2

2-pole: 12dB/octave filter slope [see Wikipedia].

4

4-pole: 24dB/octave filter slope [see Wikipedia].

A

ADC: Analog to Digital Converter [see Wikipedia].

ADSR: Attack Decay Sustain Release (see EG) [see Wikipedia].

AR: Attack Release (see EG) [see Wikipedia].

Additive Synthesis: Creating complex sound waves by adding sine waves of differing harmonics [see Wikipedia].

Aftertouch: pressure sensitivity [see Wikipedia].

Analog Synthesizer: A synthesizer with a fully analog signal path [see Wikipedia].

C

Compandor: A combination of compression and expansion (i.e. dynamics processing) [see Wikipedia].

Comparator: A circuit comparing two voltages [see Wikipedia].

CPU: Central Processing Unit [see Wikipedia].

D

DAC: Digital to Analog Converter [see Wikipedia].

DCA: Digitally Controlled Amplifier [see Wikipedia].

DCF: Digitally Controlled Filter [see Wikipedia].

DCO: Digitally Controlled Oscillator [see Wikipedia].

Digital Synthesizer: A synthesizer with a fully digital signal path [see Wikipedia].

DO: Digital Oscillator, usually sample memory fed to an ADC. [see Wikipedia].

DRAM: Dynamic Random Access Memory [see Wikipedia].

DSP: Digital Signal Processor [see Wikipedia].

E

EG: Envelope Generator [see Wikipedia].

EPROM: Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory [see Wikipedia].

F

Filter: Removes harmonics from the sound, changing its tone [see Wikipedia].

FM Synthesis: (i.e. Frequency Modulation) Creating complex sound waves by modulating a simple waveform's frequency [see Wikipedia].

G

Glide: Bending from a previous pitch to the next pitch (see portamento) [see Wikipedia].

Gate Array: ULA (Uncommitted Logic Array) which can be fabricated to customer specified logic functions [see Wikipedia].

H

Hybrid Synthesizer: A synthesizer with a mixed (i.e. analog and digital) signal path [see Wikipedia].

I

IC: Integrated Circuit [see Wikipedia].

L

LFO: Low Frequency Oscillator [see Wikipedia].

M

Microcontroller: Simple CPU with peripherals (e.g. timers, memory, I/O) [see Wikipedia].

Microprocessor: CPU on a single IC [see Wikipedia].

MIDI: Musical Instrument Digital Interface (communication/control protocol) [see Wikipedia].

Multitimbral: Able to simultaneously produce multiple timbres (or sounds) [see Wikipedia].

O

Operational Amplifier: low voltage/current amplifier used in analog circuits [see Wikipedia].

P

Phase Distortion Synthesis: Creating complex sound waves by modulating a simple waveform's phase [see Wikipedia].

Portamento: Bending from a previous pitch to the next pitch [see Wikipedia].

R

Rompler: Musical instrument capable of playing complex waveforms (i.e. samples) stored in memory (i.e. ROM) [see Wikipedia].

RAM: Random Access Memory [see Wikipedia].

ROM: Read Only Memory [see Wikipedia].

S

S/H: Sample and Hold [see Wikipedia].

Sampler: Musical instrument capable of recording and playing complex waveforms (i.e. samples) [see Wikipedia].

Synthesizer: Musical instruments that create (i.e. synthesize) sound via programable electronics [see Wikipedia].

SCSI: Small Computer System Interface (data communication protocol) [see Wikipedia].

SRAM: Static Random Access Memory [see Wikipedia].

Subtractive Synthesis: Creating complex sound waves by removing harmonics from a harmonic rich source (e.g. square wave) [see Wikipedia].

U

UART: Universal Asynchronus Receiver Transmitter [see Wikipedia].

V

VCA: Voltage (i.e. analog) Controlled Amplifier [see Wikipedia].

VCF: Voltage (i.e. analog) Controlled Filter [see Wikipedia].

VCO: Voltage (i.e. analog) Controlled Oscillator [see Wikipedia].

W

Wavetable Synthesis: (one of several definitions) Creating sound by playing various waveforms stored in memory [see Wikipedia].