52 Music Production Definitions for Songwriters

Whether you’re a seasoned pro, or this will be your first time recording a song, it helps to know the terms and definitions that are being used in the music production process.

Use this list as a resource if you find that you are confused by what a producer says. This article will help you communicate and sound like a technology pro!

(Don't worry, when you produce a song via ItyDity, our Songwriter Support Team is available to answer your questions and guide you through the process.)

Acoustics

Acoustics are the characteristics, dimensions, or qualities of rooms that resolve how sounds are diffused in it.

Acoustic Treatment

Acoustic Treatment is sound-absorbing material used to remove everyday acoustic issues such as echo, standing waves, trapped low end, attenuated frequencies, and much more.

Amplifier

A device which increases the amplitude of a signal.

Ambient Audio

The background noise present in a scene or recording location.

Attenuator

A device which reduces the amplitude of a signal.

Audio

The range of sound frequencies which can be heard by humans.

Audio Engineering

An audio engineer is someone who works with the technical aspects of recording, manipulating, mixing, reproducing, or mastering sound.

Basic Tracks

Recorded tracks of rhythm instruments (drums, bass, rhythm guitars, keyboards)

Bass

Bass can be best defined as the “low-end” of the frequency spectrum. The scale of where Bass becomes Mid is somewhat subjective, but we feel it is around 400 hertz.

BPM

BPM is an acronym for beats per minute.

Abbreviation for “backing vocal”

Clipping

Clipping is an audible, and most often unpleasant distortion of an audio signal.

Compression (1): A method of reducing the size of a digital file.

Compression (2): A method of "evening out" the dynamic range of a signal.

Compression (3): A signal processor that reduces the difference between the loudest and most quiet part of a given sound.

Comping/Composite Tracks

The process of recording several performances of the same track (most commonly lead vocals) in order to combine the best parts of each performance into a single great vocal track

Condenser Microphone

A condenser mic is highly accurate and sensitive microphones. Condenser Microphones require phantom (48v) power due to their low volume output.

DAW (digital audio workstation)

The software we use to record & mix music – think ProTools, Cubase, LogicPro, GarageBand, etc.

Decibel (dB)

Logarithmic measurement of signal strength. 1/10 of a Bel.

De-Esser

A signal processor that reduces excessive sibilance (“s” and “sh” sounds) for a recorded track

Delay

Delay is a time-based effect recognized as an echo. Other terms associated with delay are ping-ping, stereo enhancement, and space.

Demo

A rough recording of themselves singing with a guitar or piano. This demo can simply be recorded with your phone or home recording microphone/equipment.

Dry vs. Wet

Dry means “without effects” / wet means “with effects”

Dynamic Range

The ratio of the softest and loudest sound in any given audio track.

Effects

Any of the several added sound elements including but not limited to reverb, delay, chorus, compression, and distortion

Equalization (EQ)

The process of adjusting various audio frequencies to correct or enhance the sound.

Fade

A transition to or from silence.

Fader

A sliding button (virtual or physical) used to control the volume of a track

Frequency Response

The sensitivity of an audio device to various frequencies, i.e. the amount each frequency is boosted, attenuated or reproduced.

Gain

The amplification level of an audio signal.

Level

The volume of sound in the listening atmosphere, articulated in decibels.

Mastering

Mastering is putting the final touches on a mixed track to make it sound good beside other recorded tracks. It is the final process in music production and audio engineering. Mastering happens after the mixing process is complete. Mastering audio is concerned with EQ, compression, balancing, widening, and preparing for audio for distribution.

Mixing and Mastering: though these terms are commonly used together, they’re actually quite different things and are usually (and should be) done by two different and uniquely skilled engineers.

MIDI

MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface and is the standard for transmitting musical data between electronic devices.

Mixer

A device which accepts two or more audio inputs and provides one or more audio outputs.

Mixing

Mixing is combining all the individual recorded tracks into a stereo track. It is the art of gelling all tracks in a project to fit together to make the song. By the end of the mixing phase all the layers in the project should play as one big left and right mix which any listener can enjoy. Mixing is not making every layer heard at all times, but rather sculpting the project to be a symphony of sounds, which takes the listener on a journey.

Mixing Console

The huge thing with lots of buttons in most large studios used to record and mix sound with. Also called “mixing desk” or “mixing board” or simply “console”, “desk”, or “board”

MP3

The most common audio file format. MP3 files can be played on both Windows and Mac systems.

Music Production

Music production is the process of arranging parts within a composition to flow together and take the listener on an emotional journey. Music production focuses on both the little details of the song and the big picture.

Overdub

An overdub is the recording/rerecording of a part on top of an existing section of recorded audio.

PCM

Pulse Code Modulation, a digital audio format.

Peak

The highest level of strength of an audio signal. Often refers to an unacceptably high level, where the signal begins distorting.

Plug-in

Software used within your DAW most often to replicate outboard equipment such as compressors, equalization, reverb, and other effects

Post Production

Postproduction often refers to mixing and mastering to prepare music/audio for distribution.

Recording studio manager

In larger studios the studio manager runs the place.

Remix

A remix is an alternative version of a song.

Reverb

Reverb is the effect of sound waves bouncing off walls and other objects. It is a time-based effect used to create space in the mix. The most common reverbs are: Room Reverb, Chamber Reverb, Plate Reverb, and Hall Reverb.

Signal Processor

A device used to alter a signal in a controlled way (compressor, reverb, eq, chorus, etc.)

Stems

Stems are individual tracks of audio that make up a full song.

Sustain

If a note is played at a length, sustain defines how loud the note will be after the decay has finished.

Tempo

Also known as Beats Per Minute (BPM). This can be best described as the speed of a song.

Stereo

Audio which is made up of two channels — left and right.

Tone

An audio test signal used to adjust levels, test signal quality, identify signal pathways, etc.