Glossary

Bias

The process in analog tape recording by which a supersonic signal is introduced to the incoming audio in order to improve the distortion and frequency response specifications of the recording.

Band

Short for “frequency band” which is a range or interval in the frequency spectrum often divided into low, mid or high-frequency bands.

Band shelf

Hybrid filter shape combining attributes of a shelving filter and a peaking filter.

Bandwidth

Describes the range of frequencies being affected by a signal processor. Inversely proportional to Q.

Baxandall

A type of first order shelving equalizer typically found in the tone control of high fidelity home audio components.

Butterworth filter

A filter shape designed to have a flat frequency response in the passband.

Detection circuit

The component that evaluates signal amplitude to trigger a processor.

Envelope

The varying amplitude of sound over time. This can be broken into four stages: attack, decay, sustain, and release.

Fairchild 670

A feedback-based tube compressor/limiter with a soft knee, unique attack, and release envelopes. An IRC I limiter is applied after the tube processing to transparently prevent clipping to the entire bandwidth of the mix.

FFT (Fast Fourier Transform)

A procedure for the calculation of a signal frequency spectrum. The greater the FFT size, the greater the frequency resolution, i.e., notes and tonal events will be clearer at larger sizes.

Filter

Audio filters are frequency dependent amplifier circuits that boost (amplify), cut (attenuate), or pass ranges of the audible frequency spectrum.

HUD (Heads-Up Display)

A panel through which you can access module controls.

MBIT+ Dither

This is a proprietary iZotope word length reduction technology that reduces quantization distortion with minimal perceived noise. While this might sound like a paradox, MBIT+ is a very smooth, quiet, and almost “analog sounding” technology.

Q

In an equalizer, it is the center frequency divided by bandwidth.

Resonant Filter

Has a complex nature of adjustment such that at the cut off point you can increase or attenuate the resonance. Typically is accompanied by significant phase shift or ringing.

Resonant Peak (Vintage Tape)

In reference to a tape head bump, this describes the prominence of the amount of gain at the low-end frequency at which the tape head bump is being reproduced.

Saturation

A harmonic type of non-linear distortion.

Sidechain

The signal that feeds the detection circuit in a processor.

Spectrum Analyzer

A meter that measures amplitude across the frequencies which encompass the spectrum of human hearing. The vertical axis represents amplitude while the horizontal axis represents frequency.

Tape Saturation

A wavelength (tape speed divided by frequency) dependent process so the exact sound of the saturation is a complex interplay between tape speed, bias-level, program material and other factors.

Waveform

A visual representation of the envelope of the soundwave. (amplitude representation).