RCA
Common audio and video connector which has been around since the 1940's and is still used in modern electronics; red typically carries the right
XLR
Type of audio connection; offers the best audio quality and is the choice for profession applications; typically carries an analog signal
Mini
Type of audio connection; typically offers a decent signal for non-professional application
Phono ¼"
A type of connection used by professionals but not the preferred connection; widely used in the music industry to connect some microphone applications, connect speakers, amplifiers, and guitars
Fiber Optic
Used to connect the digital signal from receivers to DVD players, DVRs, TVs.
Firewire
Most common way to connect digital audio and video to a computer; has very fast data transfer rates and is often used to connect portable hard drives.
MP3
Standard audio format for music on the Internet
WAV
A standard audio file format for Microsoft and IBM PCs; not as compressed as MP3
MIDI
A format for recording music from a keyboard controller; does not include actual musical notes
AIFF
A standard audio file format for Apple computers
AAC
A standard audio file format for portable devices such as phones and gaming systems; one of the audio compression formats defined by the MPEG-2 standard
WMA
A Windows streaming audio file format; can be of any size compressed to match many different connection speeds or bandwidths
Trim
Allows each individual channel (or track) on an audio board to be balanced with the others regardless of differing input levels or microphone sensitivities
Gain
Volume
Fader bar
Slides up and down or side to side (GB); used to adjust volume
Overmodulate
To exceed standard or prescribed audio levels; pinning VU needle
Distortion
An alteration of a sound waveform, resulting from overmodulation; often done intentionally