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: Tom Crook 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 sound effects technique for synchronous effects or live effects. Foley artists match live sound effects with the action of the picture.  The sound effects are laid "manually" and not cut in with film.

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

I would use the Foley artistry to make sound effects for my game such as the slamming of a door and sound of the wind. Also if I included fight scenes many of my sound effects would use the Foley technique.

Sound Libraries A sound Library is 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 would use a Sound library if I had many sound effects to choose from, As it would make the choice easier as I can compare the sounds on one format and all the sounds would be assessable all together.

SOUND FILE FORMATS Uncompressed Uncompressing (or decompressing) is the act of expanding a compression file back into its original form. Software that you download from the Internet often comes in a compressed package that can uncompress itself when you click on it. You can also uncompress files using popular tools such as PKZIP in the DOS operating system, WinZip in Windows, and MacZip in Macintosh.

http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/uncompressing-or-decompressing

I would use Uncompressing if I was transporting a large audio file such as a song or instrumental I could play in a certain back ground. Also I can use it to share my audio with other people in a fast and small format so there opinion can be administered to my work.

.wav The format for storing sound in files developed jointly by Microsoftand IBM. Support for WAV files was built into Windows 95 making it the de facto standard for sound on PCs. WAV sound files end with a.wav extension and can be played by nearly all Windows applications that support sound.

I would use .Wav to access and listen to all the small sound as it is very easy and can be found on any computer.

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

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/WAV.html.aiff AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) is one of the two most-

used audio file formats used in the Apple Macintosh operating system. The other is Sound Designer II (SDII). Most CD writers can accept AIFF or SDII files interchangeably when writing a Red Book audio CD. AIFF is sometimes referred to as "Apple Interchange File Format."

http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/AIFF-Audio-Interchange-File-Format

I would use the .Aiff format when using an apple based computer and also if I wanted to send my instrumentals to other people who may not have a computer due to it easily being able to transfer to a CD.

.au 1. 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 headerless, being simply 8-bit µ-law-encoded data at an 8000 Hz sample rate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_file_format

I would use .au if I had found a small sound on the go as it is very basic and could be used basically anywhere and would be good to handle the small undiscovered sounds.

.smp Music file used by SmartMusic, a music practice application for band, orchestra, and voice; saves an accompaniment that can be used for practicing solos and other musical parts; includes the sheet music information and can be used for assessment; replaced by the .SMPX in Finale 2014.

http://fileinfo.com/extension/smp

I would use this file format if I have made instrumental using classic instruments to maybe add a dramatic effect to the game in whatever format.

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). Lossy compression is generally used for video and sound, where a certain amount of information loss will not be detected by most users.

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

I would most likely use this in the case of sending music again as it would make the file smaller and easier to send without any real noticeable change to the file.

.mp3 a means of compressing a sound sequence into a very small file, to enable digital storage and transmission.

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=what+is+mp3

I would use MP3 so I could make my files portable and also as well to make the files much easier to store and or send.

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

AUDIO LIMITATIONS Sound Processor Unit (SPU) The SPU is the unit responsible for all aural capabilities of the psx. Ithandles 24 voices, has a 512kb sound buffer, has ADSR envelope filters foreach voice and lots of other features.

http://psx.rules.org/spu.txt

I would most likely use this while recording the sound and or instrumental to help me acquire the best quality of sound possible even though the actual Unit is very basic.

Digital Sound Processor (DSP) A Digital Signal Processor, or DSP, is a specialized microprocessor that has an architecture which is optimized for the fast operational needs of digital signal processing. A Digital Signal Processor (DSP) can process data in real time, making it ideal for applications that can’t tolerate delays. Digital signal processors take a digital signal and process it to improve the signal into clearer sound, faster data or sharper images.

http://www.futureelectronics.com/en/microprocessors/digital-signal-processors.aspx

I would use this when editing my final cut of sound, As it can be used to make everything more clear and make the music easier to listen too.

Random Access Memory (RAM) A type of computer memory that can be access randomly; that is, any 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

I would use RAM to store my sounds and other sound assets making them easy to access throughout the college system.

Mono Audio Mono or monophonic describes a system where all the audio signals are mixed together and routed through a single audio

channel. Common types of mono systems include single channel centre clusters, mono split cluster systems, and distributed loudspeaker systems with and without architectural delays.

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

I will use the MONO sound system to listen through my sounds at the best quality.

Stereo Audio True 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. Stereo would be a requirement if there is a need to replicate the aural perspective and localization of instruments on a stage or platform, a very common requirement in performing arts centres.

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

I would use the stereo sound if I was to add instrumentals to my sounds so that the quality is the best it can possibly be.

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

Surround Sound A system of stereophony involving three or more speakers surrounding the listener so as to give a more realistic effect.

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=what+is+Surround+sound

I would use surround sound to experience the full magnitude of my sound effects and instrumentals.

Direct Audio (Pulse Code Modulation – PCM)

Pulse-code modulation (PCM) is a method used to digitally represent sampled analog 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 analog signal is sampled regularly at uniform intervals, and each sample is quantized to the nearest value within a range of digital steps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-code_modulation

I would use this method to show samples of my sound effects and so I can show my sounds to other people.

AUDIO RECORDING SYSTEMS Analogue Also spelled analogue, describes a device or system that represents changing values as continuously variable physical quantities.

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/analog.html

I would use analogue if I was to add or increase an aspect of an instrumental or sound

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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDisc

This would be used to make my sound and instrumentals portable.

Compact Disc (CD) Compact disc (CD) is a digital optical disc data storage format. The format was originally developed to store and play only sound recordings 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, PictureCD, CD-i, and Enhanced Music CD. Audio CDs and audio CD players have been commercially available since October 1982.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_disc

I would use this to also make my music and sounds portable and easy to play anywhere on any computer and or sound system.

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. A DAT drive is a digital tape recorder with rotating heads similar to those found in a video deck. Most DAT drives can record

I would use this to help me record voice and or live music being played with instrumentals.

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

at sample rates of 44.1 kHz, the CD audio standard, and 48 kHz. DAT has become the standard archiving technology in professional and semi-professional recording environments for master recordings. Digital inputs and outputs on professional DAT decks allow the user to transfer recordings from the DAT tape to an audio workstation for precise editing. The compact size and low cost of the DAT medium makes it an excellent way to compile the recordings that are going to be used to create a CD master.

http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/DAT-Digital-Audio-TapeMIDI 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

I would also use this to integrate music and other instruments into my sounds in an easy way.

Software Sequencers N 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). The MIDI sequencer allows the user to record and edit a musical performance without using an audio-based input source. The performance is recorded as a series of events that would ordinarily be played in from a keyboard instrument.

http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/sequencer

I would use this to finally compile all sounds of instruments to create one final piece in an easy way.

Software Plug-ins Most graphics and audio programs today support plug-ins since they are a convenient way to expand the capabilities of the program. Though some plug-ins may be shipped with the program, most are developed by third-parties and are sold separately. Because companies that make browser plug-ins are often competing for a standard (such as Flash and QuickTime), these plug-ins are usually available as free downloads from the Internet.

http://techterms.com/definition/plugin

I would use this to adapt my software to the current specifications I need to produce the highest quality sound and or instrumental.

MIDI Keyboard Instruments Short for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, MIDI is a standard for digitally representing and transmitting sounds that was first developed in the 1980s. The MIDI sound is played back through the hardware device or computer either through a synthesized

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

audio sound or a waveform stored on the hardware device or computer. The quality of how MIDI sounds when played back by the hardware device or computer depends upon that device's capability.

http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/m/midi.htm

AUDIO SAMPLING File Size Constraints - Bit-depth n digital audio using pulse-code modulation (PCM), 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.In basic implementations, variations in bit depth primarily affect the noise level from quantization error—thus the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and dynamic range. However, techniques such as dithering, noise shaping and oversampling mitigate these effects without changing the bit depth. Bit depth also affects bit rate and file size.Bit depth is only meaningful in reference to a PCM digital signal. Non-PCM formats, such as lossy compression formats like MP3, AAC and Vorbis, do not have associated bit depths. For example, in MP3, quantization is performed on PCM samples that have been transformed into the frequency domain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_bit_depth

This will help me to make sure the sound files will not get over capacity as it will place a restriction onto the file.

File Size Constraints - Sample Rate

 Signal processing, sampling is the reduction of a continuous signal to a discrete signal. A common example is the conversion of a sound wave (a continuous signal) to a sequence of samples (a discrete-time signal).A sample refers to a value or set of values at a point in time and/or space. A sampler is a subsystem or operation that extracts samples from a continuous signal. A theoretical ideal sampler produces samples equivalent to the instantaneous value of the continuous signal at the desired points

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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampling_%28signal_processing%29

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