Glossary
- band-pass filter
- a modifier module in the synthesis process which permits frequencies within a specified bandwidth to pass and removes or attenuates frequencies outside this bandwidth. Go to Topic: Band-pass Filters
- band-reject filter
- a modifier module in the synthesis process which removes or attenuates frequencies within a specified bandwidth and permits frequencies outside this bandwidth to pass unaltered. Go to Topic: Band-reject Filters
- bandwidth
- the band of frequencies comprised of all frequencies between a defined upper frequency and a defined lower frequency. Go to Topic: Band-pass Filters
- basic synthesizer
- a simple configuration of the oscillator, filter and amplifier modules. Go to Topic: Basic Synthesizers
- bit
- one of the two values, 0 or 1, that are used in the binary number system. Go to Topic: MIDI Data
- byte
- a group of eight bits that forms a value from 0 to 255. Go to Topic: MIDI Data
- cents
- 1/100th of a semitone. Go to Topic: Oscillators
- clock
- in reference to a MIDI sequencer, small, equally spaced time divisions of a quarter note. Go to Topic: MIDI Sequencer
- combiner
- a synthesis module that combines the audio signals from several or many sources. Often a combiner is given a formal name within a system, and many times the combining function occurs transparently without the user having to include it in the synthesis process. Also called a mixer. Go to Topic: Combiners
- complex waveform
- any waveform comprised of multiple frequencies. Go to Topic: Sine Waves
- computer music
- used to refer to any type of music composed with a computer. In some cases the actual sound production arises from the computer itself, and in other cases the computer is functioning as a control unit. Go to Topic: Electronic Music System
- constructive interference
- when the amplitude of one wave or frequency combines with the amplitude of one or more waves or frequencies to create an increase in amplitude. Go to Topic: Complex Periodic Waveforms
- Control change message
- a type of three-byte MIDI command that sends information on a specified channel about how a particular musical parameter on the corresponding channel should be changed over the course of time. Go to Topic: MIDI Data
- control signal
- the signal output by a time-variant controller. Go to Topic: Time-variant Controllers
- cutoff frequency, fc
- the specific frequency above which, or below which, (depending on the filter type) frequencies are removed or attenuated. Go to Topic: Low-pass Filters
- cycle
- a single, complete occurrence of a waveform pattern. Go to Topic: Waveform
- cycles per second (c.p.s.)
- how frequency is expressed, the same as Hertz. Go to Topic: Frequency
