34 Chapter 12 : Glossary34 Chapter 12 : Glossary34 Chapter 12 : Glossary
12 Glossary
A/D Converter: (Analog to Digital converter) A device
used to convert analog audio signals into PCM (Pulse Code
Modulated) digital audio. The CBX-D5 uses 16-bit linear ∆
Σ modulation A/D converters.
Access time: Measured in milliseconds, this is an
indication of how fast data from different areas of a hard disk
can be accessed.
AES/EBU: A digital interface format established by the
AES (Audio Engineering Society) and EBU (European
Broadcasting Union) that is used to transfer digital audio
data between professional digital audio equipment. Two
channels of digital audio (left & right) are carried in one
connection, usually an XLR type connection.
Audio IFF: (Audio Interchange File Format) A type of
sound file that is used by various Apple Macintosh based
digital audio devices. It is recommended by Apple
Computer, Inc.
Byte: A digital “word” containing 8 bits. A CBX-D5 digital
audio word contains 16 bits.
CD/DAT: See S/PDIF.
Cubase Audio: An integrated MIDI sequencer, digital
audio recording and editing program that can be used to
control the CBX-D5 via an Atari ST/STE or TT computer.
D/A converter: (Digital to Analog converter) The opposite
of an A/D converter, this device is used to convert PCM
digital audio data into an analog audio signal. The CBX-D5
uses 18-bit 8-times oversampling D/A converters.
Delta Sigma coding (∆ Σ): A digital audio coding format
that greatly improves a digital audio system’s performance
by using a very high sampling frequency and a 1-bit
resolution.
DEQ: (Digital Equalizer) An IC (Integrated Circuit)
designed specifically for equalizing digital audio data. The
CBX-D5’s DEQ IC is made by Yamaha.
Destructive editing: Editing an original recording that
cannot be recovered if you make a bad edit. For example,
razor blade editing a tape.
Digital Performer: An integrated MIDI sequencer, digital
audio recording and editing program that can be used to
control the CBX-D5 via an Apple Macintosh computer.
DMA: (Direct Memory Access) The ability to transfer data
to and from a system’s RAM without involving the CPU.
The Atari ST/STE computer has a DMA port.
DMA to SCSI Controller II: A hardware device made
by Steinberg that allows the connection of SCSI devices to
the DMA port of an Atari ST or STE.
DSP: (Digital Signal Processor) An IC (Integrated Circuit)
designed specifically for digital audio data processing. The
CBX-D5 uses the same Yamaha DSP IC as those used in
the SPX900 Multi-effect Processor and the DMR8 Digital
Mixer/Recorder.
Emphasis: Before A/D conversion a 6dB/octave boost
starting at 3.5kHz is applied to the audio signal. During D/A
conversion the emphasis is automatically detected by the
replay device and de-emphasis is applied.
Fragmentation: When a file is split into sections and
stored in different areas of a hard disk, i.e., in an
uncontinuous series of sectors.
Host connection: Used to connect the CBX-D5 to a
computer that does not have a MIDI interface. Connection
is made directly to one of the computer’s serial ports.
Mark of the Unicorn Digital Performer: A program
that integrates MIDI sequencing, digital audio recording and
editing and can be used to control the CBX-D5 via an Apple
Macintosh computer.
MIDI: (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) MIDI
allows electronic musical instruments to communicate with
each other.
MTC: (MIDI Timecode) The transmission of SMPTE
timecode via MIDI.
Nondestructive editing: As opposed to editing analog
tape, which is a once only – get it right first time or else
procedure, hard disk recording allows nondestructive
editing. This means when you edit, you don’t actually edit
the sound file, you edit information that tells the CBX-D5
how to play the sound file. So if you make an accidental cut
or split, all is not lost because you still have the original
sound file.
Nyquist frequency: The audio frequency at which very
sharp low pass filtering is applied to an analog signal before
A/D conversion. The nyquist theorem states that the
sampling frequency of a digital audio system must be at least
twice that of the highest audio frequency, otherwise severe
distortion called aliasing will occur.
Oversampling: A technique used to improve the noise and
distortion performance of a digital audio system by
increasing the effective sampling frequency so that the
nyquist frequency is set much higher than the highest audio
frequency.
PCM: (Pulse code modulation) The type of coding used to
represent analog audio as a series of pulses. The amplitude
of each pulse is stored as a binary word. The CBX-D5 uses
16-bit binary words.
Region: A section of a sound file that can be handled as an
independent piece of sound data, but is in fact identified
using start and end pointers to a region of a sound file
RS-232C: A serial communication protocol used on PC
compatible and Atari ST/STE computers, usually a 9- or
25-pin D-SUB type connector.