ASIO Stands for “Audio Stream Input/Output” and is audio interface driver protocol for digital audio, providing a low-latency and high fidelity interface between a software application and a computer’s audio interface.
Audio Interface Or “Sound Card” is an external or internal computer expansion device that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs.
Audio Plug-in Dynamically linked library containing digital signal processing or sound synthesis functionality, which can be loaded by a computer program at runtime.
Beta Is the software development phase following Alpha. It generally begins when the software is feature complete. Software in the beta phase will generally have many more bugs in it than completed software, as well as speed/performance issues. The focus of beta testing is reducing impacts to users, often incorporating usability testing. The process of delivering a beta version to the users is called BETA RELEASE and this is typically the first time that the software is available outside of the organization that developed it.
Cg Stands for “C for Graphics” and is high-level shading language for programming vertex and pixel shaders.
CPU Stands for “Central Processing Unit” and is the component in a computer that interprets computer program instructions and processes data.
DAW Stands for “Digital Audio Workstation” and is electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems. Modern DAWs are software running on computers with audio interface hardware.
Direct3D Part of Microsoft’s DirectX application programming interface (API). Direct3D is used to render two or three dimensional (2D/3D) graphics in applications where performance is important.
DirectSound Software component of the Microsoft DirectX library for the Windows operating system. DirectSound provides a low-latency interface to the audio interface driver and can handle the mixing and recording of multiple audio streams.
DirectX Collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms.
Driver Computer program that qualifies the computer to communicate with an external device, such as an audio interface.
DSP Stands for “Digital Signal Processing” and is study and implementation of signals in digital computing and their processing methods.
DXi Software processing component that can be loaded as a plug-in into host applications to allow real-time processing, audio effects, mixing audio or act as virtual synthesizers.
GUI Stands for “Graphical User Interface”. It is the interface that visually enables people to operate with a computer or software running on a computer via icons on the screen. More plain, the GUI is the surface of the software you see on your monitor.
HDD Stands for “Hard Disk Drive” and is device for storing and retrieving digital information, primarily computer data. HDD is used as secondary storage as it allows just for slow access on data.
IDE-style Graphical computer applications with an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) style interface are those whose child windows reside under a single parent window (usually with the exception of modal windows). An IDE-style interface is distinguishable form of Multiple Document Interface (MDI), because all child windows in an IDE-style interface are enhanced with added functionality not ordinarily available in MDI applications. Because of this, IDE-style applications can be considered a functional superset and descendant of MDI applications.
Latency As with any digital device (including hardware signal processors) that convert audio to data and back again, a computer adds a certain amount of delay when processing audio signals. This delay is referred to as Latency.
MIDI Stands for “Musical Instrument Digital Interface” and is a standard real time protocol that enables electronic musical instruments, computers and other equipment to communicate, control and synchronize with each other.
Mixer Is an electronic device for combining (also called “mixing”), routing, and changing the level, timbre and/or dynamics of audio signals.
OpenGL Standard specification defining a cross-language, cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D or 3D computer graphics.
Operating System Set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software.
Rack Is a standardized frame or enclosure for mounting multiple equipment modules.
RAM Stands for “Random Access Memory” and is a type of data storage used in computers. RAM is used as “main memory” or primary storage as it allows for fast access on data.
ReWire Is a software protocol, jointly developed by Propellerhead and Steinberg, allowing remote control and data transfer among digital audio editing and related software. Originally appearing in the ReBirth software synthesizer in 1998, the protocol has since evolved into an industry standard.
Sample Rate Sample Rate or Sampling Frequency defines the number of samples per second (or per other unit) taken from a continuous signal to make a discrete signal.
VST Stands for “Virtual Studio Technology” and refers to an interface standard for connecting audio software and studio plug-ins to hosts.
WASAPI Very low-level API (introduced in Windows Vista) for rendering audio, render/capture audio streams, adjust volume etc. This API also provides low latency for audio professionals through WaveRT (wave real-time) port driver.
Windows Series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.