio data
compression, but the option of linear PCM digital recording was later
introduced to attain audio quality comparable to that of a compact disc.
Minidiscs were very popular in Japan but made a limited impact elsewhere.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDisc
DMD are use mainly in PSP’s
and gadgets alike. But they are
very popular in Japan but as I
do not use them they do not
affect my work.
Compact Disc
(CD)
Compact disc (CD) is a digital optical disc data storage format. The format
was originally developed to store and play back sound recordings only (CD-
DA), but was later adapted for storage of data (CD-ROM). Several other
formats were further derived from these, including write-once audio and data
storage (CD-R), rewritable media (CD-RW), Video Compact Disc (VCD),
Super Video Compact Disc (SVCD), Photo CD, Pictured, CD-in,
and Enhanced Music CD. Audio CDs and audio CD players have been
commercially available since October 1982.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cd
CD will not be a big part in my
work but CD have been used
for a long time, and with blue-
ray they keep on getting better.
Digital Audio Digital Audio Tape (DAT or R-DAT) is a signal recording and playback Digital Audio is everything we

IG2 Task 1
7
Tape (DAT) medium developed by Sony and introduced in 1987. In appearance it is
similar to a Compact Cassette, using 4 mm magnetic tape enclosed in a
protective shell, but is roughly half the size at 73 mm × 54 mm × 10.5 mm. As
the name suggests, the recording is digital rather than analog. DAT has the
ability to record at higher, equal or lower sampling rates than a CD (48, 44.1
or 32 kHz sampling rate respectively) at 16 bits quantization. If a digital
source is copied then the DAT will produce an exact clone, unlike other digital
media such as Digital Compact Cassette or non-Hi-MD Minidisc, both of
which use a Lossy data reduction system.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Tape
hear from computers, phones
and devices, it is used all the
time and therefor I will use it all
the time, but the tape is old and
seen as bad for recordings,
since I do not own a DAT
player I cannot use this is my
work.
MIDI
MIDI (/ˈmɪdi/; short for Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a technical
standard that describes a protocol, digital interface and connectors and
allows a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers and other
related devices to connect and communicate with one another. A single MIDI
link can carry up to sixteen channels of information, each of which can be
routed to a separate device.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midi
MIDI is used all the time in
reaper, and therefore I will use
it all the time to create sounds
and effects
Software
Sequencers
A music sequencer (or simply sequencer) is a device or application
software that can record, edit, or play back music, by handling note and
performance information in several forms, typically MIDI or CV/Gate, and
possibly audio and automation data for DAWs and plug-ins.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_sequencer
A software sequncer is not for
being understood by novices of
sound, but it can be, as I use it
sometimes with MIDI’s in my
work.
Software Plug-
ins
In computing, a plug-in (or plugin, extension, or add-on / add-on) is
a software component that adds a specific feature to an existing software
application. When an application supports plug-ins, it enables customization.
The common examples are the plug-ins used in web browsers to add new
features such as search-engines, virus scanners, or the ability to utilize a new
file type such as a new video format. Well-known browser plug-ins include
the Adobe Flash Player, the QuickTime Player, and the Java plug-in, which
can launch a user-activated Java applet on a web page to its execution a
local Java virtual machine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_(computing)
Software plugins are used daily
for me in my work on reaper.
They help me make tunes and
effects.
MIDI Keyboard A MIDI keyboard is typically a piano-style user interface keyboard device A MIDI keyboard is what I play

IG2 Task 1
8
Instruments 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.
This could also be a personal computer running software such as a digital
audio workstation (DAW) that listens to and sends MIDI information to other
MIDI devices connected by cable or running internal to the personal
computer system. The basic MIDI keyboard does not produce sound.
Instead, MIDI information is sent to an electronic module capable of
reproducing an array of digital sounds or samples that resemble traditional
analog musical instruments. These samples or waveforms are also referred
to as voices or timbres.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI_keyboard
my MIDI effects though,
although digital is does give me
the effects I want.
AUDIO SAMPLING File Size
Constraints -
Bit-depth
In digital audio, 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
Bit-depth is used in digital
audio and it helps me get the
best out of my hardware and
software, so I use this without
knowing.
File Size
Constraints -
Sample Rate
Also called a sample rate. Typically expressed in samples per second, or
hertz (Hz), the rate at which samples of an analog signal are taken in order to
be converted into digital form. A PCs sound card typically will sample a
received analog signal, such as through a microphone, and digitize it for use
by the computer. A higher sampling rate provides a better quality
reproduction than a lower sampling rate.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/sampling_rate.html
Another thing I do not mean to
use is a sample rate, as it is
one of the hidden things in
digital audio, but I do use this
lot.

IG2 Task 1 Work Sheet

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (8)

Similar to IG2 Task 1 Work Sheet

Similar to IG2 Task 1 Work Sheet (18)

More from KyleFielding

More from KyleFielding (16)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

IG2 Task 1 Work Sheet