Broadcasting Glossary
Unlock the language of professional audio engineering and internet radio streaming.
A - D
ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter)
A device or circuit that converts an analog signal, such as a voice picked up by a microphone, into a digital signal that can be processed by a computer or smartphone.
Auto-Ducking
An automated audio effect that lowers the volume of a background track (like music) whenever a primary track (like a microphone) receives input. Crucial for DJs who speak over music.
Bitrate
The amount of data processed per unit of time, usually measured in kbps (kilobits per second). Higher bitrates generally mean better audio quality but require more bandwidth.
CBR (Constant Bit Rate)
An encoding method where the bitrate remains the same throughout the entire file or stream. Preferred for streaming due to its predictable bandwidth usage.
DSP (Digital Signal Processing)
The mathematical manipulation of an information signal to modify or improve it. Examples include equalization, compression, and reverb.
E - L
Equalization (EQ)
The process of adjusting the balance between frequency components within an electronic signal. Common controls include Bass, Mid, and Treble.
Gain Staging
The process of managing the relative levels in a series of audio components to minimize noise and distortion while maximizing signal quality.
Icecast
An open-source server project that streams digital audio and video. It is known for its versatility and support for multiple stream formats like Ogg and MP3.
Latency
The delay between the input of an audio signal and its output. Low latency is critical for live broadcasting to ensure cues are timed correctly.
M - S
Mount Point
In Icecast streaming, the specific path (e.g., /live) where your stream is located on the server. Listeners connect to this path to hear your broadcast.
Noise Gate
An electronic device or software that controls the volume of an audio signal. It "closes" and silences the signal when it falls below a certain threshold, eliminating background noise.
Shoutcast
A proprietary software system for streaming media over the Internet, developed by Nullsoft. It is one of the oldest and most widely used streaming protocols.
Source Password
The credentials required by a streaming server to allow a transmitter to push audio to a specific mount point.
T - Z
Transcoding
The direct digital-to-digital conversion of one encoding to another, such as converting a WAV file to an MP3 file to reduce size for streaming.
VBR (Variable Bit Rate)
An encoding method where the bitrate varies depending on the complexity of the audio. It provides better quality-to-space ratios but can be unstable for streaming.
VU Meter (Volume Unit)
A device displaying a representation of the signal level in audio equipment. It helps broadcasters monitor levels to prevent "clipping" or distortion.
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