Podcast Production: Audio Glossary
Confused by some of the terms that your audio friends use? This glossary gives you an explanation of all the technical terms used in the field of audio recording and post-production.
What technical terms should I know?
File: A digital recording of audio. The audio can be of anything (people speaking, music, sound effects, etc.) The quality of a file also varies.
MP3: A compressed audio file. This sacrifices information for a file that is smaller and easier to share. We usually mixdown the final product to .mp3 for distribution.
Wav: An uncompressed audio file. This retains the full quality of the original but is often much larger than an mp3. This is the preferred format to start a project.
Bit Depth: Describes the resolution of the sound data that is captured and stored in an audio file. In other words, the number of levels of volume between the loudest possible sound and the quietest possible sound in a recording. A higher audio bit depth indicates a more detailed sound recording. We typically record in 24 bit or higher and export to 24 bit or higher.
Sample Rate: Sample rate is the number of samples of audio carried per second, measured in Hz or kHz (one kHz being 1000 Hz). 44.1 kHz (A typically used Sample Rate) means the file can reproduce frequencies up to roughly 22 kHz (The upper limits of human hearing). We typically do not mixdown below 44.1 kHz
Bit Rate: refers to the number of bits—or the amount of data—that are processed over a certain amount of time. A lower bit rate means a more compressed (less data) file. We typically do not go below 192 kbit/s.
32 kbit/s – generally acceptable only for speech
96 kbit/s – generally used for speech or low-quality streaming
128 or 160 kbit/s – mid-range bitrate quality
192 kbit/s – medium quality bitrate
256 kbit/s – a commonly used high-quality bitrate
320 kbit/s – highest level supported by the MP3 standard
Here are great representation of the differences:
Track: Positions files along a timeline. Any files in the track will be affected by any plugins or controls like volume or pan.
Clip: A section of a file. When we make cuts, we are creating many clips.
Edit: An edit is any change to an audio file. This can include cutting or changing the order of information
Cut: A cut separates a file into two sections. If a cut is made and no mclip is shifted in time, it will sound the same as if you made no cut. We typically make a cut and then drag the beginning or end of the clip to the desired spot.
Delete: Remove selected clips from the timeline. Typically, we will make two cuts around a section we want to delete. This will result in a space or gap of silence, which must be filled.
Space: No significant or meaningful amount of sound, resulting in only the noise floor.
Noise Floor: The background sound of a recording, often referred to as ‘Room Tone’
Silence: Absolutely no sound whatsoever, not even the noise floor.
Level: refers to the electrical signal measured in units (i.e. dBm or dBu). Level is a precise term cand is our preferred way of describing how ‘loud something is’.
Volume: refers to the loudness of something coming out of a speaker. This term is too general and largely subjective.
Loudness: The subjective perception of sound pressure. Our perception changes depending on the level, environment, playback device, and person listening.
Audio Signal: representation of sound typically using electrical voltage for analog signals, or a series of binary numbers for digital signals.
Signal Flow: The path an audio signal will take from source to the speaker or recording device.
Voice: Any audio that is of a person speaking on a file.
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