This is a collection of podcasting related terminologies. The podcasting glossary will be updated as necessary.

The terms are sorted alphabetically but you can speed up finding a specific term by using the search function of your browser. It is usually accessible by pressing Ctrl+F on a PC machine.

To access the other parts of the glossary: Podcasting glossary I-H, R-Z.

AAC: Stands for Advanced Audio Coding, which based on the MPEG-4 standard. This format is considered somewhat better than MP3 at the same bit rate. AAC is the preferred digital encoding format for Apple Computer and its line of products.

Aggregator: Usually RSS aggregator. This is a specialized software that reads RSS feeds from the World Wide Web.

Attachment: see Enclosure.

Audio blog: A type of blog which contains audio files instead of written text content.

ADC: An analog-to-digital converter that converts analog signals into digital bits, ready to be used and saved on a computer.

Ambience: Background sound that surround the audio source.

Amplifier: Also known as amp. It functions to increase the input audio signal strength.

Analog: It is a signal produced by microphone, guitar, and other sound sources in varying frequency or amplitude. The opposite of analog is digital.

Bandwidth: The data capacity between computer connections. In podcast hosting terminology, it also refers to the amount of transferred data for a specific period of time — usually month.

Bidirectional microphone: This is a microphone with a figure-eight lobes, which is used for interviews.

Bit rate: The speed of data flow over time (ex. bits per second). Also refers to the amount of data bits in one second of audio file.

BitTorrent: An effective tool for sharing large files based on peer-to-peer connections. Different parts of files are distributed in chunks and then reassembled on the receiving machine.

Blog: see Weblog.

Blogging: Running or publishing a blog.

Cardioid microphone: A microphone with unidirectional pickup pattern that accepts sounds coming from the front and sides but not from the rear.

Clipping: The situation when the amplitude of a signal exceeds the range of the ADC. As the result, the range of the signal is rendered as the same as the clipped value.

Compression: A process that involves producing a smaller audio file and at the same time actually preserve as much data as possible to maintain quality. In audio editing world, it also means the act of making the volume of audio track uniform.

Condenser microphone: A thin diaphragm is positioned very closely to an electrical charge plate creating capacitance when the diaphragm moves toward and away from the plate. A condenser mic requires batteries or phantom power to operate. Condenser microphone is very sensitive.

Copyright: Legal protection covering the intellectual property produced by an owner or producer.

Creative Commons: A non-profit organization that offers more flexible licenses compared to traditional copyright protection.

DAC: A digital-to-analog converter that convers digital signals to analog, suitable for output in speakers or headphones.

DAW: Stands for Digital Audio Workstation. A computer can be used as a DAW which functions as an audio recording, editing and mixing machine.

Decibel: A unit measurement of the intensity of a sound wave.

Decode: Turning an audio file into raw format suitable for editing and playback.

Digital: A signal defined in bits, which can be used to sample audio rate.

Digital Rights Management: Technology that allows content owners to determine and control who and how users can consume content.

Dynamic microphone: Sound waves travel into the mic and vibrate a delicate membrane attached to a fine induction coil. The coil is positioned in the magnetic field of a permanent magnet. Fluctuations produce varying current in the form of electrical output. This type of microphone doesn’t require battery or external power source to operate.

Dynamic range: The range between the softest and loudest sound a system can process without distortion.

Encode: Turning a raw audio data into particular file format.

Enclosure: It is a way of embedding media files metadata within an RSS 2.0 web feed. Enclosure tag is an extension built on top of RSS 2.0. Podcatching software should be able to identify and download the file pointed to by the enclosure.

Feed: See RSS, also known as RSS feed.

Flash memory: A type of RAM (Random Access Memory) that does not lose data when the power is turned off. Some digital recording devices uses flash memory to keep its data.

Flash player: This refers to a portable player that stores files on a solid state chip. A Macromedia/Adobe Flash player is an embedded audio player which allows end-users to playback audio files on the Web browser.

FTP: Stands for File Transfer Protocol. Some podcasters transfer files from their computer to their hosting using this protocol.

Gain: The amount of boost applied to a sound signal.

Hertz: A unit of frequency.

Headset: A set of headphones combined with a microphone.

Hiss: High-frequency noises caused by fans or fluorescent lights.

Hypercardioid microphone: A directional microphone that favor signals from the front than those from the sides or rear.

Hyperlink: Text that links to an Internet resource.

Must read: Podcast Tutorial.

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