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: Michael Hughes 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.

“Foleying” is an excellent means of supplying the subtle sounds that production mikes often miss.

http://filmsound.org/terminology/foley.htm

Foley artistry is the production of realistic sounds through different types of instruments or objects. For instance, metal falling could be made by hitting 2 metal pipes together for the “clang” sound. This type of practise is usually done in a studio atmosphere. Often times Foley artistry is only for subtle sounds such as the crunching of snow, but without it the game wouldn’t be the same and therefore it is an important part of the industry and my own production practice.

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

Sound libraries are a simple and efficient way to store different types of sounds. Whilst you can save sounds through folders, it is much more organised to have a piece of software to handle everything for you. It is possible to create a sound for different types of media; this is done through storing the files on CD, DVD or as a digital audio file.

Practical use: I have pulled some various sounds in order to edit them within reaper. I selected sounds from the college’s sound library that I was able to use. The sound library was organised so I could easily find the sounds I wanted to use. I realise that a sound library can be important for storing multiple audio files and generally keeping track of where certain files are for editing software such as reaper. For instance, keeping all music in a Sound library would make it far easier to find a specific piece of music or audio compared to generally managing audio files.

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

SOUND FILE FORMATS

Uncompressed

Uncompressed audio files are the most accurate digital representation of a sound wave, but can also be the most resource-intensive method of recording and storing digital audio, both in terms of storage and management.

http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/guide/uncompressed-audio-file-formats

Uncompressed audio files are a very accurate format of sound files. They re-create the sound wave of a file better than any other type of file. Uncompressed sound files are definitely the best type of file to use. Whilst it is better to make this type of file, it is takes up the most data and is hard to store and manage.

.wav

WAV files are popular because they are considered a “first generation” format. That is, they are generally kept as the first digital copy of a file completely uncompressed. This means that WAV files are the best possible quality and have not gone through any digital alterations except to be outputted.

http://www.freestockmusic.com/audio-formats/

A .wav file extension is a .wav sound file. These types of files are generally an excellent type of file, they are uncompressed file types meaning they are very efficient and have the best possible quality and have not gone through any other rendering process besides constructing the original sound. However, they are difficult to store which make it hard to manage, this is because the quality is very good, and it makes it hard to send, download or transfer.

Practical use: My work so far has educated me on the .wav file, this is more than likely the best file to use, it is used with a lot of software and is easily compatible with the reaper piece of software. It is also the easiest to manage and organise in my opinion and it allows me to transfer from reaper to other types of programs at ease. Reaper allowed me to save a .wav and if I needed I can then use that with different types of applications such as game maker.

.aiff

AIFF is short for Audio Interchange File Format, which is an audio format initially created by Apple Computer for storing and transmitting high-quality sampled audio data. It supports a variety of bit resolutions, sample rates, and channels of audio. 

http://www.abyssmedia.com/formats/aiff-format.shtml

The .aiff file extension is an abbreviation for audio interchange file format. This file was created by apple computer with the intension of storing high quality audio data. Like with other file types, it supports different resolutions and a variety of sample rates, channels and audio.

Audio file introduced by Sun Microsystems; used primarily on Sun or other Unix-based machines and has been adopted by several audio programs,

The .au audio file has been integrated with several audio systems now. The data from these files are stored in 3 places, an annotation block, the actual audio data and a 24 byte header.

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

.au

including Adobe Audition and QuickTime; stores the data in three parts: a header (24 bytes), a variable length annotation block, and the actual audio data.

http://fileinfo.com/extension/au

.smp

A ".smp" file may be one of several different types of audio file. For example, it could be a Sample Vision audio sample file. This 16-bit audio file was originally used by Turtle Beach Sample Vision; you can open it with Adobe Auction, Sound Forge Pro or A wave Studio.

http://www.ehow.com/info_12198596_file-smp.html

The .smp file is a sample version audio file. It is a 16 bit audio file that was originally used by Turtle Beach, it is opened within Adobe Auction, Sound forge Pro, and A wave studio.

Lossy Compression

Lossy compression reduces a file by permanently eliminating certain information, especially redundant information. When the file is uncompressed, only a part of the original information is still there (although the user may not notice it).

http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/lossless-and-lossy-compression

Lossy Compression reduces a file size permanently by removing certain information that isn’t necessarily needed; the file has also permanently lost its quality. Therefore when the file is restored, the file does not have the same quality as it did prior to the Lossy compression. Lossy compression is not always used because of this however it is useful for general images that don’t require high detail.

The file extension for MPEG Audio Layer-3, a set of standards forcompressing and 

The .mp3 file extension is the most commonly used audio file next to .WAV it is used by editing software such as REAPER and as such, I’ve

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

.mp3 loading audio files from the Internet.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mp3

had lots of experience with it. Whilst it is used for editing software, it can also be used in online videos, podcasts and other types of media. In the games industry, .mp3 is used alongside .WAV to see which works best, the quality of .mp3 shows through its compression which is 10% quicker over the internet. This also means that it is also easier to share audio files that are .mp3.

Practical use: After practical use of saving and exporting files, it seems easier to use another type of file rather than .mp3 files. This is mainly because to save and export a feature through reaper, the software requires conversions and it is much easier to just work with another file type rather than working with .mp3, although this is just my opinion and sometimes .mp3 files can be more easily distributed by downloads etc.

AUDIO LIMITATIONS

Sound Processor Unit (SPU)

Alternatively referred to as a sound board or audio card, a sound card is an expansion or integrated circuit that provides a computer with the ability to produce sound that can be perceived by the user through a peripheral device like speakers or headphones.http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/s/souncard.htm

A sound card (or Sound processor/processing unit) is the piece of hardware inside of a computer that allows it to play audio. It is an expansion of the regular PC and as such is not required to be installed to run the PC. The production of sound can be received through peripheral devices such as Speakers headphones or even webcams.

Digital Sound Processor (DSP)

A digital signal processor (DSP) is a specialized microprocessor designed specifically for digital signal processing, generally in real-time computing. The DSP processes digital signals converted (using an Analog-to-digital converter (ADC)) from analog signals. Output is then converted back to analog form using a Digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

http://www.audiocodes.com/glossary/dsp

The DSP or Digital signal processor converts Analog signals to Digital signals through a converter; The output is also converted back into analog form from digital form too. I also haven’t had much experience with this, not have I learned much about it.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

RAM is an acronym for random access memory, a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly;

RAM or Random Access memory is a form of memory on a computer that can be used randomly through-out the computer’s use. Any quantity of RAM can be accessed at any given time without touching the preceding

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

that is a 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

bytes. RAM is also the most common type of memory on a computer and comes in many sizes depending on what the computer will be used for. For instance, 4-8-16-32 GB of RAM can be used depending on how much memory the computer needs.

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.

http://www.mcsquared.com/mono-stereo.htm

Mono Audio is a system where all audio signals are mixed together; they are placed into 1 output audio channel and therefore come through the same place or peripheral device. Mono systems can also have multiple peripheral devices and even multiple separated peripherals.

Stereo Audio 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://dictionary.reverso.net/english-definition/stereophonic%20hearing

The Stereo Audio is the audio system that uses two or more separate microphones or 2 outputs of audio fed into 2 or more peripheral devices or loudspeakers. Through separate channels to give it a better effect.

Practical use: Volume and panning is the essence of Stereo audio it allows the REAPER project audio files to have a better effect on both loudspeakers. For instance you could create an effect of someone passing by compared to normal stereo audio when it just stays the same and there is no panning between speakers.

Surround Sound A system for playing sounds, especially in cinemas that use three or more loudspeakers so that the person listening seems to be surrounded by the sound.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/surround-sound

Surround sound is a system that plays sound on three or more loud speakers. It is generally used in cinemas or home cinema systems and it feels like the audio is all around the person listening. 3 speakers can create effects such as someone walking around the listener or surrounding atmospheres.

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

Direct Audio (Pulse Code Modulation – PCM)

Pulse code modulation (PCM) is a digital scheme for transmitting analog data. The signals in PCM are binary; that is, there are only two possible states, represented by logic 1 (high) and logic 0 (low). This is true no matter how complex the analog waveform happens to be. Using PCM, it is possible to digitize all forms of analog data, including full-motion video, voices, music, telemetry, and virtual reality (VR). 

http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/pulse-code-modulation-PCM

AUDIO RECORDING SYSTEMS Analogue Refers to recording audio in a format of

continuous vibrations that are analogous to the original sound waves. Before audio recording became digital, sounds were "carved" into vinyl records or written to tape as magnetic waveforms

http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/60827/analog-audio

An analogue recording is one that is made by changing the sound waves into electrical signals. It records audio in continuous vibrations the alternative was carving audio into vinyl records or written as magnetic waves.

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

Digital Mini Disc

A music medium designed by Sony as a portable replacement for music Compact Discs. In 1994 Sony announcedA data version which can hold 140 MB or about 100 MB using error correction. These will be competitive With 128 MB magneto optical disks. Mini Discs may be either a re-writable or mass-produced read-only type. Sony has also announced a standard data format.

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Mini+Disc

A digital minidisc is a medium for storing audio on a small disk that can both record audio and play it back, it was designed by Sony and is approximately 100MB – 200MB now a days. Mini dicks are a medium, meaning that they aren’t a primary source of storage. They are a replacement for the Compact music disk and there is a standard format for them announced by Sony.

Compact Disc (CD) The first CDs were audio CDs, which eventually replaced audio tapes (which earlier replaced records). Audio CDs have the advantage of allowing the user to jump to different places on the disc. CDs can also be listened to an unlimited number of times without losing quality. Audio tapes can start to lose quality after listening to them as few as ten times. This is because the laser that reads the data on a CD doesn't put pressure on the disc, whereas the play heads on a tape deck slowly wear away the magnetic strip on the tape.http://techterms.com/definition/cd

A CD is a very common storage media for most audio and is the one supported by most systems that can play music from not just computers but physical media; it has been widely branched to electronics in cars and other types of medium as well. The CD is better than other types of media such as Audio tapes because they can lose quality after even a few uses where as the CD does not lose its quality after many uses and can only break when it’s used too much or broke entirely. The tape deck on an Audio tape wears away the magnetic strip, causing it to lose quality rather quickly.

Practical Use: If I exported audio into any physical media I would of most likely used a CD because it is compatible with most systems.

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

Digital Audio Tape (DAT)

Four millimetre wide magnetic tape which can store up to four gigabytes (GB) of data per cassette by using helical scan recording. Replaced in early 1990s by half-inch wide digital linear tape (DLT) that can store up to 35 gigabytes per cassette by using longitudinal recording.http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/digital-audio-tape-DAT.html

The digital audio tape is an old physical medium for storing audio data that is almost redundant and never used anymore. This is because it is very easily damaged and cannot store as much audio as the more modern types of medium such as hard drives or libraries. It was later replaced by a Digital linear tape that now holds 35 GB instead of the Digital audio tape’s 4GB storage of data, which is a vast improvement.

MIDI Standard MIDI Files ("SMF" or *.mid files) are a popular source of music on the web, and for musicians performing in clubs who need a little extra accompaniment. The files contain all the MIDI instructions for notes, volumes, sounds, and even effects. The files are loaded into some form of ‘player' (software or hardware), and the final sound is then produced by a sound-engine that is connected to or that forms part of the player. 

http://www.midi.org/aboutmidi/tut_midifiles.php

Standard MIDI file extensions such as .SMF or .MID files are extremely popular by musicians/ DJ’s or anyone who has a job in an audio design/production career, this is because of the file’s instructions for volume, sounds and effects that are on the file. Files are loaded into a piece of software or hardware which then plays the file. The final sound is then produced by this type of media with the loudspeakers or headphones playing the audio.

Software Sequencers A music sequencer is similar to a tape recorder, because it can play, record, fast-forward and rewind music on separate tracks.

http://www.musictechteacher.com/music_learning_theory/music_tech_terms.htm

Software sequencers are similar to tape recorders in that it can play/record fast forward rewind music on separate tracks, a great example of this is a piece of software called REAPER. This particular piece of software can also add “panning” “width” and other various types of effects to change the audio even more (providing the necessary plug-in and peripherals are installed to do so). It can also import VST and VSTi plug-in which can further edit and change pieces of audio.

Practical use: Reaper is an example of a software sequencer it uses play, record, fast forward, rewind and is able too separately manage different pieces of audio at the same time, it is a clear piece of software that makes managing, record and playing sounds far easier. Although it’s editing tools can take some time to get used to it manages audio tracks well, allowing them to be split, cut, and layered easier. It also has various effects such as fading audio, panning, volume adjustment and playback

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

rate. There is also the ability to separate tracks from one another making it far easier to develop and manage. You can lock tracks so that only one piece can be heard, this helps when multiple tracks are needed in a project but you only need to alter or check one of them.

Software Plug-ins

"Plugins".  They are called that because these are little computer applications that run inside a "host" application, i.e., a sequencer, typically.  These plugin devices are very important, as they have led the software revolution towards our virtual studios which is changing all recording studios, both home and pro.http://tweakheadz.com/software-plugins/

Software plug-in is an import that runs from using software (usually sequencers). You need to import them by making the software run that plug-in, once it’s done, the plug-in can then be used with the software to edit what cannot be edited with the software alone. These plug-in (because they are so customizable and help editing and adaptation of sounds) are extremely important and used in the industry daily. They have lead to software advancements and overall production of better audio because of them.

Practical use: I used software plugins in my production to make the voice acting in the cutscene sound less ridged and tune the voices to eliminate the wrong tones being used and to make the actors sound more like there characters.

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

MIDI instruments is a digital interface that represents musical instruments from a computer (for instance a keyboard/Guitar or drum set) They’re MIDI because of the fact that they are built to be used in a computer and sometimes other digital medium. They respond to the functions that have been used and can be used to make unique sounds. MIDI instruments can also be plugged into a PC to maximise the efficiency of a MIDI instrument.

AUDIO SAMPLING File Size Constraints - Bit-depth

Unlike analog signals, which have an infinite range of volume levels, digital audio samples use binary numbers (bits) to represent the strength of each audio sample. The accuracy of each sample is determined by its bit depth. Higher bit

Most of my audio was created in 16 bit as I didn’t feel the need to use 24bit as it was never going to be exported into any big projects and nothing I was going to be use it for would really benefit by using 24 bit sounds and anything below 16 bit limits what I can do with my sounds quite greatly as most 8 bit sounds are ‘chip tunes’ and don’t allow for the full sounds that we know today.

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

depths mean your audio signal is more accurately represented when it is sampled.https://documentation.apple.com/en/soundtrackpro/usermanual/index.html#chapter=B%26section=2%26tasks=true

File Size Constraints - Sample Rate

The sample rate is the number of times an analog signal is measured—or sampled—per second. You can also think of the sample rate as the number of electronic snapshots made of the sound wave per second. Higher sample rates result in higher sound quality because the analog waveform is more closely approximated by the discrete samples.

https://documentation.apple.com/en/soundtrackpro/usermanual/index.html#chapter=B%26section=2%26tasks=true

The sample rate is the total value that the Analog signal is measured per second. It’s like a print screen going along a wave and taking a picture every time the wave changes, For instance, music with better quality will have more snapshots made per second because its finer details will be included during the seconds of the audio track. Additionally the higher sample rate can justify to a person just how high quality a piece of audio is.

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