Music Production Glossary

noun a device or component that increases the power or amplitude of a signal

• The amplifier is a crucial component in the audio system, responsible for boosting the signal strength.
• I just got a new amplifier for my guitar, it's going to make my music sound so much better.
• Dude, that new amp is sick! It's gonna make your guitar shred even harder.
• Her infectious laughter acted as an amplifier, spreading joy to everyone around her.

noun a mixture or combination of different elements

verb to mix or combine different elements together

• The artist used a unique blend of colors to create a striking masterpiece.
• I love the blend of flavors in this dish, it's so delicious!
• That new song is a perfect blend of hip-hop and R&B.
• His speech had a perfect blend of humor and seriousness, keeping the audience engaged.

noun a temporary and minor disruption or irregularity

• The radar system detected several blips on the screen.
• I saw a few blips on the map but I'm not sure what they are.
• There were blips all over the place, it was crazy.
• Despite a few blips along the way, the project was a success.

noun a sudden spring or leap

verb to spring back or rebound after hitting a surface

• The ball had a high bounce when it hit the ground.
• I love watching the basketball bounce on the court.
• That party was so lit, everyone was bouncing off the walls.
• Her mood seemed to bounce back after receiving good news.

noun a signal for someone to do something

verb to give a cue to someone

• The actor waited for his cue before delivering his lines on stage.
• When you hear the music change, that's your cue to start dancing.
• I totally missed my cue to leave the party early.
• Her sudden silence was a cue that something was wrong.

noun the distance within which a sound can be heard

adjective within hearing range

• The sound of the music was within earshot of the neighbors.
• I could hear their conversation because I was within earshot.
• I didn't want to be caught within earshot of the teacher gossiping.
• The news of the scandal spread quickly, reaching everyone within earshot.

noun a sudden and intense release or burst of something, such as sound or energy

• The air conditioning unit was turned up to full blast to combat the summer heat.
• I cranked the music up to full blast at the party last night.
• We were driving down the highway with the windows down and the music playing full blast.
• The team was working at full blast to meet the deadline for the project.

noun a tube-shaped device that contains gunpowder and is lit to explode a bomb or firework

verb to join or blend together by melting or by force

• The electrician had to replace the blown fuse in the circuit breaker.
• I think we blew a fuse when we plugged in too many appliances at once.
• I need to find a way to fuse my love for music and my passion for photography.
• The artist was able to fuse traditional techniques with modern styles in his latest masterpiece.

noun a small metal instrument specially cut to fit into a lock and move its bolt

verb to make someone or something more excited or nervous

adverb in a way that increases excitement or nervousness

• Before playing the piano, make sure to key up by stretching your fingers and wrists.
• I always key up before a big game by listening to my favorite pump-up playlist.
• Let's key up before hitting the club tonight with some pre-game shots!
• The team needs to key up their defense if they want to win the championship.

noun a sudden forceful blow or movement with the foot

verb to strike or propel with the foot

adjective used to describe something related to a forceful motion with the foot

• The soccer player delivered a powerful kick to score a goal.
• I saw him kick the ball really hard during the game.
• He gave the ball a good kick down the field.
• She decided to kick her bad habits and start a new healthy lifestyle.

noun a part of a machine that imparts motion, as a cam on a shaft

• The kicker of the football team is known for his powerful leg.
• Did you see the kicker's amazing field goal in the last game?
• That guy is a real kicker when it comes to making jokes.
• The unexpected plot twist at the end of the movie was a real kicker.

noun the quality or state of being loud; the intensity or volume of a sound

• The loudness of the music at the concert was overwhelming.
• I had to cover my ears because of the loudness of the fireworks.
• The loudness of his snoring kept me up all night.
• The loudness of her personality filled the room with energy.

verb past tense of mix, meaning to combine different elements or qualities

adjective used to describe something that is made up of different elements or qualities

• The results of the experiment were mixed, with some participants showing improvement while others did not.
• I have mixed feelings about going to the party tonight, I'm not sure if I'm in the mood.
• The new movie got mixed reviews, some people loved it and others thought it was terrible.
• Her emotions were like a mixed bag, ranging from happiness to sadness in a matter of minutes.

noun the act of combining different substances or elements to create a new substance

verb the action of combining or blending different substances or elements together

• The process of mixing chemicals must be done with caution in a laboratory setting.
• I love mixing different ingredients together to create new recipes in the kitchen.
• Let's mix things up and try a new approach to solving this problem.
• His speech was a perfect mixing of humor and seriousness, keeping the audience engaged.

verb to vary the pitch, intensity, or tone of something, typically music or one's voice

• The radio station can modulate the frequency for better reception.
• You can modulate the volume on the speaker to make it louder.
• I modulated my tone to sound more convincing.
• She tried to modulate her emotions during the difficult conversation.

noun A monaural system is a type of audio system that uses a single channel for sound reproduction, as opposed to a stereo system which uses two channels.

• The monaural system is commonly used in older audio equipment.
• My grandpa still prefers his monaural system over modern stereo systems.
• I found a cool vintage monaural system at the thrift store.
• His monaural system of thinking limited his ability to see things from different perspectives.

verb to insert or connect something into an outlet or socket

• The technician plugged in the power cord to start the machine.
• I plugged my phone into the charger before going to bed.
• I plugged in my headphones and tuned out the world.
• She plugged away at her work, determined to finish on time.

noun a prolongation of a sound; resonance

adjective reverberant (related to or characterized by reverberation)

• The reverberation of the sound could be heard throughout the entire concert hall.
• The reverberation in this room is crazy, it's so echoey!
• The reverberation in here is giving me major vibes.
• The reverberation of his actions had a lasting impact on the community.

noun a small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like

verb to take a small part as a sample of the whole; to test or try something

• The scientist collected a sample of water from the river for testing.
• Can you grab me a sample of that new ice cream flavor to try?
• I snagged a sample of the latest perfume at the mall.
• The short story served as a sample of the author's writing style.

noun a recorded collection of music, dialogue, and sound effects that accompanies a movie, television show, or video game

• The sound track for the movie was composed by a renowned musician.
• I love the sound track of that movie, it's so catchy!
• The sound track of the game is lit, I can't stop listening to it.
• The sound track of our lives is constantly changing, just like a movie score.

verb to join or connect together by interweaving the strands or parts

adjective joined or connected by splicing

• The scientist spliced together different DNA sequences to create a genetically modified organism.
• I watched a tutorial on how to splice videos together for my YouTube channel.
• I'm going to splice in some extra footage to make the vlog more interesting.
• She spliced together memories of her childhood to create a vivid picture of the past.

noun a movement made by lifting one foot and putting it down in a new position

verb to move by lifting one foot and putting it down in a new position

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• Please take one step at a time when learning a new skill.
• Just take it one step at a time, you'll get there eventually.
• Dude, you need to step up your game if you want to impress her.
• Sometimes we have to take a step back in order to move forward in life.

noun a system of sound reproduction that uses two or more channels to create a more realistic effect

adjective related to sound reproduction using multiple channels

• The stereo system in the conference room provides high-quality sound for presentations.
• Let's crank up the stereo and have a dance party in the living room!
• I love bumping beats on my new stereo.
• Her voice filled the room like a stereo, commanding everyone's attention.

noun a cessation of movement or action

verb to cease or discontinue

• Please stop talking during the meeting.
• Can you stop texting for a minute and pay attention?
• Hey, stop being such a buzzkill!
• Sometimes we need to stop and smell the roses.

noun a process in which two or more things happen or work together in a synchronized way

• The software automatically syncs all the data across multiple devices.
• Make sure to sync your phone with your computer to transfer the files.
• I need to sync up with my friends before making any plans.
• Their thoughts and actions were perfectly in sync during the performance.

noun the act of causing things to occur or operate at the same time or rate

verb to cause to occur or operate at the same time or rate

• It is important to synchronize all data across multiple devices to ensure consistency.
• Make sure to synchronize your phone with your computer so they have the same information.
• Let's sync up our schedules so we can hang out this weekend.
• The dancers moved in perfect synchronization, creating a mesmerizing performance.

noun the combination of ideas to form a theory or system

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• The process of chemical synthesis involves combining different compounds to create new molecules.
• I'm working on a synthesis project for my chemistry class, where I have to mix different chemicals together.
• I heard that rapper's new album is a synthesis of old-school beats and modern lyrics.
• The artist's painting was a beautiful synthesis of colors and shapes, creating a stunning masterpiece.

noun a musical or vocal sound with reference to its pitch, quality, and strength

verb to make something less intense or strong

• It is important to tone down your language when speaking in a professional setting.
• Hey, can you tone down the music a bit? It's too loud.
• Dude, you need to tone down your attitude or you're going to get in trouble.
• The artist decided to tone down the colors in the painting to create a more subtle effect.

adjective not mixed or blended with anything else; pure or unmixed

• The scientist conducted experiments to ensure that the results were unmixed with any outside variables.
• I prefer my coffee black and unmixed with any cream or sugar.
• I like my music unmixed, just pure beats and lyrics.
• Her emotions were unmixed, showing only pure joy at the news.

noun a connection or link, especially to an electrical or electronic device

verb to connect or link something, especially to an electrical or electronic device

• The company is looking for a reliable hook-up for their new manufacturing facility.
• I heard Sarah and Tom had a hook-up at the party last night.
• I'm just looking for a quick hook-up, nothing serious.
• The author used the unexpected plot twist as a hook-up to keep readers engaged.

noun a loud, metallic sound

verb to strike or hit with a heavy blow

• The tonk of the hammer echoed through the workshop.
• I heard a loud tonk coming from the garage.
• He gave the car a good tonk to get it started.
• The tonk of the drum symbolized the start of the performance.

adverb relating to sound or the sense of hearing, or to the science of sound

• The concert hall was designed acoustically to ensure optimal sound quality for the audience.
• The living room is acoustically perfect for movie nights with surround sound.
• This cafe is acoustically lit, perfect for a chill vibe while enjoying your coffee.
• Her voice resonated acoustically in his mind, leaving a lasting impression.

noun the part of a room or theater where sound is most effectively heard

• The acoustic center of the concert hall was designed to optimize sound quality for all audience members.
• The acoustic center in this room is where you can hear the music the best.
• Dude, let's sit near the acoustic center so we can hear the band clearly.
• In a debate, it's important to stay focused on the acoustic center of the argument to avoid getting off track.

noun a person who specializes in the science of sound, especially in relation to buildings

• The acoustician was hired to analyze the sound quality in the concert hall.
• I heard the acoustician is coming to check the sound system in our office.
• The acoustician is like the sound whisperer, he can make any room sound amazing.
• She was known as the acoustician of emotions, able to read people just by the tone of their voice.