AAC (.aac)
AAC stands for Advanced Audio Coding. It is a next generation audio codec, which is developed by Fraunhofer that seeks to preserve audio quality at lower bitrates. It has High licensing costs that have kept this audio codec from the mainstream.
AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format)
It is a large, CD-quality audio files that is used as the standard audio format on computers using the Mac operating system.
Audiocast
An audiocast is audio content, which is broadcast over the Internet. This term ausiocast serves as a broad descriptor of any audio content, including streaming audio, podcasts or other distribution methods.
Audiophile
The one who has the extreme interest in high quality sound.
Bed
A bed is sound from a recording that is repurposed to be a background element, like back.
Bitrates
It is the speed at which audio data travels per second.
Bit rate
Bit rate is also as called data transfer rate. Bit rate is described as the number of bits of data transferred between devices in a specific amount of time.
Board
A board is a short form for "mixing board". It is a tool for combining multiple audio sources into one signal for recording.
Cassette adapter
This accessory lets us listen to our iPod through the cassette player in our car. Cassette adapter connects to the iPod's headphone output.
Channel
A group of podcast items are said to be a channel, each of which represents one MP3 audio file (or show). When subscribing to podcasts, it is the channel to which we subscribe.
Codec
Short form for is "compression/decompression". It is basically an algorithm or system of rules to transform a file.
Constant Bit rate
Throughout the audio file the bit rate remains the same. Compare with variable bit rate (VBR).
Converter
Converter is a software program that transforms one file format to another.
Decoding
Making a format readable is decoding. MP3 players decode MP3 by being able to play the data format as audio. However, the term decoding usually refers to the process of converting MP3 to WAV.
Encode
Processes of converting one digital format to another by applying the known algorithms to either obscure the content of the file, or to compress or convert it to another format is known as encoding.
Encoding
The process of converting anu audio format to MP3 is encoding.
Firewire
Firewire is a form of connection standard for connecting external devices to home computers. Firewire is originally developed by Apple, it is also now becoming more popular for Windows based home computers. Firewire connections are often faster than USB connections.
ID3
A small file that could be attached to an MP3 that contains album, artist, track, and other info.
IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission is the international standards commission, which prepares and publishes all standards for electrical, electronic and related technologies.
IPod accessories
iPod is a digital media player introduced by Apple Computer. The name inspired the term "podcasting" a combination of iPod and broadcast. With over 40 million sold worldwide, the rapid acceptance of the iPod has created a market overnight for subscription-based audio content that can be automatically downloaded from iTunes and then uploaded to the device.
iPodder
iPodder is one of the original podcast clients. It is a free software application that automatically downloads new shows when they become available and synchronizes them with a portable digital audio player. It is now called "Juice".
iPod mini accessories
iPod mini is smaller and more colorful than the classic iPod, the iPod nano accessories is a well-liked choice for on-the-go listening. It comes in various versions like 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB and it is available in silver, blue, pink, green, and black. iPod mini runs off of flash memory so it's 100% skip-free.
iPod shuffle accessories
The tiniest iPod available, the iPod shuffle accessories, like the nano, features flash memory for totally skip-free playback on the go. Available in 512MB and 1GB versions.
iPod Skin
Fitted iPod accessory covering designed to protect the iPod accessory while changing its external appearance. Applying a skin is not permanent and does not void the iPod’s warranty or affect functionality.
ISO
The International organization for Standardization is the international organization, which is responsible for developing and maintaining technical standards.
Item
An item is nothing but a single entry in a news feed or podcast channel. Each item has an enclosure that links to the audio file for the podcast, including ID3 tags.
iTunes
Apple's multimedia player software is iTunes, including a store where users can download music, videos, television shows and podcasts. Along with ripping, organizing and playing multimedia files, iTunes also links to a directory of podcasts and it acts as a podcatcher by allowing the users to subscribe to podcasts.
Jitter correction
Jitter occurs either with digital audio extraction (ripping) or when digital audio is converted to analog. This correction feature helps in restoring the audio to its original condition.
Juice
A free program that can automatically download new shows when they become available and it could be synchronized with portable digital audio players is called Juice. It is formerly called "iPodder."
Kbps
Kbps is kilobytes per second. It is a measurement, which is used to judge the size of an audio file. Uncompressed audio like WAV format is 1411 kbps whereas this size can be compressed to about 1/10 on average by MP3 (this varies depending on user settings when encoding).
Mash
Mixing two audio segments or songs together is known as mash.
Memory card
It is a removable storage media that is used, in some digital cameras, MP3 players, PDAs, digital video cameras, cell phones, and photo printers.
Microphone
An acoustic to electric transducer, which converts sound into an electric signal is termed as a microphone.
MP3
MP3 means MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3. It is a standard technology and format that compresses a sound sequence into a very small file (for about one-twelfth the size of the original file) while the original level of sound quality is preserved when it is played.
MP3 Pro
Audio codec that is developed by Thompson Multimedia, which attempts to achieve the same audio quality in smaller file sizes than MP3.
MPEG Layer III
MPEG Layer III is a standard set by the MPEG abbreviated as Motion Picture Engineering Group which is defined as the Layer III standard for encoding audio. This is the standard, which is used to create Mp3 file.
Narrowcast
It is an audio or video programs, which focuses a specific audience demographic, as opposed to a broadcast. Many podcasts can be described as narrowcasts, even though as the technology continues to be adopted, "mainstream" programming for wider audiences is being podcast as well.
Normalization
Due to the volume difference between audio tracks, the normalization allows us to set the volume consistent between tracks during the encoding or burning process.
OGG Vorbis
Open source audio codec designed to compete with MP3. As it is not licensed like MP3, It is not necessary to pay royalties for using this software.
Playlist
It is a file that contain s information pertaining to the location of other audio and video files.
Plug-Ins
Plug-Ins are added functions to software players that can distort the sound, display visualizations, which moves with the music, or it would even support hardware to transfer data in many Jukebox programs.
Podcast
A podcast is an audio file that is published on the Internet with an RSS feed, it allows the users to subscribe to automatic downloads of a series of such programs. A collection of files, audio MP3 files are podcasts for example, which are then included in RSS 2.0 news feed as enclosures. Instead of headlines in a news feed, each item in a podcast RSS feed would represent a single MP3 file.
Ripping
Ripping is also called digital audio extraction, this is the process of taking CD audio and recording it to a computer in any file format. When the transfer takes place from CD to MP3, the process is both ripping and encoding.
Soundcard
Sound card is a piece of computer hardware, which converts digital audio in a computer to audible sounds via attached speakers.
Streaming
The streaming audio allows for on the fly-listening to an audio file. The audio file is streamed from a server where it is received and stored in our buffer on our computer. If we use WinAmp or RealAudio, we will see a message displayed telling us that the audio file is being buffered. The file is not saved on our hard drive as such, but parts may be stored in our computers catche or temporary file.
Stinger
A brief sound or musical phrase, which may be used as "audio punctuation" is termed as Stinger.
TAQ (Track at once)
During the process of CD burning, each track is written on its own and the writer is turned off later before starting to burn the next track. This causes a two second gap between tracks.
Timeshifting
The process of recording and storing data for later viewing, listening or reading is called Timeshifting. In communications, the term timeshifting referred as the transmission of messages or data to be read, heard or viewed by the recipient at a later time. The common examples of timeshifting are E-mail, voice mail and fax. For radio programming Podcasting is a perfect example of timeshifting.
Touch Wheel
It is used by the earlier generations of the iPod accessories, this control is a wheel, which allows us to scroll through songs. Unlike the later Click Wheel control, the Touch Wheel does not incorporate the Menu, Fast-Forward, Rewind, and Play/Pause buttons.
USB
The abbreviation of USB is Universal serial Bus. It is a port on a computer (and other devices, including digital cameras, joysticks, keyboards, and printers) that allows external devices to be connected simply and easily. It is relatively a new standard for a peripheral connection, however the benefits of simple installation and high-speed data transfer make it an attractive option. All new home computers now come with USB port built in.
VBR: (Variable bit rate)
Encoding is the process where the codec makes the choice for how many bits are used on each segment of music. More complex segments get more bits. Variable bit rate is created with the goal of efficient use of file sizes.
Voice Recording
Device would have a built - in microphone or input, which can record a voice.
WAV
WAV is a standard audio format for Windows operating systems, that is often used for storing high-quality, uncompressed sound. WAV files can have CD-quality (44.1 KHz/16-bit) audio signals. CD-quality WAV files however require relatively large amounts of memory (roughly 10 MB per minute of music).
Wired FM modulator
A wired FM modulator could connect the iPod to any car stereo, and needs permanent installation. It gives good sound quality, though it does not allow us to charge the iPod's battery or control playback functions through our car stereo.
Wireless FM transmitter
A wireless FM transmitter lets us to listen to our iPod through our car's FM radio. It offers satisfactory sound quality and typically does not require permanent installation.
WMA (.wma)
WMA (Windows Media Audio), the Microsoft proprietary audio codec that designed to compete with Mp3, which Claims competitive sound quality at lower bitrates.
