Contents

Series introduction

1  Introduction to desktop audio technology

1.1   About this book

1.2   Audio workstations

1.3   Audio and the computer industry

1.4   Audio and quality

2  Digital audio principles

2.1   Analog and digital information

2.2   Binary number systems

2.2.1    Basic binary

2.2.2    Negative numbers

2.2.3    Fixed- and floating-point representation

2.2.4    Logical operations

2.3   Basic A/D and D/A conversion of control information

2.4   A/D conversion of audio signals

2.4.1    Audio sampling

2.4.2    Filtering and aliasing

2.4.3    Quantisation

2.4.4    Relationship between sample resolution and sound quality

2.4.5    Use of dither

2.4.6    Types of dither

2.4.7    Oversampling in A/D conversion

2.4.8    Noise shaping in A/D conversion

2.5   D/A conversion

2.5.1    A basic D/A convertor

2.5.2    Oversampling in D/A conversion

2.6   Sound quality versus sample rates and resolutions

2.6.1    Psychoacoustic limitations

2.6.2    Sampling rate

2.6.3    Quantising resolution

2.7   Direct Stream Digital (DSD)

2.8   Changing the resolution of an audio signal (requantisation)

2.9   Dynamic range enhancement

2.10 Error correction

2.11 Introduction to digital audio signal processing

 2.11.1  Gain changing (level control)

 2.11.2  Crossfading

 2.11.3  Mixing

 2.11.4  Digital filters and equalisation

 2.11.5  Digital reverberation and other effects

 2.11.6  Dynamics processing

 2.11.7  Sample rate conversion

2.12 Audio data reduction

 2.12.1  Why reduce the data rate?

 2.12.2  Lossless and lossy coding

 2.12.3  MPEG – an example of lossy coding

 2.12.4  Other data-reduced formats

Further reading

3  Recording, replay and editing principles

3.1   The sound file

3.2   RAM buffering

3.3   Disk drive performance issues

3.4   Allocation units or transfer blocks

3.5   Multichannel recording and replay

3.5.1    Multitrack or multichannel?

3.5.2    Inputs, outputs, tracks and channels

3.5.3    Track usage, storage capacity and disk assignment

3.5.4    Dropping-in

3.6   System latency

3.7   Principles of audio editing

3.7.1    Advantages of non-linear editing

3.7.2    Sound files and sound segments

3.7.3    Edit point handling

3.7.4    Crossfading

3.7.5    Editing modes

3.7.6    Simulation of ‘reel-rocking’

4  MIDI and synthetic audio control

4.1   Background

4.2   What is MIDI?

4.3   MIDI and digital audio contrasted

4.4   Basic MIDI principles

4.4.1    System specifications

4.4.2    Simple interconnection

4.4.3    MIDI channels

4.4.4    Message format

4.5   MIDI messages in detail

4.5.1    Channel and system messages contrasted

4.5.2    Note on and note off messages

4.5.3    Velocity information

4.5.4    Running status

4.5.5    Polyphonic key pressure (aftertouch)

4.5.6    Control change

4.5.7    Channel modes

4.5.8    Program change

4.5.9    Channel aftertouch

4.5.10  Pitch bend wheel

4.5.11  System exclusive

4.5.12  Universal system exclusive messages

4.5.13  Tune request

4.5.14  Active sensing

4.5.15  Reset

4.6   MIDI control of sound generators

4.6.1    MIDI note assignment in synthesisers and samplers

4.6.2    Polyphony, voice and note assignment

4.6.3    MIDI functions of sound generators

4.6.4    MIDI data buffers and latency

4.6.5    Handling of velocity and aftertouch data

4.6.6    Handling of controller messages

4.6.7    Registered and non-registered parameter numbers

4.6.8    Voice selection

4.7   MIDI tuning control

4.8   General MIDI

4.9   Scalable polyphonic MIDI (SPMIDI)

4.10 Standard MIDI files (SMF)

 4.10.1  General structure of MIDI files

 4.10.2  Header chunk

 4.10.3  Track chunks

 4.10.4  MIDI file track events

 4.10.5  Time signatures and tempo maps

4.11 Downloadable Sounds (DLS) and SoundFonts

4.12 RMID and XMF files

4.13 SAOL and SASL in MPEG 4 Structured Audio

4.14 MIDI and synchronisation

 4.14.1  Introduction to MIDI synchronisation

 4.14.2  Music-related timing data

 4.14.3  Timecode and synchronisation

 4.14.4  MIDI timecode (MTC)

4.15 MIDI machine control (MMC)

4.16 MIDI over USB

4.17 MIDI over IEEE 1394

4.18 After MIDI?

Further reading

Useful websites

5  Hardware and systems issues

5.1   Storage media

5.1.1    Storage requirements of digital audio and video

5.1.2    Disk drives in general

5.1.3    Disk drive specifications

5.1.4    Magnetic hard disk drives

5.1.5    RAID arrays

5.1.6    Removable magnetic media

5.1.7    Optical disks in general

5.1.8    CAV and CLV modes in optical storage

5.1.9    The magneto-optical (M-O) drive

5.1.10  Phase-change optical recording

5.1.11  Compact discs and drives

5.1.12  DVD

5.1.13  Optical disc filing structures

5.1.14  Tape storage media

5.2   Peripheral interfaces

5.2.1    SCSI

5.2.2    ATA/IDE interface

5.2.3    PCMCIA

5.2.4    IEEE 1394 (Firewire) and USB

5.3   Filing systems and volume partitions

5.4   Formatting, fragmentation and optimisation of media

5.5   Audio processing and synthesis hardware

5.5.1    Introduction

5.5.2    Audio processing latency

5.5.3    DSP cards

5.5.4    Host-based audio processing

5.5.5    Integrated sound cards

5.5.6    Synthesis engines on sound cards

5.6   External synchronisation interfaces

5.7   User interfaces

5.8   Serial control interfaces

5.8.1    RS-232 and RS-422

5.8.2    The basic MIDI interface

5.8.3    MIDI connectors and cables

5.8.4    Interfacing a computer to a MIDI system

5.9   Drivers and audio I/O software

Useful websites

6  Audio formats and data interchange

6.1   Audio file formats

6.1.1    Introduction

6.1.2    File formats in general

6.1.3    Sound Designer I format

6.1.4    Sound Designer II format

6.1.5    AIFF and AIFF-C formats

6.1.6    RIFF WAVE format

6.1.7    WAVE-format extensible

6.1.8    Broadcast WAVE format

6.1.9    MPEG audio file formats

6.1.10  DSD-IFF file format

6.1.11  Edit decision list (EDL) files

6.1.12  AES 31 format

6.1.13  The Open Media Framework Interchange (OMFI)

6.1.14  MXF – the Media Exchange Format

6.1.15  AAF – the Advanced Authoring Format

6.2   Disk pre-mastering formats

6.3   Interconnecting audio devices

6.4   Computer networks and digital audio interfaces compared

6.5   Dedicated audio interface formats

6.5.1    Digital interface types

6.5.2    The AES 3 interface (AES 3)

6.5.3    Standard consumer interface (IEC 60958-3)

6.5.4    Carrying data-reduced audio over standard digital interfaces

6.5.5    Tascam digital interface (TDIF)

6.5.6    Alesis digital interface

6.5.7    Roland R-bus

6.5.8    Sony digital interface for DSD (SDIF-3)

6.5.9    Sony multichannel DSD interface (MAC-DSD)

6.6   Networking

6.6.1    Basic principles of networking

6.6.2    Extending a network

6.6.3    Network standards

6.6.4    Network protocols

6.6.5    Audio network requirements

6.6.6    ISDN

6.6.7    Protocols for the Internet

6.6.8    Wireless networks

6.7   Streaming audio over computer interfaces

6.7.1    Audio over Firewire (IEEE 1394)

6.7.2    Audio over universal serial bus (USB)

6.7.3    AES 47: Audio over ATM

6.7.4    CobraNet

6.7.5    MAGIC

6.7.6    MOST

6.7.7    BSS SoundWeb

6.8   Digital content protection

Further reading

Useful websites

7  Audio software

7.1   Sequencers

7.1.1    Introduction

7.1.2    Tracks, channels, instruments and environments

7.1.3    Input and output filters

7.1.4    Timing resolution

7.1.5    Displaying, manipulating and editing information

7.1.6    Quantisation of rhythm

7.1.7    Automation and non-note MIDI events

7.1.8    MIDI mixing and external control

7.1.9    Synchronisation

7.1.10  Synchronised digital video

7.2   Plug-in architectures

7.2.1    What is a plug-in?

7.2.2    Plug-in examples

7.3   Virtual instruments

7.4   Librarians and editors

7.5   Audio editing and post-production software

7.5.1    Sonic Studio HD

7.5.2    SADiE

7.6   Mastering and restoration software

7.7   Advanced audio processing software and development tools

7.8   Computer music software

Further reading

8  Operational and systems issues

8.1   Level control and metering

8.2   Spatial reproduction formats

8.2.1    Introduction to multichannel formats

8.2.2    4-channel surround (3-1 stereo)

8.2.3    5.1 channel surround (3-2 stereo)

8.2.4    Dolby EX

8.2.5    7.1 channel surround

8.2.6    Surround panning and spatial effects

8.3   Controlling and maintaining sound quality

8.4   Preparing for and understanding release media

8.4.1    CD-Audio

8.4.2    DVD

8.4.3    Super Audio CD (SACD)

8.4.4    MP3

8.4.5    MPEG-4, web and interactive authoring

8.5   Synchronisation

8.5.1    Requirements for synchronisation

8.5.2    Timecode synchronisation

8.5.3    Synchronisation to external audio, film or video references

8.6   System troubleshooting

8.6.1    Troubleshooting MIDI

8.6.2    Digital interface troubleshooting

8.6.3    Troubleshooting software

Further reading

Index

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