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active desktop: Enhanced functionality that enables webpages to be turned into desktop items that are updated automatically. A webpage can also be turned into wallpaper, allowing a workgroup homepage to be readily visible on each user's computer with links to related information on the intranet. Active Desktop supports active channels, or subscriber-based content delivery systems. It is available on Windows 98 and Internet Explorer versions 4.0 and higher.

active server page: A specification for a dynamically created webpage that utilizes ActiveX scripting -- usually VB Script or Jscript code. When a browser requests an ASP page, the Web server generates a page with HTML code and sends it back to the browser. ASP pages are similar to CGI scripts, but they enable Visual Basic programmers to work with familiar tools.

A/D converter: A processor that converts analog electrical signals into digital data. The converter samples the electrical signal every few milliseconds. The signal is then quantized into a digital word. The larger the digital word, the more accurate the sample.

AC-3 (audio coding 3): Dolby's digital-audio data compression algorithm. It is now the standard for HDTV broadcasts and is also used in DVDs.

ADAT (Alesis Digital Audio Tape): A form of digital audio tape developed by Alesis for its digital multi-track recorders. It uses eight tracks of 16 bit/44.1-KHz digital audio on consumer S-VHS tape.

ADR (additional dialog recording): The process of replacing film dialog by over-dubbing new vocals that are recorded during post-production.

AES (Audio Engineering Society): The largest and oldest professional society dedicated to audio technology, the implementation of standards, as well as education.

AES/EBU Professional Interface: A professional-level audio interface designed to transfer digital-audio data.

Aftertouch: A feature of a MIDI keyboard that makes a key pressure-sensitive even after the key has initially been pressed.

algorithm: A formula or set of steps for solving a particular problem. To be considered an algorithm, a set of rules must be unambiguous and have a clear stopping point. Algorithms can be expressed in any language, from spoken languages such as English or French to programming languages such as Fortran. Most programs, with the exception of some artificial intelligence applications, consist of algorithms. Inventing elegant algorithms -- algorithms that are simple and require the fewest steps possible -- is one of the principal challenges in programming.

aliasing: Distortion caused by a low sample rate.

amplifier: An electronic device that uses capacitors or electron tubes to increase the strength of an electronic signal.

analog: A physical quantity of data or an electrical signal that is characterized by being continuously variable (as opposed to digital which is composed of a series of samples or "steps") and can be as accurate as the medium allows.

anchor: The underlined words or phrases you click on in World Wide Web documents to jump to another screen or page. See also, hyperlink.

applet: A simple program or utility designed to be executed from within another application. Java applets, for example, are executed within Web browsers to add increased functionality.

application: A program or group of programs designed for end users. Common applications include database programs, word processors, and spreadsheets.

application cache: High speed, temporary, chip-based storage that is specifically designed for a given application. For example, one type of cache is designed specifically for Microsoft Word.

ASCIII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange): Pronounced "ask-ee," ASCII is a binary code used to represent English text characters as numbers, with each letter assigned a number from 0 to 127. By replacing text with numbers, computers can transfer information more easily.

ASDR: An acronym for attack, sustain, decay and release, which are the four different stages of a sound's envelope.

ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit): Pronounced "ay-sik," ASIC is a chip designed for a particular application rather than an all-purpose microprocessor. ASICs can be built from scratch, but a less strenuous method is to simply connect existing circuits in new ways.

ASIO (audio stream input/output): A multichannel audio transfer protocol developed by Steinberg North America in 1997 for audio/MIDI sequencing applications. It allows access to the multichannel capabilities of sound cards.

ASP (Active Server Page): A Web page that is generated on the fly. Microsoft developed this system so that when a browser requests an ASP document, the Web server generates the HTML on the spot and sends it back to the browser to be displayed. ASP pages are commonly used on sites that update content every day or use input from users to generate results.

attachment: Designates any file attached to an email message. Most email systems allow users to attach text files, audio files, video files, zip files, and image files. If the attachment is a binary file or formatted text file (such as an MS Word document), it must be encoded before it is sent and decoded once it is received. The two most common encoding schemes are Uuencode and MIME.

attack: The beginning stage of sound's envelope.

auxiliary send: An output used to route an audio signal to an external device.

AVI (Audio Video Interleave): Microsoft's video standard for Windows. AVI is the most common format for audio/video data on the PC. It interleaves standard waveform audio and digital video frames (bit maps) to provide reduced animation.

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