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Table Of Contents
428 Glossary
bit depth The number of bits used by a digital recording or digital device. The number
of bits in each sample determines the (theoretical) maximum dynamic range of the
audio data, regardless of sample rate.
bit rate Bit rate, when talking about MP3 files, refers to the transfer bit rate at which
the files are encoded. Conversationally, the term is more often used to describe the
relative quality of the file, with lower bit rates resulting in less defined audio.
bit resolution Alternative term for bit depth. See bit depth and sample rate entries.
blue noise Highpass-filtered white noise, which sounds like tape hiss.
boosting The act of raising an audio level (see cutting).
bounce To process MIDI or audio regions with any applied effects, such as delay or
compression, and combining them into one audio file.
bpm Abbreviation for beats per minute, a measure of the tempo of musical piece. As
an example: 120 bpm means that in one minute, there will be 120 musical beats
(quarter notes).
Broadcast Wave See Wave.
bus Busses are used to send audio to aux channel strips for processing or submixing
tasks.
bypass To deactivate a plug-in. Bypassed plug-ins do not drain system resources. In
CAF Abbreviation for Core Audio Format. This file format can be used as a container for
compressed or uncompressed audio files of (almost) any size, sample rate, or bit depth.
The CAF file format can handle audio recordings of around 3 hours in length (at a
44.1 kHz sample rate—shorter at higher sample rates).
carrier In FM synthesis, the carrier is the equivalent of an analog synthesizer oscillator
that is producing a sine wave. The carrier frequency is modulated by the modulator.
CD Audio Short for Compact Disc—Audio; a standard for stereo music CDs: 44.1 kHz
sampling rate and 16 bit depth.
cent A tuning division of a semitone. There are one hundred cents in a semitone. Many
of the Logic Express software instruments contain a Fine parameter that allows sounds
to be tuned in cent steps.
checkbox A small box. You click a checkbox to select or deselect (or turn on/off) an
option.