A – E

Early reflections are the first sound reflections that reach the listener’s ears after bouncing off nearby surfaces, such as walls or ceilings. These reflections occur shortly after the direct sound and help shape the perception of a space’s acoustics, contributing to the sense of depth and distance in the sound environment.

Echo refers to the repetition of a sound caused by its reflection off surfaces, such as walls or mountains, and is heard after a delay from the original sound. It is commonly used as an effect in music and sound design to create a sense of space, depth, or to enhance the auditory experience.

An echo chamber is a space or device designed to create natural-sounding echoes by reflecting sound waves off its walls, often used to add depth and atmosphere to audio recordings. In modern audio production, it can also refer to digital or analog effects processors that simulate the characteristics of such a space.

Editing refers to the process of modifying and manipulating an audio recording, such as cutting, trimming, or rearranging sections to improve the overall sound or structure. It allows for fine-tuning elements like timing, pitch, and effects to achieve the desired outcome in music production or sound design.

Effects refer to processed alterations applied to a sound, such as reverb, delay, distortion, or modulation, to enhance or modify its character. They are commonly used in music production, sound design, and live performance to create unique sounds, textures, or spatial effects.

An effects loop is a signal pathway that allows external audio effects processors, like reverb or delay units, to be inserted between an amplifier’s preamp and power amp stages. This configuration enables more control over the signal processing and ensures that effects are applied after the initial tone shaping, maintaining clarity and avoiding distortion.

An effects processor is a device or software used to modify and enhance an audio signal by adding various effects such as reverb, delay, or chorus. It allows for creative sound manipulation in music production, live sound, and post-production by altering the characteristics of the original audio signal.

An electret microphone is a type of condenser microphone that uses a permanently charged material in its diaphragm to capture sound. It requires less power than traditional condenser microphones and is commonly found in consumer-grade audio devices, such as smartphones and headsets.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) refers to the disturbance of audio signals caused by external electromagnetic fields, often from electrical devices or radio waves. This interference can lead to unwanted noise, hum, or static in audio equipment, reducing sound clarity and overall quality.

Electrons refer to the negatively charged particles that flow through electrical circuits to carry and transmit audio signals. Their movement within components like microphones, amplifiers, and speakers is essential for converting sound into electrical signals and vice versa in audio systems.

An enhancer is a signal processing tool used to improve or accentuate certain elements of an audio signal, such as adding clarity or presence to the high frequencies. It is often used in music production to make tracks sound brighter and more detailed without distorting the original sound.

An ensemble refers to a group of musicians or sound sources that perform together, creating a collective sound or performance. The term is also used in audio processing to describe effects that simulate the effect of multiple instruments playing in unison, often adding depth and richness to a sound.

Enharmonic refers to two notes that sound the same but are named differently, such as C# and Db, due to their positioning on the musical scale. These notes are the same in pitch but are written differently in notation, often used to accommodate the harmonic or melodic context of a piece.

An envelope refers to the shape of a sound’s amplitude over time, typically characterized by four stages: attack, decay, sustain, and release (ADSR). It is used to control the dynamics of a sound, shaping how it evolves from its onset to its conclusion in various instruments and synthesizers.

An envelope generator is a device or module that creates an envelope, typically based on parameters like attack, decay, sustain, and release (ADSR), to control the amplitude or other properties of a sound over time. It is commonly used in synthesizers and sound design to shape how a sound evolves, adding expressiveness and dynamics to the audio signal.

Equal loudness contours refer to the curves that represent the perceived loudness of different frequencies at varying volume levels, based on the sensitivity of the human ear. These contours demonstrate that the human ear perceives midrange frequencies as louder than low or high frequencies at the same sound pressure level, influencing the design of audio systems and equalization.

An equalizer is a device or software used to adjust the balance of different frequency components in an audio signal, allowing for the enhancement or reduction of specific frequency ranges. It is commonly used in music production, live sound, and broadcasting to shape the tonal quality of a sound or to correct audio imbalances.

Equalization refers to the process of adjusting the balance between different frequency components of an audio signal to enhance or correct its tonal characteristics. It is used in music production, live sound, and broadcasting to tailor the sound to specific preferences or to compensate for deficiencies in the audio system.

Equivalent Input Noise (EIN) refers to the amount of noise that an audio device, such as a microphone preamp or mixer, generates at its input, typically measured in decibels (dB). It represents the inherent noise floor of the device, which can affect the clarity and quality of the recorded or amplified audio signal.

Erase refers to the process of removing or overwriting an existing sound or recording from a medium, such as a magnetic tape or digital file. It is commonly used in multi-track recording and editing to eliminate unwanted content or prepare for new recordings.

An event refers to a discrete occurrence or action within a digital audio workstation (DAW), such as the triggering of a sound, a note, or a specific change in audio parameters. Events are used to define and control individual elements of a composition, such as loops, automation, or samples, within a timeline or project.

An exciter is a signal processing tool that enhances the high-frequency content of a sound, often by adding harmonic distortion or slight phase modulation. It is used to add brightness, presence, and clarity to a track, making it sound more vivid or energetic without significantly altering the original signal.

An expander is a dynamic range processor that reduces the volume of audio signals below a certain threshold, effectively decreasing unwanted background noise or quiet sections. It is often used in recording and live sound to improve clarity and focus by maintaining the dynamic contrast without compressing louder signals.

An expander module is a device or software plugin that automatically reduces the volume of audio signals that fall below a set threshold, helping to reduce noise or unwanted low-level sounds. It is typically used in recording and mixing to enhance clarity by preserving the dynamic range while suppressing background noise or hiss.

Expansion ratio refers to the ratio by which an audio signal is reduced once it falls below a specified threshold, in the case of an expander. For example, a 2:1 expansion ratio means that for every 2 dB the input signal drops below the threshold, the output will drop by 1 dB, helping to reduce unwanted low-level noise or background sounds.