Mastering Compressor – Definition & Detailed Explanation – Audio Mixing and Mastering Glossary

What is a compressor? A compressor is an audio processing tool used in music production to control the dynamic range of a sound signal. It works by reducing the volume of loud sounds and increasing the volume of quiet sounds, resulting in a more consistent and balanced audio output. Compressors are commonly used in mixing … Read more

Bit Depth Reduction – Definition & Detailed Explanation – Audio Mixing and Mastering Glossary

What is Bit Depth Reduction? Bit depth reduction is a process in audio production where the number of bits used to represent each sample in a digital audio file is decreased. In digital audio, each sample is represented by a binary number, with the bit depth determining the resolution of the audio signal. The higher … Read more

Transient Shaper – Definition & Detailed Explanation – Audio Mixing and Mastering Glossary

What is a Transient Shaper? A Transient Shaper is an audio processing tool used in music production and audio mixing to manipulate the transient and sustain portions of a sound. Transients are the initial, short-lived bursts of sound that give a sound its attack and punch, while sustain refers to the lingering tail of a … Read more

Multiband Compression – Definition & Detailed Explanation – Audio Mixing and Mastering Glossary

What is Multiband Compression? Multiband compression is a dynamic audio processing technique that divides the audio signal into multiple frequency bands, allowing for independent compression of each band. This means that different parts of the audio spectrum can be compressed with varying amounts of gain reduction, providing more control over the dynamics of the audio … Read more

Hard Clipping – Definition & Detailed Explanation – Audio Mixing and Mastering Glossary

What is Hard Clipping? Hard clipping is a digital audio processing technique that involves limiting the amplitude of a signal by abruptly cutting off any peaks that exceed a certain threshold. When a signal reaches this threshold, the waveform is “clipped” or flattened at the top, resulting in a distorted sound. Hard clipping is often … Read more

Master Bus – Definition & Detailed Explanation – Audio Mixing and Mastering Glossary

What is a Master Bus in audio mixing? In audio mixing, the Master Bus refers to the final stereo output channel where all individual tracks and channels are combined and processed before being sent to the final output. It is also known as the master fader or stereo bus. The Master Bus plays a crucial … Read more

Sample Rate Conversion – Definition & Detailed Explanation – Audio Mixing and Mastering Glossary

What is Sample Rate Conversion? Sample Rate Conversion (SRC) is the process of converting the sampling rate of a digital audio signal from one rate to another. The sampling rate refers to the number of samples taken per second to represent the audio signal digitally. It is measured in Hertz (Hz) and is a crucial … Read more

Mix Bus Processing – Definition & Detailed Explanation – Audio Mixing and Mastering Glossary

What is Mix Bus Processing? Mix bus processing refers to the application of audio effects or adjustments to the entire mix of a recording, rather than to individual tracks or instruments. This is typically done on the master fader or stereo bus of a digital audio workstation (DAW) or mixing console. The purpose of mix … Read more

Loudness Penalty – Definition & Detailed Explanation – Audio Mixing and Mastering Glossary

What is Loudness Penalty? Loudness Penalty refers to the decrease in volume or loudness that occurs when audio content is played on streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and others. These platforms use loudness normalization algorithms to ensure a consistent listening experience for their users. This means that songs with higher loudness levels … Read more

Overdrive – Definition & Detailed Explanation – Audio Mixing and Mastering Glossary

What is Overdrive? Overdrive is a type of audio effect that is commonly used in music production to add warmth, grit, and distortion to sound signals. It is achieved by pushing an audio signal beyond its normal limits, causing the waveform to become clipped and distorted. Overdrive is often used to emulate the sound of … Read more