Vocal comping (short for 'compiling') involves recording a few takes of the song and splicing together only the best parts. The end result features the singer's best work, while still sounding like it was done in one take.
Compression reduces the overall dynamic range of a piece of audio by detecting when it exceeds a specified level, and then attenuating it by a specified amount. Basically, it narrows the difference between the loudest parts and quietest parts of a track so that it plays at a more consistent level.
A microphone commonly found in studios with a large frequency range and high sensitivity. These mics are known for being very accurate and are very commonly used for recording vocals, among other instruments.
A device for recording, mixing, or live sound purposes that amplifies, balances, processes, and combines sounds. Basically, it’s the studio version of a DAW.
A specific type of fade where one sound fades in as another sound fades out. These are used when editing audio so that the transition between the two audio clips is smooth, rather than jarring and to avoid clicks and pops that may happen as a result from cut audio.
Digital Audio Workstation. The software that you record, edit, mix, and master in. Popular versions are Pro Tools, Logic Pro, GarageBand, Ableton Live, etc.
A processor that turns down sibilance (the sound of an “s”) when it happens in a vocal track.
How fast a sound fades from a certain loudness. Delay, or echo - A processor that creates copies of a sound source that repeat over and over, fading slowly. Commonly used with vocals and electric guitar.
The main unit of volume measurement. A dB is relative, as there are several different “scales” of dB’s that are used in audio (dB-FS being the most common, along with dB-VU, dB-RMS, and dB-LUFS). Each dB scale has a certain function in audio.
Delay is a time-based audio effect that creates a repetition of the original sound. Think of it like an echo that you can adjust to repeat at different times based on synced tempo or time.
The required trim and downmix setting for your Dolby Atmos ADM WAV file.
Distortion refers to the altering or deformation of an audio signal’s original waveform. There are many types of distortion, such as clip distortion and harmonic distortion. This tool can be used to add grunge to guitars and vocals or used to brighten or warm up any sound by increasing/decreasing odd or even harmonics within a given audio signal.
Adding white noise to a recording to reduce distortion when the recording is exported at a lower bit rate.
Dolby Atmos is an immersive, object-based sound format that allows you to place your music in a three-dimensional space. Think 5.1 surround sound on steroids.
This is an output option of your DAW. This needs to be selected to communicate data from your DAW to the external Dolby Renderer.
The Dolby Atmos Music Panner is a plug-in for positioning audio objects in a Dolby Atmos mix when used in a supported DAW and connected to the Dolby Atmos Renderer.
The Dolby Atmos Renderer works in tandem with your DAW to render your mix to any playback environment, based on the audio and positional metadata you author in the DAW during your mix.
The Trim and Downmix Editor dialog allows you to specify the trim and downmix settings for playing back your ADM project. The settings made in this editor are part of the static metadata of your Dolby Atmos project and stored in the ADM file when exporting. A renderer uses these settings for playback or encoding. Labels require using “Direct Render” as your downmix/trim setting.
An unprocessed sound; a sound without an effect on it. The opposite of a wet sound.
A dubb or double is a secondary take that emulates the lead vocal as close to exact as possible, it is used to boost the emphasis of the lyrics, it is not the same as a harmony.
The loud and soft points of a sound over time. The higher the range, the more difference there is between the loudest point and the softest point.
Equalization, or EQ, in sound recording, mixing, mastering, and production is the process of adjusting the volume of different frequency bands within an audio signal to achieve a specific tonal balance.
The process of rendering all the files in a session to a single file that can be played back by the listener. Sometimes referred to as “bouncing” or “printing”.
The Eyeball is the Kaotica Eyeball. It is a foam ball with a built-in pop screen that fits over the microphone to help diffuse any unwanted reflections in a less than perfect recording environment.
The increase and decrease of volume at the beginning and end of a sound or a song.
