D

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

DB – The relative loudness of a sound is expressed in ‘dB’, short for ‘decibel’.

Default Setting
– a setting selected automatically unless an alternative is specified

Delay
– an effect used to add depth or space to an audio signal by repeating the input one or more times after a brief pause lasting a few milliseconds to a few seconds. Delay is often referred to as ‘echo’.

Delay Effect Window
– lets you adjust values and parameters within your delay effect

Delete Time
– deletes a section of time from the arrangement, thereby removing any audio or MIDI

Detach Sequencer Window
– detaches the sequence window into a separate window, allowing easier access to both screens

Detune
– a control that allows one oscillator to sound a slightly different pitch than another

Device
 – the name given in Ableton Live to all audio effects, MIDI effects and instruments

Devices Browser
– top tab option in the browser menu, used for viewing available instruments and effects

Devices Menu
– shows available VSTs

Direct Drive
– One of the major differences between turntables is whether they are belt or direct drive. Direct drive turntables have their platter driven directly by a motor, compared with the less expensive type of turntable (belt drive) that have their platter driven by a thick rubber band.

Dissolve Part
– allows you to split a MIDI part so you can process each element separately

Distortion
– a change in an audio signal resulting in the appearance of frequencies at the output that were not present in the original waveform; also referred to as ‘clipping’

DJ-Friendly Intro
– a section at the start of the track involving a stripped-down beat, making it easier to blend into the previous track

Dr Rex
– a loop playback device, which slices pre-recorded samples into manageable, bitesize units; comes packaged with Reason

Draw Mode
– allows the user to draw notes, automation, etc. onto the MIDI grid to create melodies; highlight the pencil icon to activate

Drive
 – gives the sound a boost

Drivers
– small programmes that tell your computer exactly what the hardware or peripheral is and how it is to work properly with your computer and its operating system

Drop Mixing
– another term for cutting in the mix

Drum Machine
– an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums and/or other percussion instruments

Dry / Wet
– When audio passes through an effect, the original sound is deemed ‘dry’, and the affected sound deemed ‘wet’. If the effect is set at 100% then all you hear will be affected sound; if it’s set at 0% then all you will hear is unaffected sound.

Duplicate
– function in the Edit menu allowing the user to create an exact copy of a clip, track or audio device in the next available slot

Duplicate Time
– places a copy of the selected timespan into the arrangement, thereby increasing its overall duration by the length of the selection

Dynamic
– element of musical expression related to the degree of loudness or softness (volume) of a sound

Dynamics Plug-in
– three plug-ins in one: Compress, Autogate and Limiter