This document contains a glossary of terms related to sound design and production. It defines terms like foley artistry, sound libraries, file formats like .wav and .mp3, audio limitations involving sound processor units and digital sound processors, audio recording systems, audio sampling concepts, and how they relate to the student's own production practice of manipulating sounds to create new sounds. The student researched definitions for each term and explained how some of the concepts, like using MIDI keyboards and sound sequencers, directly applied to their work, while other terms they were unfamiliar with or did not use in their projects.

1. 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: Luke Summers 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 person who recreates non-computerized sound effects for film,
television and radio.
http://www.folger.edu/documents/foleynew.pdf
This term relates to my own
production as I have been creating
sounds using various methods of my
own to make them sounds like
something other than they actually
are. For one sound I made I used the
sounds of footsteps to make hem
sounds like a squishing noise.
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 have had to sore my own sounds
files in sound libraries that I have
created so I can access the files I need
to listen to and to manipulate using
different types of software.
SOUND FILE FORMATS Uncompressed (of data) not compressed.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=define+uncompressed+
&oq=define+uncompressed+&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.4895j0j8&sourceid=
chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8
The majority of files that I have stored
in m libraries on my computer are
uncompressed as I have not needed
to reduce their size for any reason as
of yet.
.wav WAV - Stands for Waveform Audio Format. This is a high-quality audio file
type generally used for applications that require high quality, such as CDs.
WAV files are uncompressed, and therefore take up some disk space,
unlike MP3s or AACs, which are compressed.
http://ipod.about.com/od/filetypes/g/wav_definition.htm
All of my completed and rendered
sounds are converted to .wav files
upon rendering so they can be played
back on music viewing programs such
as windows media player and iTunes.

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
2
.aiff Short for Audio Interchange File Format, a common format for storing and
transmitting sampled sound. The format was developed by Apple Computer and is the
standard audio format for Macintosh computers. It is also used by Silicon Graphics
Incorporated (SGI).
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/AIFF.html
In my production work I have not
needed to use this file format.
.au A digital audio file format from Sun that is used on the Internet and can be played by
a Java program. It provides toll-quality sound and uses the .AU extension. It generally
uses the u-Law (mu-Law) encoding method, and raw u-Law files and AU files are the
same except for the file header.
http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/38149/au-file
In my production work I have not
noted any use of this particular
file format.
.smp SMP files are GIS Files primarily associated with Reason NN19 Sampler Instrument
Patch (Propellerhead Software).
SMP files are also associated with Unknown Apple II File (found on Golden Orchard
Apple II CD Rom), Sound File, IMail Server Mail Message (Ipswitch Inc.), Sprintbit
Playlist Manager Media Playlist (Sprintbit Corporation), PhotoImpactPresets (Ulead
Systems Inc.), Scream Tracker Sample, Photo Express Gallery (Ulead), Xionics SMP
image, Sample or Samplevision Format, Ad Lib Gold Sample, Screensaver Maker
Project File (21hua.com), Swell Audio (Sampled Data) (Hitech Development AB) and
FileViewPro.
http://www.solvusoft.com/en/file-extensions/file-extension-smp/
I have definitely not come across
this file type in my production.
Lossy Compression Lossy file compression results in lost data and quality from the original version. Lossy
compression is typically associated with image files, such as JPEGs, but can also be
used for audio files, like MP3s or AAC files. The "lossyness" of an image file may show
up as jagged edges or pixelated areas. In audio files, the lossyness may produce a
watery sound or reduce the dynamic range of the audio.
http://www.techterms.com/definition/lossy
I have not came across this
myself, though I can see how it
could relate to other people
carrying out production which
involves creating sounds as they
could suffer a loss of quality in
sounds and need to carry out a
certain procedure to return them
to their original state.
.mp3 MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) is a standard technology and format for compressing a
sound sequence into a very small file (about one-twelfth the size of the original file)
while preserving the original level of sound quality when it is played.
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/MP3-MPEG-1-Audio-Layer-3
A fair amount of files I came
across in my work had the file
format MP3, such as the file
format of the sounds that I
manipulated into other different
sounds.

3. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
3
AUDIO LIMITATIONS Sound Processor Unit
(SPU)
The SPU is the unit responsible for all aural capabilities of the psx. It
handles 24 voices, has a 512kb sound buffer, has ADSR envelope filters for each voice
and lots of other features.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://psx.rules.org/spu.txt
I’m not overly familiar with the
concept of an SPU, but I believe I
would have had to use it during
my work whilst I was
manipulating different sounds.
Digital Sound Processor
(DSP)
A digital sound processor is a tool that incorporates computer technology to change
the technical aspects of analog sound. Processors can be found in a growing number
of applications, from music to medicine.
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5879513_define-digital-sound-
processor.html#ixzz304c0jWSK
The DSP is used throughout the
process of manipulating sound to
alter sound files, which I did
many times in my work.
Random Access Memory
(RAM)
Alternatively referred to as main memory, primary memory, or system memory,
Random Access Memory (RAM) is a computer storage location that allows
information to be stored and accessed quickly from random locations within DRAM
on a memory module.
http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/r/ram.htm
The RAM is something that the
computer I use accesses regularly
to access my data, allowing me to
carry out the necessary
processes, relevant to my work.
Mono Audio Mono or monophonic describes a system where all the audio signals are mixed
together and routed through a single audio channel.
http://www.mcsquared.com/mono-stereo.htm
This sound type alters depending
on how I manipulate a sounds
file.
Stereo Audio Stereophonic sound systems have two independent audio signal channels, and the
signals that are reproduced have a specific level and phase relationship to each other
so that when played back through a suitable reproduction system, there will be an
apparent image of the original sound source.
http://www.mcsquared.com/mono-stereo.htm
This sound type alters depending
on how I manipulate a sounds
file.
Surround Sound Surround sound is a term used to describe a type of audio output in which the sound
appears to "surround the listener" by 360 degrees. Surround sound systems use three
or more channels and speakers in front and behind the listener to create a
surrounding envelope of sound and directional audio sources.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/surround_sound.html
Surround sounds is an aspect of
sound I left alone in the creating
of my work, as I had limited tools
and software.
Direct Audio (Pulse Code
Modulation – PCM)
Although abbreviation PCM stands for Pulse Code Modulation, we are understanding
it as general digital audio processing with volume samples generated in continuous
time periods.
http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/alsa-lib/pcm.html
This process may have been used
throughout the creating of my
sound files, though I am unaware
of any deliberate actions to this
processing being used, carried
out by myself.

4. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
4
AUDIO RECORDING
SYSTEMS
Analogue A sound recording process in which an audio input is converted into an analogue
electrical waveform.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/analogue+recording?s=t
I don’t recall coming across this
in my work.
Digital Mini Disc A method of sound recording in which an input audio waveform is sampled at regular
intervals, usually between 40,000 and 50,000 times per second, and each sample is
assigned a numerical value, usually expressed in binary notation.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/digital+recording
I don’t recall coming across this
in my work.
Compact Disc (CD) a small digital audio disc on which sound is recorded as a series of metallic pits
enclosed in PVC; the disc is spun by the compact disc player and read by an optical
laser system
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/compact+disc?s=t
I don’t recall coming across this
in my work, I might have if I
imported my media files onto a
compact disc.
Digital Audio Tape (DAT) DAT (Digital Audio Tape) is a standard medium and technology for the digital
recording of audio on tape at a professional level of quality.
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/DAT-Digital-Audio-Tape
I definitely did not use digital
audio tape in my work.
MIDI Musical Instrument Digital Interface: a standard means of sending digitally encoded
information about music between electronic devices, as between synthesizers and
computers.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/midi?&o=100074&s=t
I used MIDI when using the MIDI
keyboard to create some of my
sound files, mainly the musical
ones.
Software Sequencers In digital audio recording, a sequencer is a program in a computer or stand-alone
keyboard unit that puts together a sound sequence from a series (or sequence) of
Musical Instrument Digital Interface( MIDI ) events (operations).
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/sequencer
I used sound sequencers when
Using the MIDI keyboard and
other sound editing software.
Software Plug-ins A software plug-in is an add-on for a program that adds functionality to it.
http://www.techterms.com/definition/plugin
I don’t recall using any software
plugins when creating my sound
files.
MIDI Keyboard
Instruments
A Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) keyboard is a musical instrument like a
piano keyboard. The MIDI portion indicates that the instrument has a communication
protocol built in that allows it to communicate with a computer or other MIDI-
equipped instrument.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-midi-keyboard.htm
I used the MIDI keyboard
instruments when creating some
of my sounds, I mainly used it for
musical sounds.
AUDIO SAMPLING File Size Constraints - Bit-
depth
Bit depth is the number of bits of information in each sample, and it directly corresponds to the
resolution of each sample. Examples of bit depth include Compact Disc Digital Audio, which uses
16 bits per sample, and DVD-Audio and Blu-ray Disc which can support up to 24 bits per sample.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_bit_depth
During my work, I came across no
situations where I faced problems
with file size constraints.
File Size Constraints - Sample
Rate
Software stores audio internally using 16-bit uncompressed PCM WAV files. The number of bytes
per second needed to store one of these audio recordings depends on the sample rate (also
known as frequency) and the number of channels.
http://www.nch.com.au/express/kb/1237.html
During my work, I came across no
situations where I faced problems
with file size constraints.