*********************************** AM/FM ***********************************       AM/FM PRESENTS:     ALPHABETIC LIST OVER WEIRD WORDS   AND EVIL EXPRESSIONS FOR BEGINNERS:      (version 1.0)      by Gisle M. Meyer     I think there perhaps are lots of people out there who enjoy music, and would like to get seriously into the making of it. This little dictionary is made to help you, who do not have too much knowledge about synths and all the other modern stuff.   [Ed] adds: Thanks for this list, Gisle. As you can see throughout the list, I've added some bits which I thought might be useful as well. To all you readers: This list doesn't contain ALL the expressions you will come across, but quite a few of them. If you have some more expressions with explanations, please send them in to AM/FM, and we will try to collect as many as possible in what will hopefully one day become a REALLY GREAT Music/MIDI dictionary. That would be great. The thing is, I have so much to do that I don't have time to write it myself, so I WANT you readers to come up with more expressions and send them in. [Ed]   A/D conversion, D/A conversion:  The A's and D's mean respectively Analog and Digital, if those words are greek to you why don't you check'em up... This conversion stuff can be explained with an example: You have a digital reverb machine, and when it's gonna work with sound, the sound have to be translated to numbers (zeroes and ones), which's the only language the computer understand. To translate from sound to numbers is called A/D conversion. When the machine have worked with your sound, and you want it out thru the amplifier etc., the numbers must be translated back to sound again. This is called D/A conversion.  Aftertouch:  Simply 'aftertouch'. Many synths/keyboards are sensitive to how hard you press down a key _after_ it's been striked. This aftertouch can be used to control pitch, vibrato, brilliance etc etc...  AM/FM:  Amiga Musicians Freeware Magazine, a diskmag for Amiga musicians. It is where this text is located. Very essential for Amiga musicians.  Amiga:  Computer with 4 channels 8bit sound pr 1993. No MIDI-interface.  Analog:  It's the opposite of digital. The expression can be used in several connections. Two examples: On a CD (compact disc), is the sound stored as numbers. That's digital storing. On a good ol' LP though, is the sound stored as vibrations in the plate. That's analog stored sound. [Ed] adds: Analogue sound is the actual sound waves. Digital sound is a series of numbers trying as good as possible to recreate the original sound wave(s). The better sampling rate and sampling resolution, the closer the digital sound gets to the original, analogue sound. If a syntheziser is analog, it means that it produces sound without much help from computer technology.  Auto bass chord section:  The part of a keyboard where you choose what kinda automatics you'd like. Like one-finger-play or all that...  Auxilliary:  That's extra add-ons for your instrument. Like microphones, various pedals, and so on.  AWM:  Advanced Wave Memory. ( <-- This is a Yamaha-phenomena I think.) It means that the sound in the instrument is sampled, that is: recordings of real instruments. [Ed] adds: In other words, it's just Yamaha's attempt to make a "short sample" sound more advanced and fancy than it really is. :-)  Breath control:  A kind of mouth piece, which can be used together with synths (at least the Yamaha DX7) to control vibrato, volume etc... Ed adds: MIDI Controller for Breath control is Controller #2. If the sound has been designed for it, adding this controller can add more feeling, air, etc. to the sound.  Bulk Data:  If you transmit (send) all the sound-datas from one synth to another, then it is normal to call this pack of data a "BULK".  Bypass:  A nice function on some effect machines - when bypass is selected, the sound will go strait throuth the machine without any effects added.  Cartridge:  A tiny little box which contains data, like sounds or songs. Many synths and drum machines have extra sounds/songs stored on a cartridge. You can plug the cartridge into the machine and... whopla! More to play with!  Cassette:  You can store data on normal cassettes. I don't think this is very much used. But, it is possible. Ed adds: It was used a lot on older synths..  Chain:  Sequencers and drummachines can play several arrangements after another like a chain.  Chorus:  An effect which makes the sound sound "fuller". Ed adds: ...by "copying" the waveforms and delaying the copy, then adding it up to the original waveform.  Connectors:  It's those holes where you plug in the wires from pedals, amplifiers and all that necessary shit your machinery needs to run.  Continous sliders:  Sliders... OK... I guess you got to see one before you can know one... No, just kidding. It's like the volume control on lots of stereos. But on keyboards they control more than volume: detuning, balance, pan, tempo... It is something you can move up and down. (weird?)  Chord sequencer:  A recording part on a keyboard where you can store the chords in a tune before playing it.  Custom Accompainment Section:  The part on a keyboard where you store own rythms and playbacks.  Data entry:  A slider or something similar, which can be used to set numbers, functions, parameters...  Data storage:  Storage of data. Many synths, modules, drum machines, sequencers etc can store sound-data, songs etc in several ways: cassettes, cartridges, discs, cards. This way you can get back something you made earlier, and use it again and again.  Digital:  It means, that something works only with numbers. Like, when a synth is digital, it means that it stores sound and such things with the help of an internal computer. Ed adds: A fully digital synth can only work with numbers and series of numbers - not waveforms.  Display:  The "screen". It's that squary thing where all the words and numbers appear. Like the name of the sound, style etc...  Dual/Dual play:  Means you can play two sounds on the same keys.  Edit mode:  When you're editing a synth-sound, you have to be in "Edit Mode".  Effect Frequency Response:  Thats a phrase frequently used together with reverb machines. It means how far down in the bass, and up in the treble, the machine can make reverb. (You got that one?)  EG:  Envelope Generator. No, it does not make envelopes for mailing. It's a collection of functions on a synth, who determins if the sound will be short, long, quick, forever... +++  External/Internal Clock:  When a drum machine is set to external clock, it will follow the tempo of the sequencer/keyboard. When it's set to internal, it will follow it's own tempo. Ed adds: Any sequencer can be set to "External Clock". It means that the sequencer will not play by it's own tempo, but will be following the tempo of another sequencer/drum machine/whatever, which is connected to it by MIDI. The "master" sends out a MIDI sync signal which gives the tempo to any "slaves" connected.  Flight Case:  Very solid transport-box for your precious synth/keyboard.  Floppy Disk:  It is what you just recently smacked into df0. If you take it out again and study it, you will find it thin, little and not heavy. As you maybe have figured out, it is possible to store data on the disk. It is the same as a cartridge, but not all synths have a disk drive. You need a disk drive to be able to store data from the synth on a floppy.  Floppy Disk Drive:  Well well well... take a look above.  FM:  Frequence Modulation, a special method of producing sound. I'll try to explain: A natural sound is built up of many different overtones, which "swings" simultaneously. OK forget it.  Foot Control:  A special foot pedal to be used together with the synth to control vibrato, volum etc.  Foot Switch:  Foot pedal for synth, elpiano or something similar. Frequently used as a sustain controller.  Front Panel:  The part of the instrument that should be facing you when operating it. Generally where all the buttons and sliders and switches are located.  FSK-SYNC:  Frequency Shift Keying, a special kind of TAPE-SYNC --->  Hard case:  Solid transport box  Internal/External Clock:  Check out "External"...  Internal / Internal memory:  Built-in memory - on a synth/keyboard this means all the sounds, rythms and other stuff that are present inside the synth. It is what you have access to when there are no cartridges or floppies or whatsoever plugged in.  Job / Job Command:  On some instruments, a task or function the instrument can perform are called JOBs.  Job keys:  The buttons that start a JOB.  Keyboard:  The keyboard is all the keys on an instrument. But generally is the word often used to describe all sorts of instruments with keys, especially those with possibilities for playback. (Please read more under "SYNTHEZISER".)  Keyboard percussion:  On lots of keyboards you can program your own rythms or add sounds and variations to the ones already present - with drumsounds from the keys.  Key hold:  On Yamahas this equals SUSTENUTO on the grand piano. For those who do not have a grand piano I'll try to explain: The keys who are held down while the pedal are pressed, will sustain, while one can play all the other keys without them sustaining  LCD:  Liquid Crystal Display - the window where the info pops up. Ed adds: Very basic form of displaying a picture. Only one colour - usually very small, tacky displays. Present on almost all synths.  LED:  Light Emitting Diode - the window where the red, digital numbers are shown. Ed adds: Or simply any little red, yellow, or green light on your synth.  Loop:  On a sampler looping makes the sound repeat itself as long as the key are depressed. As an example, a sampled choir with a loop can keep it going for hours without taking a single breath. Ed adds: !!! :-)  Master keyboard:  If you have several synths, keyboards, drum machines and other goodies, the master keyboard is the one who controls it all over MIDI. Ed adds: Not really. Often, the sequencer or the computer you're using will control everything. But the Master Keyboard is the one you actually play your music on, with your hands. Many synth-users own only ONE synth that actually has a keyboard. The other synths in his stack might be only "rack"/"module"-versions of the synthesizer. So; when he wants to play on one of his rack-mount synths, he will have to connect the one synth that actually has a keyboard to it, by MIDI. In this case, the one synth with a keyboard acts as a Master Keyboard.  MIDI:  Musical Instrument Digital Interface It's an electronic music-language most of the synths, keyboards, drumm machines etc understand. With MIDI all the instruments can communicate, send messages and receive data. There are probably written several books about MIDI, so if you're really green on the subject, take a trip to the local library and check it out  MIDI Bank:  See description under "MIDI Channel".  MIDI cable:  The cables that connect MIDI-equipment (really?). Ed adds: If you go into a radio/tv/hifi store and ask for a MIDI-cable, chances are they won't know what the hell you're talking about. In that case, ask for a 5-pin DIN cable, because it's the same thing!  MIDI channels:  MIDI's got 16 channels, almost like TV-channels. This is very suitable when different data has to be transmitted simultaneously. Like, let's say you've got a keyboard, and you hook on a synth which you want to play the sounds on the keyboard. If you want to play three different sounds, you use three channels: Channel 1 for sound 1, channel 3 for sound 3, and channel 2 for sound 2, etc. Of course you do not need 16 MIDI cables. All the data goes through the same cable. Ed adds: Lately, for modern MIDI producing, 16 channels may become a bit too tight actually, so something called MIDI Banks have been invented. By use of 4 different MIDI banks, with 16 MIDI channels in each, we can get up to 64 MIDI channels. This is supported by Bars & Pipes Professional and Music-X, and possibly other sequencers too.  MIDI IN:  Slot on the back of your instrument, where data from another instrument comes in, thru a MIDI cable  MIDI OUT:  Also a slot on the back of your instrument, where data from that instrument goes out to another instrument. Thru a MIDI cable.  MIDI sync:  Just the same as external clock  MIDI THRU:  One more of those MIDI slots on the back of your instrument. Data comes in to your instrument thru MIDI IN, and goes further on to the next instrument via MIDI THRU. This is great if you have a chain of synths.  MODE:  A synth has to be in some mode when it's active. There are different modes, each mode for different tasks. If you want to program a sound, you'll most probably be in Edit Mode, if you want to play your sound, you'll be in Play Mode. The different names will differ from manufacturer to manufacturer.  Modulation wheel:  Movable wheel located very much to the left on most keyboards. Generally it controls vibrato.  Mother keyboard:  That's a keyboard without any sounds. It is used to control all your MIDI-equipment.  Multitimbral:  If a synth is multitimbral, it can play more than one sound at a time, like a piano, a flute and some drums simultaneously.  Music:  All you need to survive.  Music programmer:  Recorder part on a keyboard, where you can store your own tunes.  Optional accessories:  Extra-gear, like pedals, headphones, etc  Orcestra voice section:  The part of a keyboard where you choose the orchestral voices  Output A/mix B:  Slots for cables to amplifier on the back of the instrument. If you use both A and B, you'll get your sound in stereo, if only A is used, then it's plain mono.  Panic button:  Nice button to press if your MIDI system screws it all up and a sound won't stop. Just press the PANIC button, and all channels are shut.  Patch:  Rolands name on their "sounds". A patch usually is a solo instrument built up of one or more basic sounds.  Pattern / pattern mode:  Rythm pattern. A rythm who repeats itself all the time, is called a pattern.  Pedal controls:  Describes what kind of pedals you can hook on to your instrument  Performance:  A group of sounds put together in a group, very seldom programmable, the least intelligent junk the synth-manufactureres ever invented (on the Rolands)  Pitch bend wheel:  Movable wheel on the synth, located to the left of the keys. You can use it to bend the pitch of a note up and down.  Pitch control range:  Here you can determine how far from the concert pitch your instrument will sound.  Polyphony:  Example - if your instrument's polyphony is 28, it means it can play 28 notes simultaneously. Ed adds: But many modern synthesizers use up to 3 voices to create a sound. In that case, you must count 3 voices per key you're playing, so if you play a 6-note chord with a sound that is built up of 3 voices, then you are using 18 voices on the synth! And at the same time, maybe you want to play a lead sound which is also built up of 3 voices. Then you also want to include a bass, and at the same time, perhaps a bass drum and a crash cymbal. And all of a sudden; oops! All the 28 voices on your synth is gone, and notes start to get cut off on the cost of getting other notes to play. And you have what is known as Voice Stealing! One of the most important aspects to consider when you're buying a synth is: how many voices of polyphony can the synth handle? If you're going to use the synth quite heavily, nothing under 30 is acceptable, in my opinion!  Portamento:  That's an effect on the synths, who makes the sound slide from tone to tone while you play on the keys.  Power adaptor, power supply:  A little computer who keeps count of how many times you have used your instrument. When the number has reached 500, a batteri will flat, and you have to take the instrument for repair  Pressure:  Equals AFTERTOUCH  Quantize, quantization:  If you for example compose a rythm on a drum machine, you can have all your typing quantized to fx the nearest quaver. That way the rythm'll be very perfect. The same function's located on sequencers. Ed adds: If you play a piece of music on your keyboard, and have your seqencer "record" what you are playing, you can later on tell your sequencer to "Quantize" what you play. The sequencer will then go through each note and move it to the nearest correctly timed position, i.e. if you played a note a little bit too late, the sequencer will move the note to the exact time of the beat.  RAM:  Random Access Memory, memory in your instrument, which you can change. Like; you can change the sounds stored in RAM.  Rear panel:  The opposite of the front panel. Here's all the slots located.  Receive bulk:  Receive lots of lots of data. Check out "bulk"  Remote Keyboard:  Small keyboard you can hang around your neck like a keyboard. It's got no sounds, but it can control MIDI-equipment located for example behind the scene. Jarre's got one of those. Ed adds: Who hasn't?!  Reverb:  An effect, a sort of echo. It gives much more space to a sound. Ed adds: Basically, when you add reverb to your sound, it makes it sound as though it is played inside a big room.  ROM:  Read Only Memory, memory you cannot change. Sounds in ROM are not programmable, but on some synths you can copy the sound from ROM to RAM, and then program it... smart eeh?  Rythm section:  Where you select your rythm on a keyboard.  Sampler:  An instrument where you can record sounds with a microphone or from a CD, tape or something, and play it back with the keyboard.  Sampling rate:  A description of how good the soundquality of a sampler is. The higher the sampling rate, the higher the quality. A sampling rate of 44 kHz gives you the same soundquality as CD's. (This is not a hi-tech explanation.)  Simultaneous output notes:  The same as polyphony  Single play:  When the synth is in single play, you can play a single sound with all the keys.  Soft:  Some synths and elpianos have possibilities for connecting on a soft-pedal. It works like the soft-pedal on a normal piano.  Soft case:  Carrybag for your instrument.  Solo voice section:  It's the part on a keyboard where you choose your solo instrument.  Song, song mode:  A drum machine can play several different rythm patterns one after another, like a complete song.  Sound source:  On a synth/drum machine this generally means how the sound is produced. There are several ways of producing sounds in synths.  Split play:  This usually means that the keyboard on your synth is parted, like; you can play piano on the upper half of the keys, and strings on the lower half.  Standard accessories, supplied accessories:  What comes with the instrument when you buy it.  Sustain:  It means that the sound will continue without your fingers keeping the key depressed. Many instruments have the possibility to connect with a sustain pedal. It works just like the sustain pedal on a normal piano.  Swing:  Many drum machines have a swing-function. It means you can displace certain beats in a rythm, so the rythm will gradually close up to a swing-like feeling. You can choose how much "swing" you'd like by setting the swing-function to different percents.  Switches:  Buttons, flippers, pedals etc etc  Synthesizer, Synth:  An expression which covers several types of electronic instruments, which electronically generate or reproduce sounds. A synthesizer in the word's true meaning lets the user combine various waveforms and volumes, effects, phasing, etc. etc. to create his own unique sounds. But a "sampler" is also often called a "synth". A sampler cannot create sounds like a synthesizer, but it can reproduce any sound that it hears! Both of these two major types of electronic instruments are often referred to as a "synth".  Tape sync:  Most sequencers can be syncronized with fx a four-track cassette recorder, by recording a special TAPE SYNC signal to on of the tracks on the tape. This track is then used by the sequencer to keep the same tempo as the cassette. You can sing to the cassette, with the drummachine playing the rythm, without getting the rythm recorded. Later you can add another rythm to your singing, and with the help of the TAPE SYNC signal the new rythm will follow your singing's tempo.  Terminals:  Add-ons. MIDI-connectors are often called MIDI-terminals.  Tone generator:  What makes the sound in a instrument.  Transmit bulk:  Send data. What's a bulk? Look it up!  Transposition range:  How far up and down your instrument can be tuned in halftones.  Velocity:  How fast you press down a key. If a keyboard is velocity sensitive, then the sounds will sound different according as how fast you strike a key.  Voice, voices, voice section:  The sounds in an instrument.  Volume slider:  A slider you can use to regulate the output volume.  Whale:  An animal, which is NOT threatened, NOT intelligent, and tastes like normal beef. Ed adds: True. Don't believe the U.S. hype. Norwegians hunt and eat whales just like we and everyone else does to pigs, bulls, cows, deer, you name it. The type of whale that Norwegians eat are NOT threatened by extinction. We DO NOT kill them for the pleasure, as is the case with for example the English fox hunting (disgusting) or the spanish Bull Fighting (also disgusting). Norwegians hunt and kill whales to eat them! Although some hysterical US citizens have managed to create another impression. Aaah, finished! Everything clear or just more confused? I hope you got some help from the dictionary, and my humpy translating. If you think somethink is missing or you have comments to this, then please don't hesitate to let others than your monitor know. You can of course contact me, by writing a letter to... Gisle Martens Meyer, Kvernevikstemma 43, N-5084 TERTNES, NORWAY *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************