Studio Equipment

Compressor

1. a process that reduces the dynamic range of an audio signal
2. 
   The trend of increasing loudness as shown by waveform images of the same song mastered on CD four times since 1983
3. In simple terms, a compressor is an automatic volume control
4. Compression is used during sound recording, live sound reinforcement, and broadcasting to control the level of audio
5. Description of expansion, compression, and limiting in an audio processor

Drum machine

1. an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums and/or other percussion instruments
2. are very useful instruments for a wide variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music

Equalizer

An audio processing tool used for equalization

Insert

1. an access point built into the mixing console, allowing the user to add external line level devices into the signal flow between the microphone preamp and the mix bus
2. can be used as an alternate way to route signals such as for multitrack recording output or line level direct input

Limiter

a circuit that allows signals below a specified input power to pass unaffected while attenuating the peaks of stronger signals that exceed this input power

mixing console

1. an electronic device for combining (also called "mixing"), routing, and changing the level, timbre and/or dynamics of audio signals
2. used to combine electronic audio signals
3. Mixing consoles are used in many applications, including recording studios, public address systems, sound reinforcement systems, broadcasting, television, and film post-production
4. 
   Mixing desk used for live performances

music sequencer

1. software or hardware designed to create and manage computer-generated music
2. Most modern sequencers now feature audio editing and processing capabilities as well

Musical Instrument Digital Interface

1. an industry-standard protocol that enables electronic musical instruments, computers, and other equipment to communicate, control, and synchronize with each other
2. does not transmit an audio signal or media - it transmits "event messages" such as the pitch and intensity of musical notes to play, control signals for parameters such as volume, vibrato and panning, cues, and clock signals to set the tempo

Pro Tools

1. a Digital Audio Workstation platform for Mac OS and Microsoft Windows operating systems, developed and manufactured by Digidesign, a division of Avid Technology
2. Fundamentally, Pro Tools is similar to a multitrack tape recorder and mixer, with additional features that can only be performed in the digital medium

Sampler

1. an electronic musical instrument closely related to a synthesizer
2. Instead of generating sounds from scratch, however, a sampler starts with multiple recordings (or "samples") of different sounds, and then plays each back based on how the instrument is configured

Sound card

1. a computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to/from a computer under control of computer programs
2. usually feature a digital-to-analog converter, that converts recorded or generated digital data into an analog format

Steinberg Cubase

1. a computer program for music production/recording
2. Steinberg - Maker Of Cubase
3. Most of the facilities in recording studios are now available for computer owners using Cubase or other similar products

synthesizer

1. an electronic instrument capable of producing a variety of sounds by generating and combining signals of different frequencies
2. There are three main types of synthesizers, which differ in operation: analog, digital and software-based
3. A modern digital synthesizer uses a frequency synthesizer microprocessor component to calculate mathematical functions, which generate signals of different frequencies
4. 
   Both the Roland Jupiter-4 and Jupiter-8 synthesizers were used by New Wave band Duran Duran during the early 1980s

Virtual instrument

1. a program that implements functions of an instrument by computer, sensors and actuators
2. A Software synthesizer

XLR

1. plugs and sockets are used mostly in professional audio and video electronics cabling applications
2. 
   Male and female XLR4 panel connectors
3. 
   Variety of male and female XLR connectors with different numbers of pins