Music Production Terms

verb to make something louder or stronger

adjective having been made louder or stronger

• The sound was amplified using state-of-the-art audio equipment.
• I amplified the music so we could hear it better.
• I cranked up the volume and amplified the bass for a better beat.
• His anger was amplified by the stressful situation he was in.

noun a frequency of sound waves that can be heard

• The audio frequency of the sound wave was measured in hertz.
• I adjusted the audio frequency on the stereo to make the music sound better.
• The audio frequency on this track is lit!
• His voice had an audio frequency that resonated with the audience.

noun a cigar that is wider at one end

adjective direct and straightforward in speech or manner

• The surgeon used a blunt scalpel to make the incision.
• I can't believe you just said that, you're so blunt!
• She's always so blunt, she tells it like it is.
• His words were like a blunt instrument, lacking any subtlety or nuance.

verb Bouncing is the present participle form of the verb bounce, which means to spring back or rebound after hitting a surface.

• The bouncing ball followed a predictable trajectory based on the laws of physics.
• The kids were bouncing the ball back and forth in the playground.
• She was bouncing with excitement when she heard the news.
• Her heart was bouncing with joy as she received the good news.

noun a practical joke or prank

verb to cut or divide into pieces

adjective cut into pieces

• The cutup technique is a form of artistic expression that involves cutting up and rearranging existing materials.
• I'm going to use the cutup method to create a collage for my art project.
• He's such a cutup, always making jokes and keeping everyone entertained.
• The author's writing style is like a cutup of different genres, creating a unique and innovative narrative.

noun a curved or angular piece of metal or other hard substance for catching, holding, or suspending something

verb to catch, hold, or pull with a hook

• The fisherman carefully attached the bait to the hook before casting his line.
• Make sure you hook up the TV before the game starts.
• I can't believe she got hooked on that new TV show.
• The catchy melody of the song is sure to hook listeners right away.

noun A person who rides horses in horse racing or other competitive equestrian events.

• The jockey skillfully guided the horse to victory in the race.
• The jockey rode like a pro and won the race.
• That jockey has some serious skills on the track.
• She's a jockey in the world of finance, always maneuvering her way to success.

noun a sharp rap or blow, typically one made by knocking on a door

verb to strike a surface noisily to attract attention or gain entry

• The police officer gave a firm knock on the door before announcing himself.
• I'll just give a quick knock on their door to see if they're home.
• I heard a loud knock at the door and knew it was my friend messing around.
• His words seemed to knock her confidence, but she tried to stay strong.

noun a person who lays on something

verb to place or spread something on a surface

• The patient was instructed to lay on the examination table for the doctor to perform the check-up.
• Just lay on the couch and relax, I'll bring you a blanket.
• Let's lay on the grass and chill for a bit.
• The success of the project will lay on the team's ability to work together effectively.

noun a soft mixture of ingredients, typically of food

verb to crush or squeeze something into a soft mass

• The chef demonstrated how to properly mash the potatoes for the dinner party.
• I always mash my avocado with a fork to make guacamole.
• Let's mash up some tunes and have a dance party!
• The intense workout class really mashed me up yesterday.

noun a technique in film editing in which a series of short shots are edited into a sequence to condense space, time, and information

• The film director spent hours perfecting the montage sequence to convey the passage of time.
• I love how they did a montage of all the funny moments in the movie.
• That montage was fire, it really captured the vibe of the party.
• Life is like a montage of memories, each moment blending into the next.

noun a state in which two or more waves have no specific time relationship with each other

adjective not in synchronization or alignment

• The two waves are completely out of phase with each other.
• Their dance moves were so out of phase, it was hard to watch.
• The team's communication was totally out of phase during the game.
• Her emotions were out of phase with the rest of the group's excitement.

noun the process of creating or presenting a work of art, literature, or music for public view or consumption

• The company invested in new technology to increase production efficiency.
• We need to step up our production game if we want to meet the deadline.
• Let's crank up the production and get this project finished.
• Her production of ideas never seems to run out, she's always full of creativity.

verb to make a hissing sound like that of a snake

• The snake began to sibilate as a warning to the approaching predator.
• I could hear the snake sibilating in the bushes nearby.
• The snake was sibilating like crazy, it was so creepy.
• The tension in the room was so high, you could almost hear it sibilating.

noun a violent shattering or crushing

verb to break violently into pieces

• The criminal used a hammer to smash the glass window.
• I heard you can smash the competition in the upcoming tournament.
• Let's smash some burgers at the new joint in town.
• His powerful speech managed to smash through all the barriers of ignorance.

noun a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The speed of sound in air is approximately 343 meters per second.
• Did you know the speed of sound is faster in water than in air?
• I can't believe how crazy fast the speed of sound is!
• Her words traveled at the speed of sound, reaching everyone in the room instantly.

noun a firming or strengthening of muscles through exercise

verb to improve the strength or firmness of muscles through exercise

• It is recommended to tone up your muscles through regular exercise.
• I need to tone up before summer so I can feel confident at the beach.
• I've been hitting the gym to tone up for my upcoming vacation.
• She decided to tone up her resume before applying for the job.

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, in this case, the action of activating or starting something

adjective a word that describes or gives more information about a noun, in this case, describing a state of being excited or aroused

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence, in this case, indicating the state of being activated or excited

• The new security system can be turned on with a simple click of a button.
• I turned on the TV to watch my favorite show.
• He turned on the charm to impress his date.
• The music turned on a flood of emotions within me.

noun nothing or zero

verb to move rapidly

• Please ensure to zip up your jacket before going outside.
• Hey, don't forget to zip your jacket!
• I love this new hoodie, it has a cool zip.
• Her words seemed to zip right over his head, he didn't understand a thing.

noun a light touch or stroke

verb to strike lightly

adverb in a gentle or light manner

• The plumber needed to tap up the leak in the pipe before it caused any further damage.
• I'll just tap up this message and send it to you real quick.
• Let me tap up my friend to see if he wants to hang out tonight.
• She had to tap up her courage before giving the presentation in front of a large audience.

noun a slight, sharp, ringing sound or a sensation of slight prickling or stinging

verb to make or cause to make a ting sound

• The tingling sensation in my fingers is a sign of poor circulation.
• I can't feel my tingling toes after sitting in that awkward position for so long.
• That new song has such a good ting to it, I can't stop listening.
• The excitement in the room was so palpable, you could practically feel the ting in the air.

noun a term used to refer to a Macintosh computer or a type of waterproof raincoat

• The new software update is compatible with both PC and Mac systems.
• I love using my Mac for all my work and personal tasks.
• I'm saving up to buy a new Macbook for school next semester.
• Her mind was like a well-oiled Mac, processing information quickly and efficiently.

noun a loud, deep sound, often used to describe the sound of a punch or impact

verb to hit or punch with great force

• The scientific study concluded that the boof of the experiment was due to a measurement error.
• I can't believe you wore those boof sneakers to the party.
• That movie was straight up boof, I fell asleep halfway through.
• Her argument was so strong, it felt like a verbal boof to his ego.

adjective describing something that is rough, uneven, or gnarled in texture or appearance

• The knarsty old tree stood tall in the middle of the forest.
• I tripped over that knarsty root again!
• That knarsty dude always has the best skateboarding tricks.
• The knarsty situation required delicate handling to avoid any further complications.

noun a device that synthesizes the human voice by encoding it as a series of signals

• The vocoder is a device used to analyze and synthesize the human voice for various audio applications.
• I love playing around with the vocoder on my music software to create cool vocal effects.
• Have you heard that new song with the crazy vocoder effects? It's fire!
• The vocoder of social media filters can distort reality and create a false impression of perfection.

noun a small, round piece of hard candy with a sour taste, often flavored with citrus or other fruits

• The chemist carefully measured out an acid drop for the experiment.
• I dare you to try an acid drop, it's so sour!
• Let's pop some acid drops and see where the night takes us.
• Her words felt like an acid drop on my heart, burning with their harshness.