Podcast Unit Vocabulary
Podcast Unit Vocabulary
- Audio Engineer
- The person responsible for the technical side of a recording session — setting up the microphone and audio interface, monitoring levels, and adjusting gain as needed.
- Audio Interface
- A device that allows you to connect microphones, instruments, and other audio sources to your computer for recording and playback.
- DAW
- Digital Audio Workstation — software used for recording, editing, and producing audio. GarageBand and Soundtrap are examples of DAWs.
- Editing
- The process of refining a recording after it has been captured. This includes cutting out mistakes, adding music and sound effects, and arranging the final episode.
- Gain
- The level of amplification applied to the audio signal coming into the audio interface. Microphones output very small signals that need to be amplified to a usable level. Gain does that amplification. This is the small knob on the audio interface.
- GarageBand
- A DAW developed by Apple, available on macOS and iOS devices, that allows users to create music, podcasts, and other audio projects.
- Microphone
- A device that converts sound into an electrical signal for recording or amplification.
- MIDI
- Musical Instrument Digital Interface — a protocol that allows electronic musical instruments and computers to communicate. When you plugin the MIDI controllers, they use MIDI to control the instruments in GarageBand and Soundtrap.
- Podcast
- A recorded audio show, usually organized into episodes, that can be shared and listened to online.
- Recording
- The process of capturing audio using a microphone and audio interface. Good recording technique includes checking gain levels, sitting 4–6 inches from the microphone, and speaking clearly.
- Script
- A written plan of exactly what you intend to say during a recording. A podcast script includes your intro, main content, transitions, and notes about where to add sound effects and music.
- Sound Effects
- Short audio clips — like applause, transitions, or ambient sounds — added during editing to enhance a podcast episode. Soundtrap includes a sound library with a variety of sound effects.
- Soundtrap
- An online DAW that allows you to create music and podcasts. Soundtrap is web-based, which means you must have internet access to use it.
- Talent
- The person speaking or performing during a recording session — the one reading the script into the microphone.
- XLR Cable
- The standard cable used to connect audio equipment like microphones to audio interfaces or other audio devices.
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