Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1

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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: Steph Hawkins 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 effects are sound effects added to the film during post production (after the shooting stops). They include sounds such as footsteps, clothes rustling, crockery clinking, paper folding, doors opening and slamming, punches hitting, glass breaking, etc. etc. In other words, many of the sounds that the sound recordists on set did their best to avoid recording during the shoot. http://www.sound-ideas.com/what-is-foley.html

I have been out to record sound effects like these such as footsteps, glass sounds, water sounds and doors closing,

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

With the sounds I recorded, I have put them all together in a folder as as a collection.

SOUND FILE FORMATS Uncompressed restore to its uncompressed form; "decompress data" http://www.thefreedictionary.com/uncompress

I would do this to get the raw audio sound.

.wav The format for storing sound in files developed jointly by Microsoft and 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. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/WAV.html

I have rendered sound projects in this format.

.aiff A standard AIFF file contains 2 channels of uncompressed stereo audio with a sample size of 16 bits, recorded at a sampling rate of 44.1 kilohertz. This is also known as "CD-quality audio," since CDs use the same audio specifications. AIFF audio takes up just over 10MB per minute of audio, which means a 4 minute song saved as an AIFF will require just over 40MB of disk space. This is nearly identical to a .WAV file (which uses the same sample size and sampling rate as an AIFF file. However, it is about ten times the size of a similar MP3 file recorded at 128 kbps, or five times the size of an MP3 file recorded at 256 kbps. http://www.techterms.com/definition/aiff

I would use this format if I wanted really good audio quality.

Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1

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.au Short for audio, a common format for sound files on UNIX machines. It is also the standard audio file format for the Java programming language. AU files generally end with a .au extension . On PCs, two other popular sound formats are WAV and MIDI. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/AU.html

I would use this file extension if I was using a Java programming language.

.smp An ".smp" file may be one of several different types of audio file. For example, it could be a SampleVision audio sample file. This 16-bit audio file was originally used by Turtle Beach SampleVision; you can open it with Adobe Auction, Sound Forge Pro or Awave Studio. It could also be a sample file for AdLib Gold, a PC sound card released in 1992; Scream Tracker, a mid-1990s music editing program; or Swell. Reason, a music recording and production program, uses the ".smp" extension for sampler instrument patches. http://www.ehow.com/info_12198596_file-smp.html

I would save in this file format if I was using Adobe Auction, Sound Forge Pro or Awave Studio.

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

After converting the format of a sound and manipulating it with effects, I have found that the audio lacks quality.

.mp3 The name of the file extension and also the name of the type of file for MPEG, audio layer 3. Layer 3 is one of three coding schemes (layer 1, layer 2 and layer 3) for the compression of audio signals. Layer 3 uses perceptual audio coding and psychoacoustic compression to remove all superfluous information (more specifically, the redundant and irrelevant parts of a sound signal. The stuff the human ear doesn't hear anyway). It also adds a MDCT (Modified Discrete Cosine Transform) that implements a filter bank, increasing the frequency resolution 18 times higher than that of layer 2. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/M/MP3.html

I have used many songs that are in this format in various programs to edit.

AUDIO LIMITATIONS Sound Processor Unit (SPU) An expansion board that enables a computer to manipulate and output sounds. Sound cards are necessary for nearly all CD-ROMs and have become commonplace on modern personal computers. Sound cards enable the computer to output sound through speakers connected to the board, to record sound input from a microphone connected to the computer, and manipulate sound stored on a disk. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/sound_card.html

I have a sound card in my laptop.

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. When used as a noun, DSP stands for digital signal processor, a special type of coprocessor designed for performing the mathematics involved in DSP. Most DSPs are programmable, which means that they can be used for manipulating

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Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1

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different types of information, including sound, images, and video. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/DSP.html

Random Access Memory (RAM)

S: (n) random-access memory, random access memory, random memory, RAM, read/write memory (the most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on; an integrated circuit memory chip allows information to be stored or accessed in any order and all storage locations are equally accessible) http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=random-access%20memory

I have had issues with RAM whilst rendering certain files which resulted in me having to change the amount of RAM used to render meaning a larger file size.

Mono Audio A single track of audio. http://www.allynn.org/fcp/node/33 I have used one track of audio to put along side videos

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.[1] 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

Most of the songs I have used to edit are stereo.

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. The term surround sound has become popular in recent years and more commonly used since the advent of home theatre systems. Surround sound can be either an analogue or digital system. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/surround_sound.html

I have made a stereo mp3 audio file surround but I found there was a drastic change in quality making it sound distorted.

Direct Audio (Pulse Code Modulation – PCM)

Short for pulse code modulation, a sampling technique for digitizing analogue signals, especially audio signals. PCM samples the signal 8000 times a second; each sample is represented by 8 bits for a total of 64 Kbps. There are two standards for coding the sample level. The Mu-Law standard is used in North America and Japan while the A-Law standard is use in most other countries. PCM is used with T-1 and T-3 carrier systems. These carrier systems combine the PCM signals from many lines and transmit them over a single cable or other medium. PCM is also the usual digital method used for music audio playback of music

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Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1

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CDs. While supported by DVDs, DVDs have a greater volume so they use Linear PCM, which has a higher sampling rate - up to 24-bit at a sampling rate of 96 kHz. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/pulse_code_modulation.html

AUDIO RECORDING SYSTEMS

Analogue Analogue sound has information stored as varying strength magnetic fields or heights of grooves or electronic signals which can be amplified and fed directly to speakers without decoding. Making a copy always involves at least some changes in the signal shape. https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081211061505AAmwR7n

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Digital Mini Disc A music medium designed by Sony as a portable replacement for music Compact Discs. In 1994 Sony announced a 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 have also announced a standard data format. http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Mini+Disc

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Compact Disc (CD) Known by its abbreviation, CD, a compact disc is a polycarbonate with one or more metal layers capable of storing digital information. The most prevalent types of compact discs are those used by the music industry to store digital recordings and CD-ROMs used to store computer data. Both of these types of compact disc are read-only, which means that once the data has been recorded onto them, they can only be read, or played. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/compact_disc.html

I have used CDs to rip audio from and to also burn audio onto (blank CDs)

Digital Audio Tape (DAT) Magnetic tape on which sound is recorded digitally, giving high-fidelity reproduction. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/digital+audio+tape

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MIDI Stands for "Musical Instrument Digital Interface." It is a connectivity standard that musicians use to hook together musical instruments (such as keyboards and synthesizers) and computer equipment. Using MIDI, a musician can easily create and edit digital music tracks. The MIDI system records the notes played, the length of the notes, the dynamics (volume alterations), the tempo, the instrument being played, and hundreds of other parameters, called control changes. http://www.techterms.com/definition/midi

I have used MIDI to record what I was playing on the keyboard.

Software Sequencers A sequencing software package designed to be loaded into a computer. Software sequencers usually have more features and have the advantage of showing you a lot more information at once because they use the computer's screen and aren't locked into the knobs or buttons or display of a hardware sequencer. http://www.wannaplaymusic.com/get-started/keyboard-terminology

I have used this whilst editing music in various programs.

Software Plug-ins A hardware or software module that adds a specific feature or service to a larger system. The idea is that the new component simply plugs in to the

I have used plug-ins for video editing such as film effects and

Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1

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existing system. For example, there are number of plug-ins for the Netscape Navigator browser that enable it to display different types of audio or video messages. Navigator plug-ins are based on MIME file types. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/plug_in.html

overlays.

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 have used a MIDI keyboard to create certain music and sounds .

AUDIO SAMPLING File Size Constraints - Bit-depth

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

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File Size Constraints - Sample Rate

A frequency of how many times audio is measured per second, usually measured in kilohertz (kHz); a usual number you might see is 44.1kHz. This is tied directly to bit depth or the number of bits measured in each cycle http://superuser.com/questions/388382/what-does-the-sample-rate-and-sample-size-of-audio-means

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