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The DSP is at the very heart of the majority of today’s audio equipment. And not just audio equipment. It turns up in some of the most surprising places. But, it isn’t a new thing; it has been around for quite a few years. But what is a DSP? And does DSP change audio for the better? […]

You will sometimes hear people confuse pitch with a note, but they are not the same thing. It can be confusing because a note is a pitch. So, let’s start by defining what a note is, and then we can answer, “What is pitch in music?” What Is A Note? A note is a pitch

We pick up guitars or basses, sit down at our pianos or keyboards, and start hammering away, trying to learn the instrument. Most of us don’t give a minute’s thought to musical theory or if it is important.  When someone happens to ask, “What is form in music?” the majority won’t know or even care.

The arrival of the home cinema system has brought with it the need for better quality sound systems. It also means that sometimes we might need some extras.  Some may want to put their home cinema audio through a separate sound system. If so, they will probably be wondering, what is an HDMI audio extractor?

Rondo is not a word that many of us use when discussing music. However, it is well-known and was widely used during the Classical and Romantic periods. And is still sometimes used today. So, I decided to take an in-depth look at its form and its structure, and how it works. And ask the question,

There are three main constituents to a piece of music or a song. They are Rhythm, Harmony, and Melody. And Melody is usually the most recognizable part of music. And if someone came to you and asked you for a tune, you would probably hum the melody line. But what is melody in music? And how

Ever since Cher dropped “Believe” in 1998, autotune has been in the pop music spotlight. But with singer T-Pain’s extensive use of this voice-altering technology, autotune took off. All through the 2000s, the use of this effect grew and grew. So that now it’s used in almost every pop song you can imagine. And, it’s

There are plenty of basic elements that make up music. We have pitch, and we have rhythm. They are easy concepts to understand. Easy to explain. But then we have timbre. That is not so easy because it is hard to explain, and any explanation is sometimes shrouded in misconception. So, what is timbre in music?

Once again, we travel back in time to delve into the Ancient Greek language to discuss an ancient musical term. The term “Monophonic” comes from the combination of two Greek words. ‘Phonic’ which means “about sound,” and ‘Mono’ which means “one or as a single.” In the most basic terms, the definition of monophonic is “one sound.”

The marimba is a beautiful, mellow-sounding instrument that blends into many different types of compositions. However, to pull off a great marimba sound in your productions, you need to use a VST that actually sounds like a marimba. This can be difficult because soft-toned instruments can be notoriously hard to capture and replicate. That said,

While we probably all had little toy xylophones as kids, those were some pretty poor instruments. However, a ‘real’ xylophone is made from pure, dense materials to give a wonderfully clear, ringing sound and a bright, distinct voice. And that’s exactly what the best xylophone VST should be able to replicate. But it’s not an

Now, this is a musical term that often causes its fair share of confusion. So, exactly what is a refrain in music? One of the reasons it is often misconstrued is because it applies not only to music. You can have a refrain in a poem, for example. In that case, it would be a

We often get Greek words in music theory, and here is another one. “Homophonic” describes a particular sort of music we are all familiar with. The word’s meaning can be explained by splitting it into two. “Phonic” means sound or a voice, and “homo” means similar or the same. But we have another word, Texture.

In the English language, we come across articulation all the time. Consequently, we wouldn’t be able to express ourselves correctly without using it. Yet, it is hard to define it in words, which does seem contradictory. In its most basic form, it means to say or pronounce something so that it can be heard. Also,

You can say that music is just like a language. Language is descriptive, communicates, and provides information. We articulate in language; we do the same in music. In language, we can talk loudly or quietly depending on what we are trying to express. We do the same in music. But there is a difference Language

If you are just starting on your musical journey, you will be daunted by all the theory there is to grasp and implement. Some of it is easier to understand than others. Counterpoint is just one part of your theoretical discoveries and for good songwriting, but a vital one. So let’s take a look at what

A theater is a theater, isn’t it? Well, not quite. There are different types of theaters. So, I’ve decided to take a closer look at one of them in order to answer the question, “What is a proscenium theater?” Different Configurations Theater configurations can differ, and the proscenium theater is just one. In addition to proscenium

You’ve likely heard the term “Trap” used a few times over the last few years. It’s by no means a fledgling genre. But, it’s been gaining popularity to the extent that it started showing up on mainstream charts. However, Trap music is not set in stone like other more established genres, for example, Hip-Hop and

Binary Form is often found in pieces of music from the Baroque period. This was a period when music style and form were developing fast. Following the Renaissance period, it started around 1600. It lasted for about 150 years until what is known as the Classical period. It was the period in music that produced

Let me make a simple point before we start. It is not possible to decipher the lyrics of some songs. And even for those that we think we can, we are quite often way off the mark. So what exactly is using lyrical interpretation to discover the meaning of a song? Well, one thing it

Do you ever listen to music and wonder why and how some things sound so different. The music can take on a mood all of its own. How can it do that? Three of the most important building blocks of music are melody, rhythm, and harmony. The melody and the rhythm we know, and we can identify

Let’s be honest here. Not all instruments are born equal. Some are put up on pedestals to the rock gods, like guitars and drums. Some are respected for their elegance and beauty, like violins and pianos. And some are laughed at. But the truth is, it’s not the instrument; it’s how you use it. There’s

When a Man Loves a Woman is a classic soul ballad that was released in 1966. It quickly became an iconic song in the music industry and continues to be beloved by audiences of all generations. The emotion and power behind the lyrics have made it a timeless piece. There have been various renditions and

A motif in music can be described in two different ways, and it can serve two different functions. But those functions, while appearing to serve different needs, are all connected. So, let’s take a closer look and try to clarify and answer what is a motif in music? A Short Idea The most basic definition of

It’s important to understand exactly what a key in music is and what it does. However, if you were to say to someone, “What is a Key in Music?” they would probably know, but they might find it hard to explain. A Basic Understanding of a Key in Music The simplest definition of a musical key is

One of the major challenges about learning to read music as a beginner is what everything means. Not only are there the notes, but the timings. Likewise, there are other instances where symbols alter what is happening and how the notes are played.  To learn how to read music correctly, there are some types of musical

These two audio file formats feel like they’ve been around forever. However, the reality is that they’ve only been with us for 20 and 30 years, respectively. The fact is that when they first came out, they revolutionized the way we listened to music. In the present day, streaming services now make up an ever-increasing

As in so many areas over the past few decades, things have changed in the music industry. Luckily, they have changed for the better. And where it used to take a ton of time and money to get your name out there and get a record deal, now it’s anyone’s game. That might mean there

Vaporwave… sounds cool, doesn’t it? Sure did the first time I heard the term, so I then needed to find out, “What is Vaporwave?” I then discovered that Vaporwave is a philosophy, visual art form, internet meme sensation, and design motif, as well as, of course, being a super cool word.  I soon discovered that Vaporwave

When we talk about music and songs, we often refer to the various parts that make up the structure. We talk about the verse and the chorus, maybe the bridge. But when do we ever talk about the Coda? That’s probably why some of you are thinking, “What is a Coda in music?” A Predictable

Are major chords the most important chords in music? Some would suggest that they are because they have been the foundation for literally hundreds of songs. In all likelihood, a major chord will be the first chord you learn on a guitar, piano, or keyboard. But, what is a major chord? Before we go deeper

It’s great to let loose occasionally, and what better way than by singing along to a few of your favorite songs? Happily, these days, technology has come so far that it’s easy to build your own karaoke setup with a great choice of songs, and sound quality to go with it. Phone apps are a

Spotify has become the go-to music app for almost 200 million people worldwide. The app is compatible with any OS and can be used on mobile devices and computers. It hosts enough music to last you multiple lifetimes. And, it keeps getting bigger by about 60 thousand songs a day.  Sounds too good to be

Of all the classical composers, the name of Beethoven ranks alongside Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, and Bach as probably the best known. Some, of course, would place him at the head of that list. He is undoubtedly one of the most admired classical music composers. His work remains some of the most played today in concert

Regardless of which musical instrument you are learning to play, scales are important. They are one of the first things you will need to understand and master.  Most of us start off by learning a simple major scale like C, for instance. But, that is just your starting point for entry into the magical world