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Featured ArtistsWelcome to the Songstufff Glossary!
Find the meaning to common, and not so common terms in this broad ranging glossary. Covering a diversity of Music related terminology including Music Technology, Music Theory, Music Law, Acoustics, and Electronics, the Songstuff Glossary is an ever-growing collection. Everything from Absorption to Zero Level.
We're continually adding new descriptions, so if you have a suggested description please Contact Songstuff.
Glossary items are listed in alphabetical order. Please use the navigation block below to browse the glossary items.
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FSK Sync
An old form of clock sync. Commonly used with the early Atari sequencers and drum machines.
SMPTE -VITC
Vertical Interval Time Code, a.k.a "vitsee", means SMPTE timecode that is placed into the space between video frames. Once "burned in" between frames it is called BITC or "bitsee".
SMPTE -LTC
Longitudinal or Linear Time Code refers to SMPTE striped along the tape track and is common for tape machines.
Word Clock Sync
Clock source used by your audio interface to synchronize "words" of sample data.
Freewheel Sync
A.K.A. Flywheel Sync. Using tape sync there were frequent timecode dropouts. Freewheel synchronization will interpret corrupted values.
Chase Lock Sync
The slave "chases" the master by rewinding and fast forwarding till it gets to the right location. Used with SMPTE.
ADAT Sync
A syncronization format used to allow two ADAT multi-track recorders to play and record in sync.
Instrumental
Unlike a song, an instrumental is a piece of music without any accompanying lyrics or vocal part. In popular music, an instrumental may include vocal sounds, but not lyrics.
Breakbeat
Commercially, a post digital sampling music genre.
Break Beat
The sampling of a drum break as a drum loop. Originally taken from Soul tracks these drum loops are used to create the rhythm tracks for Rap and Hip-hop music.
