Audio and Music Terms
Audio and Music Terms help you determine whether or not you are using industry-related lingo. Omnine’s extensive library is designed to help you look like a professional. Take a moment to browse these terms. If you do not find the term you are looking for, let us know about it. We are constantly improving our libraries to help professionals just like you.
Audio Terms | Entertainment Business Terms | Graphic Design Terms |
TV & Film Terms | Video Game Terms | Web Development Terms
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Acetate Dub
An individually cut record, as opposed to pressed records.
Acoustics
The science of sound as applied to theaters, relating to how sound travels and reverberates.
ADR
Automatic digital recording, or additional dialogue recording.
Advance
Money paid before the recording or release of a song; to be deducted against future royalties of that song.
AES
Audio Engineering Society
AFM
American Federation of Musicians.
Air
The Vamp, the Verse, if there is one, and the Chorus (composed of “8s”), ending with the Rideout, constitute the component parts of the printed sheet-music copy. But there is music that exists between the sung lines (“fills”) that can be described as the “Air” in the song. If “Air” is recognized as “music without words,” the Vamp and Rideout, too, must be listed as “Air” pockets.
Air Checks
A recording made of a televised show on 3/4″ tape to be used for demo reels.
A&R Director
Artists and repertoire; record company staffer or liaison in charge of selecting new artists, songs and masters.
Arrangement
The adaptation of a composition for performance by other instruments and voices than originally intended.
Arranger
One who adapts a musical work to particular instruments or voices.
Artist
As regards the music industry, an individual or group under recording contract.
Artists’ Colonies/Residencies
These habitats offer the originating artist (composer, writer, painter, etc.) space, time and solitude for the pursuit of creative work. In the theater field, playwrights, librettists or lyricists are the artists most often benefitting from these situations.
Assignment
The transfer of rights to a song or catalog from one copy-right proprietor to another.
Audio/Acoustic Engineer (Sound Engineer)
Individual who operates studio equipment during the recording of a song.
Click here to go to the top of the page.
Balls
A deep and resonant vocal tone.
Bed
The soundtrack that goes under your voice-over. It may be a bed of music or sound effects or a combination of both.
Biography
A concise account of an artist or group’s industry related experience or background.
Boom
The overhead microphone used to record actors’ voices.
Boom Mic
A microphone on the end of a pole, held above actor’s heads to record dialogue.
Bullet
Designation of a record listed on the charts, referring to increased record sales.
Click here to go to the top of the page.
Cans/Heads
Headphones
Catalog
All the songs owned by a music publisher considered as one collection.
Charts
Lists published in the trade magazines of the best-selling records. These are separate charts for pop, soul, country western, etc.; musical arrangements.
Chord
Three or more notes sounded simultaneously that imply a harmonic function.
Chorus
The Chorus is the song hook. A section of the song that repeats itself at certain intervals. At the turn of the century, and continuing into the sixties, Choruses were compared and shaped within thirty-two bars of music.
Clearance
The right of a radio station to play a song.
Clearance Agency
Same function of a performance rights organization, such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC.
Click Track/Metronome
A perforated sound track that produces click sounds that enables one to hear a predetermined beat in synchronization with the movie.
Collaborator
One of two or more partners in the writing of songs.
Commercial (“Comml”)
Regarding the music industry, the potential to sell, or that which has mass appeal.
Composer
Person who writes the music to a song.
Composition
A musical work; the art of writing music.
Console
The audio board or control panel that allows the engineer to direct the audio signal to the recorders, and to combine the various audio components into the final mix.
Control Booth
A glass-enclosed area full of equipment where an engineer and director sit during looping and dubbing sessions.
Cover Record
Another artist’s version of a song already recorded.
Crew
Everyone on the set who is contributing to the production, in addition to the cast.
Cross Collateralization
Means of recouping the money spent on one song or recording against the earnings of another song or recording.
Crossover
A song which receives airplay in more than one music market.
Cue
Another term for the talk back system in a recording studio usually conducted through headphones. It can also mean an audible or visual sign that tells you when to begin reading.
Cut
To record; a recorded selection.
Click here to go to the top of the page.
DAT
Digital Audio Tape
DAW
Digital Audio Workstation
Date
A recording session or live engagement.
Demo
Short for “demonstration,” a demo can be a sample tape of a talent’s voice used to show his or her abilities.
Demo Firm
An organization specializing in the production of demo tapes.
Demo Tape
An audiocassette, audio CD or DVD recording of a talent’s recorded demonstration.
Distributor
Company that exclusively handles the sales of a record company’s product to jobbers and retail outlets for a certain territory.
Dub
An audio or video copy. Also called a “dupe” (short for duplicate).
Click here to go to the top of the page.
Earprompter
A small tape recorder system which the entire script is recorded and is transmitted to an earpiece through a loop around the neck. It is activated by a foot or hand control. Known in the industry as “the ear.”
Exclusive Songwriting Contract
A contract which prohibits the songwriter from writing for more than one publisher.
Click here to go to the top of the page.
Fire in the Hole
An explosion or gunshot is about to occur.
Flap
In animation, movement of the mouth. If the talking stops and the character’s mouth keeps moving, an actor will be called in to add either internally, at the beginning, or at the end of the line so that the mouth flaps match the rhythm of the speech.
Folio
A collection of songs offered for sale to the public.
Click here to go to the top of the page.
Generation (Generation Loss)
The process whereby each time you copy a piece of film or tape it losses some clarity.
Gold Album
Certification by the Recording Industry of America that a album has sold half a million units.
Gold Single
Certification by the Recording Industry of America that a single has sold half a million units.
Golden Time
Refers to overtime paid after working sixteen hours straight, equal to one’s daily rate every hour.
Green Lighted
When a studio commits to starting a project.
Groove
Rhythm or tempo that helps create the “feel” of the song.
Click here to go to the top of the page.
Harmony
The combination of musical notes to form chords that serve to enhance the melody line; the art of combining notes into chords.
“Head” Arrangments
An arrangement devised spontaneously. No chords are prepared for instrumentalists and vocalists. Instead, they read off lead sheets and an arrangement is made from various experimental styling devised at the studio.
Heavy Metal
Musical category characterized by high-volume, heavily distorted guitar presence.
High Note
The highest note sung in a particular song which varies according to the musical key of the song.
High-Speed Dub
A tape copy that is made at several times normal speed. Often used in reference to tape duplication. High speed dubs are often less costly and have a quicker turn-around time than real time or at speed dubs. They can be susceptible to problems, so always check your dubs before releasing them to prospective clients.
Hook
A phrase or melody line that repeats itself in a song; the catchy part to a song.
Hot Mic
A microphone that is turned on and ready for use.
House Tape
A voice demo tape that includes short samples of all talent that includes short samples of all talent represented by a certain agent.
Click here to go to the top of the page.
Ink
To sign a contract.
In The Can
A phrase borrowed from the film business and used in voice-overs. When a good take is achieved, it is considered ready for processing or “in the can.” It generally means that the director has the take he wants.
J-Card
The artwork on an audio cassette box named for the shape it makes when folded to fit in the box.
Jingle
A short phrase of music usually accompanied by lyrics used to convey a commercial message.
Label
A record company.
Larynx
The human voice box containing the vocal chords.
Laugh Track
The laughter of a live audience of a situation comedy or other television show that actors are performing in front of, that is recorded to be played back when the show is aired.
Leader
Conductor or person in charge of the band.
Lead Sheet
A musical notation of a song’s melody along with the chord symbols, words and other pertinent information.
Leader Tape
Reel-to-Reel tape which contains songs separated by white tape for easy access.
License
As a noun, it means a legal permit; as a verb, it is to authorize by legal permit.
Lick
A brief, improvised musical interpolation.
Looping
The art of matching lip movements and vitality of action in a scene. Dialogue that is added in post-production on a sound stage. Groups of people who work together to provide additional dialogue for a scene.
L.P.
Short name for a long-playing record spinning at 33 1/3 revolutions per minute (rpm).
Lyrics
The words to a song.
Lyric Sheet
A (typed) copy of the lyrics to a song.
Lyricist
The writer of the words to a song.
Click here to go to the top of the page.
Market
Selling place; medium where only one type of record is played (i.e., pop, R&B, E&W, Rap, etc.)
Master
The original recording. The tape from which dubs are made. Also, a finished recording of the song from which records are pressed and distributed to radio stations and record stores.
Mechanical Rights Organization
Collection agency for copyright owners of money earned from the mechanical reproduction of their songs.
Mechanical Royalties
Money earned for use of a copyright in mechanical reproductions, most notably records and tapes.
Mix
The final audio product combining all the elements into one composite soundtrack. “Mix” also applies to the act of creating the mix. This is sometimes referred to as the “mixdown.”
Modulate
To change from one key to another in a song.
MOR
“Middle of the Road”; songs that may be classified as easy listening.
MOS
Without sound, attributed to a German director who pronounced it, “Mit out sound.”
Motif
The shortest significant melody of a song or theme.
Mouth Noise
Also known as “clicks and pops.” A dry mouth produces much more mouth noise than a damp one. Cigarette smoking also contributes to a dry mouth. The less mouth noise you have, the less editing has to be done later.
Music Publisher
The individual or company who screens songs and gets them commercially recorded, exploits the copyrights, protects the copyrights and collects income from performance, mechanical synchronization and printing rights both in the United States and in foreign countries.
Click here to go to the top of the page.
Neutral Demo
A demo that doesn’t sound like it is for one particular artist, but best represents the song whereby it can be recorded by anybody.
Non-Linear Editing
Putting audio together on a computer using audio editing software capable of moving them around, and/or out of order, for ease in building a demo tape or audio session.
Omnies
In unison, sounds or exclamations extras make as a group.
One-Stop
Wholesale record dealer that sells the records of several manufacturers to juke box operators and record sores.
On Location
Place other than a studio lot where filming is done.
Outtakes
Parts of an original filming or taping that will not be used in editing the finished product.
Overdub
The addition of instruments or voices to pre-existing audio elements.
Pan
Controlling which speaker the audio will playback. Normally done using a pan on a console or DAW.
Payola
Secret payment to broadcasters to play certain records.
Pen
To compose or write.
Phone Patch
A session where the talent and the director are in separate locations. The session must be “patched” over telephone lines so everyone can hear everyone else.
Phonorecord
Any device which transmits sound other than that which accompanies a motion picture or other audio-visual work.
Photo-Offset Reproduction
Reproduction of musical manuscript by printing press.
Pick
A song that has been reviewed by the trades and projected to have success.
Pick-up
The part of the electric guitar that captures the audio waves.
Pirating
The unauthorized reproduction and selling of sound recordings (i.e., records, tapes, CDs).
Pitch
The position of a tone in a musical scale.
Pitching
The action a producer takes in trying to convince a studio to invest money in a project based on a concept or a script.
Platinum Album
Certification by the Recording Industry Association of America that an album has sold a minimum of one million units.
Platinum Single
Certification by the Recording Industry Association of America that a single has sold a minimum of one million units.
Plug
Broadcast of a song; to push for a song’s performance.
Plugola
Secret payment to broadcasters for free mention of products on the air.
Points
A percentage of money producers and artists earn on the retail list price of 90 percent of all records sold.
Post
A short form of “post production.” This is the term applied to all the work that goes into a production after the talent leaves. This includes such processes as editing, multi-tracking, music selection, adding special effects and mixing.
Press
The manufacturing of a large quantity of records duplicated from a master for commercial sale.
Press Kit
A presentation including newspaper clippings, review of movie, television, musical and theater productions, a biography, headshot and resume given to the media and interested industry professionals. Also called a press package.
Printed Edition
A song published in the form of sheet music.
Producer
The individual who oversees the making of a single or long playing record, radio, television or stage show from inception to completion.
Production
The technical aspects of the music industry, including sound systems and lighting requirements as well as video and recording process.
Protection
You may be asked to “do another take for protection.” This means that you have given the director a take she likes but she wants you to do it again to make sure it was the best. Also referred to as “insurance.”
Click here to go to the top of the page.
Queued Up
Previewing a tape and having it set to start playing at the beginning of a scene.
Rack Jobber
Dealer that supplies records of many manufacturers to certain retail outlets such as drugstores, variety stores, and supermarkets.
Range
The vocal extent of a singer’s voice, from its lowest note to its highest.
Rave
An extremely good review from a critic.
Release
Marketing
The issuing of a record by the record company, or a film by a studio.
Legal
Legal document releasing producer from liability, usually refers to talent allowing the producer to use his or her likeness on film and soundtrack.
The Rideout
The Rideout is the music that begins on the downbeat of the last word of the song. Just as all songs have a Vamp, every Chorus comes packaged with a Rideout.
Rider
An addition to a performer’s union contract that outlives a special circumstance for pay, and airing privileges given to the production company by a union.
Road Manager
Traveling supervisor hired by artist to coordinate details of concert tours on behalf of the artist.
Rolling
Audio recording has started.
Roomtone
The sound a room makes without anyone in it. Everyone has a different sound, so recording in the same room is sometimes critical when trying to match voice parts from one session to another.
Royalty
Money earned from use of the record or song.
Scale
Series of musical notes that align in sequential order.
Scansion
The analysis of verse to show its meter.
Score
The compilation of pages of sheet music that contains all the music for a show.
Scoring
Music added to help fill scenes or dialogue cut by a director during post-production.
Self-Contained Artist
An artist who writes and performs his or her own material. Also refers to artists who require no production or personnel assistance from promoters.
Session
Meeting during which time musicians and vocalists make a recording.
Session Fee
The money you are paid for the initial day’s work on a commercial. It is usually a sale amount.
SFX
Abbreviation for sound effects. Sometimes also written as EFX. or FX.
Sheet Music
The pages containing the music and lyrics to a single song, as opposed to a score containing all the music for a show.
Showcase
A presentation of new songs and/or talent.
Sibilance
A drawn out or excessive “S” sound during speech. In extreme cases, the “S” sound is accompanied by a whistle. Sibilance is annoying and a hindrance to some voice actors. “S” is a popular letter with copywriters and is found in most lines except the last one.
Signature Song
A song that is primarily associated with a single famous singer.
Singing Voice
Refers to the person who performs an actor’s vocal parts. This is done in the dubbing process in post-production.
Single
A small record played at 45 rpms containing two selections, one on each side; record released because of the expectation by the record company that “A” side would achieve success.
Slate
An audible announcement of the take number recorded ahead of your read. The slate aids the engineer in finding the favorite takes for editing.
Song Plugger
One who auditions songs for performers.
Song Shark
One who profits from dealing with songwriters by deceptive methods.
Speculation
The recording of a song with payment to be made to the recording studio, musicians and vocalists when a deal is consummated.
Split Publishing
When the publishing rights to a song are divided among two or more publishers.
Standard
A song that continues to be popular for several years.
Studio
An audio isolation room where the talent performs, with an adjoining control room.
Sweeten
The addition of new parts to existing rhythms and vocal tracks and horns.
Syncronization
The placing of music in timed-relation to film.
Sychronization Right
The right to use a musical composition in (timed) a film or video tape.
Click here to go to the top of the page.
Tag
A short portion of a spot, usually placed at the end. A tag may say something such as, “Available at all OfficeMax outlets through Sunday.” Tags are often delivered by a voice talent different from those in the main body of the ad.
Tails Out
Recording tape wound on a reel so that the end of the soundtrack is on the outside. A tape wound “tails out” is usually marked with blue adhesive tape, while one wound “heads out” is usually marked with red adhesive tape.
Talkback
The system that allows people in the control room to talk with the talent in the studio.
Time Reversion Clause
Contractual agreement in which a publisher agrees to secure recording and release for songwriter’s material within a certain period of time. Failure to secure recording and release triggers reversion of the song rights to the writer.
Track
Refers to a song or layer of audio within a DAW.
TT Connector
Also known as tiny telephone and Bantom. 1/4″ phone jack which comes in TS and TRS forms. These jacks and their corresponding cablse are commonly used in recording studio patch bays. – Submitted by: Matt Relstab
Vamp
All printed copies of songs begin with a few bars of music called the Vamp or Intro. It is recognizable as the first musical statement at the top of the copy and it is further identified by the absence of a logic.
Verse
The selection of a song that precedes the chorus or is the A section in AABA pattern songs. The Verse follows the Vamp and is the first vocalizing of the text of the song. The Verse seldom contains heavyweight musical material. Since it is so scored in order to give preeminence to the information contained in the lyric.
Voice Over
The act of providing one’s voice to a media project. Called voice-over because the voice is usually mixed over the top of music and sound effects.
Walla
The sound of many voices talking at once, such as at a party or in a restaurant. Also known as “walla walla,” this old sound effects term is derived from the idea that if a group of people got together and just kept saying “walla” over and over, it would create a good sound ambiance for a crowded scene.
Wet
A voice or sound with reverb added to it.
Windscreen, Zeppelin, Dead Cat
A foam cover or fabric guard placed over a microphone to help prevent popped “P’s” and other plosive sounds. Sometimes called a “windsock” or “pop filter.”
Click here to go to the top of the page.
