The right words.
For better sound.

Recording spoken language for uses such as film, learning media or telephony. Language, voice, recording conditions and delivery format suit the intended use.

Synonyms & related terms: Tonaufnahme; spoken-word recording

The speaking person or character is not visible in the relevant shot. This describes the relationship to the picture, not automatically the degree of synchronisation.

Synonyms & related terms: Off-Stimme; off-camera

The speaking person or character is visible in the picture. Dialogue and image need appropriate timing for the production.

Synonyms & related terms: On-Stimme; in vision

A voice placed over pictures or other material. Translated interviews may retain a quiet original voice underneath; voice-over also includes other forms of narration and commentary.

Synonyms & related terms: Voiceover; voice over; Kommentar; Monolog; Dialog; innerer Monolog

Re-recording dialogue to suit the character, scene and picture. Lip-sync dubbing aligns starts, pauses, duration and visible mouth movements as convincingly as possible.

Synonyms & related terms: Synchron; lippensynchron; Lipsync

A room or facility for sound recording. Acoustics, equipment and workflow depend on the production; separate recording and control rooms are one possible arrangement.

Synonyms & related terms: Tonstudio; Aufnahmestudio; recording facilities

Creative and editorial guidance of a production. Voice direction supports interpretation, pronunciation, timing and continuity and aligns the recording with the brief.

Synonyms & related terms: Regisseur; director; Tonregie; Theaterregie; Bildregie; Filmregie

Takes responsibility, as agreed, for a production’s concept, resources, budget or delivery. Responsibilities relative to direction, agency and client should be clear.

Synonyms & related terms: Herstellungsleiter; production lead

Coordinating schedules, performers, studio and other participants. Effective scheduling accounts for availability, preparation, dependencies and delivery dates.

Synonyms & related terms: Disponent; Termineinteilung; Terminzuteilung; studio scheduling

Signal level during recording. Digital peak levels are commonly expressed in dBFS; 0 dBFS is the upper limit. Suitable headroom accommodates unexpected peaks without clipping.

Synonyms & related terms: Aufnahme Pegel; Niveau; Aussteuerung; dBFS

The upper region of the frequency spectrum, affecting qualities such as air and sibilance. Exact boundaries depend on the application and equaliser.

Synonyms & related terms: High; treble

The lower region of the frequency spectrum. It can add body to a voice, but excessive low-frequency energy may produce boom or rumble.

Synonyms & related terms: Low; bass

Perceived closeness and definition, often influenced by upper midrange energy. Presence is not one fixed frequency band; excessive emphasis may sound harsh.

Synonyms & related terms: Klarheit; brillanter Klang

Mechanical vibration travels through a floor, stand or desk into the microphone or room. Isolation and suitable positioning address the transmission path.

Synonyms & related terms: Körperschall; body-borne sound; mechanical vibration

Attenuates frequencies below a selected cutoff. It can reduce rumble but does not replace mechanical isolation and may remove useful vocal content if set poorly.

Synonyms & related terms: Subsonic filter; low-cut filter; Tritschalldämpfung; Hochpass; HPF

Selective boosting or cutting of frequency regions. It can support intelligibility and tonal balance; recording problems are best addressed at the source where possible.

Synonyms & related terms: Klangregler; EQ; bass and treble control; Frequenzbetonung; Frequenzabsenkung

Sound pressure level is a physical quantity expressed in decibels relative to a reference. Perceived loudness also depends on frequency, duration and hearing, among other factors.

Synonyms & related terms: Akustische Pegel von Schallquellen; Schalldruck; Lautheit; Lautstärke; SPL

A reinforcement chain captures sound, amplifies its electrical signal and reproduces it through loudspeakers. Useful gain is limited by factors including feedback and room acoustics.

Synonyms & related terms: Acoustic amplification; Lautsprecher; Lautsprecheranlage

Reduces vibration transfer between structures or equipment. Elastic microphone mounts and structural room-within-room designs operate at different scales.

Synonyms & related terms: Acoustic decoupling; Raum-im-Raum-Konzept

The inertance of a moving medium in acoustic models, for example air in a duct. It is not another term for sub-bass; physically felt low frequencies are a different phenomenon.

Synonyms & related terms: Akustische Trägheit; acoustic inertance; Subbässe

Energy radiated as sound per unit time, measured in watts. It differs from an amplifier’s electrical power and from sound pressure at a particular listening position.

Synonyms & related terms: Acoustic output; Schallleistung; Watt rms

An amplified microphone signal re-enters the microphone and is amplified again. The loop may whistle; level, positioning and room conditions affect its tendency to feed back.

Synonyms & related terms: Pfeifen; feedback loop

Shows how a system reproduces different frequencies. Measurement conditions and the room influence the result; one curve does not describe overall listening quality.

Synonyms & related terms: Frequenzgang; acoustic frequency response curve

The chain connecting speech, sound transmission, hearing and understanding. Problems can arise at any stage through unclear articulation, noise or missing context.

Synonyms & related terms: Chain of acoustic communication; speech chain; Dialog; Mundpropaganda

Editorial and entertainment audio distributed terrestrially, digitally or online. News, presentation and audio drama place different demands on voices.

Synonyms & related terms: Radio; Rundfunk; sound radio

Produces animated images and films using different analogue or digital techniques. Dialogue recording and character development may begin before final animation.

Synonyms & related terms: Animationsstudio

One signal, such as music, is lowered while another, such as speech, is present. Amount and timing should improve intelligibility without distracting pumping.

Synonyms & related terms: Unterdrückung; level reduction

Describes a signal parameter’s progression over time, commonly its amplitude. It differs from the waveform’s individual rapid oscillations.

Synonyms & related terms: Pegelverlauf; Schwingungssichtbarkeit

A measure of a vibration’s displacement from equilibrium. For audio signals, its interpretation depends on the electrical, digital or acoustic reference being considered.

Synonyms & related terms: Schwingungsweite; Ausschlag

An envelope model with attack, decay to a sustain level, a held phase and release after the trigger ends. Sustain specifies a level rather than a fixed time.

Synonyms & related terms: Attack; Decay; Sustain; Release

Time for an envelope to rise to its intended peak. In dynamics processors, attack describes the response to a level change according to the device’s design.

Synonyms & related terms: Anstieg; Einschwingzeit

In an ADSR model, the time from the peak to the sustain level. The final fade after the trigger is released belongs to the release phase.

Synonyms & related terms: Abfallzeit; abschwellen; Ausklang; Ausschwingvorgang

The level held after decay while the trigger remains active. The duration of this phase depends on how long the trigger is held, not on the sustain level.

Synonyms & related terms: Sustain-Zeit; sustain time; Haltepegel

Time for the envelope to return to its final value after the trigger ends. It affects whether a sound stops abruptly or fades smoothly.

Synonyms & related terms: Freigabe; Abschwingen; Ausklingzeit

Mathematical decomposition of a signal into frequency components. In audio it helps examine spectra and unwanted frequencies; windowing and measurement duration affect the display.

Synonyms & related terms: Zerlegung; Frequenzanalyse

Speech sounds involving the lips, including, depending on the subgroup, P, B, M, F and V. Articulation is the broader term for forming speech sounds.

Synonyms & related terms: Lippenlaute; Artikulation; articulation

Analysis of speech signals, for example using a spectrogram showing energy over time and frequency. This does not refer to medical ultrasound imaging.

Synonyms & related terms: Sonographie; Sonography; Spektrogramm; Schallspektrum; Frequenzspektrum

A file set for delivering a disc master, for example for CD manufacturing. Depending on use, it contains audio or image data and structural information. Checksums support verification; historical tape media are not required for modern file delivery.

Synonyms & related terms: DDP Format; Disc-Master; Exabyte; Datenstrom

Raises a relatively small microphone signal to a usable level. Required gain, noise and connections depend on the microphone and application; phantom power is used where required.

Synonyms & related terms: Mic preamp; pre-amp

Carries audio using two signal conductors and suitable balanced output and input circuitry. Interference coupled equally to both can be rejected at the input. A cable alone does not turn an unbalanced source into a balanced one.

Synonyms & related terms: Symmetrische Signalführung; balanced audio

Transports audio data over optical links. Topology, channel count, reach and equipment depend on the system; networks do not all require the same router structure.

Synonyms & related terms: OAN; Glasfaser

Connects audio devices through digital transport systems. Audio-over-IP can use network technology; standards such as AES67 support interoperability under defined conditions. Clocking, latency and network planning still matter.

Synonyms & related terms: Digitale Audionetzwerke; DAN; Audio-over-IP

A multichannel digital audio interface standardised in AES10. It is one professional transport option, not the only standard. Interface format, channel count, clocking and connection type must be compatible.

Synonyms & related terms: Multichannel Audio Digital Interface; AES10

An international professional society for audio engineering. Its standards work covers areas including digital interfaces, measurement and audio networks. AES is the organisation; individual AES numbers identify particular standards.

Synonyms & related terms: Audiotechnik; audio standards

An alliance of public service media organisations. Alongside programme exchange and cooperation, the EBU publishes technical recommendations, including loudness measurement and production practice.

Synonyms & related terms: EBU

An additional ending or version element for a commercial, for example identifying a dealer or location. Agree the number, production and usage of versions in the quote.

Synonyms & related terms: Händlerabbinder; Zusatzfassung

A short brand statement, often at the end of a commercial. Tone, recognisability and consistent pronunciation are particularly important in recording.

Synonyms & related terms: Slogan; Markenbotschaft

A telephone interaction system using recorded or synthetic prompts and keypad or speech input. IVR is not limited to IP telephony.

Synonyms & related terms: IVRS; Sprachdialogsystem; Telefonmenü

A business-related film presenting products, processes or training content. Audience, publication channels and permitted usage are agreed for the project.

Synonyms & related terms: Imagefilm; Produktfilm; Schulungsfilm

A provisional recording used to assess script, timing or creative treatment. Whether and under what conditions it may later be published must be agreed.

Synonyms & related terms: Layout-Aufnahme; Entwurf; Testaufnahme

In advertising, a voiced presentation of scenes or storyboards, for example for concept research. The term depends on context and can also mean narration more generally.

Synonyms & related terms: Werbetest; Storyboard-Vertonung

A presentation or acquisition effort for a potential new assignment. Workload, fees and permitted use of pitch recordings are agreed beforehand; a later booking is not automatic.

Synonyms & related terms: Neukundengeschäft; Präsentation

A short announcement identifying a sponsor in connection with a programme or item. Treatment, placement and usage depend on the medium and agreed production.

Synonyms & related terms: Sponsorhinweis; sponsor ident

Information or music played while a caller waits. It differs from a voicemail message. Script, languages, versions, updates and usage are agreed to suit the telephone system.

Synonyms & related terms: Warteschleifen; Telefonwarteschleife