audio signal
Transmitted sound waves
An audio signal is an electrical representation of sound, encoding variations in air pressure as voltage fluctuations that can be transmitted, recorded, or processed.
Audio signals flow through cables, circuits, and equipment in recording studios and sound systems.
The term distinguishes sound-carrying signals from video or data signals: The audio signal was clean, but the video kept cutting out.
Frequency measurement unit
- kilohertzThousand-cycle frequency unit
- pitchFrequency of sound
- octaveEight-note interval
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
fundamental · harmonic · overtone · spectrum · bandwidth · subsonic · ultrasonic · bass
Data transfer speed
- codecData compression algorithm
- samplingExtracting subset for study
- quantizationConversion to discrete values
- compressionForcing into smaller space
What evens things out
- compressorPressure-increasing mechanical device
- limiterBoundary-setting device
- noise gateCircuit silencing weak signals
- reverbProlonged sound reflection
delay · filter · gain · amplification · attenuation · clipping · distortion · normalization
Synthetic resin plastic
- turntableRotating music player
- cassetteMagnetic audio cartridge
- tapeAdhesive strip on roll
- phonographGrooved disc audio player
record player · gramophone · reel-to-reel · magnetic · cartridge · stylus · needle · LP
Transmitted media signal
- transmitterSignal-emitting device
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
- carrierOne that transports
- bandwidthData transmission capacity
antenna · propagation · satellite · wireless · microwave · multiplexing · encoding · uplink
hertz
Frequency measurement unit
resonance · fundamental · harmonic · overtone · spectrum · bandwidth · subsonic · ultrasonic · bass · midrange
bitrate
Data transfer speed
- codecData compression algorithm
- samplingExtracting subset for study
- quantizationConversion to discrete values
compression · MP3 · WAV · FLAC · AAC · DAW · lossless · lossy · bit depth · sample rate
equalizer
What evens things out
- compressorPressure-increasing mechanical device
- limiterBoundary-setting device
- noise gateCircuit silencing weak signals
reverb · delay · filter · gain · amplification · attenuation · clipping · distortion · normalization · mixing
vinyl
Synthetic resin plastic
phonograph · record player · gramophone · reel-to-reel · magnetic · cartridge · stylus · needle · LP · waveform
broadcast
Transmitted media signal
- transmitterSignal-emitting device
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
- carrierOne that transports
bandwidth · antenna · propagation · satellite · wireless · microwave · multiplexing · encoding · uplink · downlink
- soundsound, sound waves, echoes, acoustics, vibrations
- telecommunicationscell phone, cellphone, signals, cellular network, telephone calls
- Accessibility Signswheelchair symbol, handicap sign, accessible parking, accessible entrance, accessible restroom
- electrical signalspulse, sine wave, square wave, waveform, voltage
- Radio Audioradio, podcast, AM radio, FM radio, satellite radio
- radioFM radio, crystal set, AM radio, radio station, radio broadcast
audio signalnoise
Unwanted auditory disturbance
static · interference · white noise · hiss · background noise
signal, audible, audio, inaudible, signaling, audibly, signaled, audiobook, audiovisual