Music Production English - 音楽制作英語

DAW & Production Basics

Term	Japanese	Explanation
DAW	デジタルオーディオワークステーション	Digital Audio Workstation (Logic, Ableton, Pro Tools)
track	トラック	Individual channel for audio/MIDI
bus	バス	Route multiple tracks to a single channel for group processing
send	センド	Route a copy of a signal to an effects bus
return	リターン	The bus that receives a send signal
bounce	バウンス	Export/render audio from the DAW
stem	ステム	Individual exported track or group (drums stem, vocal stem)
session	セッション	The working file in a DAW
tempo	テンポ	Speed of the music in BPM (beats per minute)
time signature	拍子	4/4, 3/4, 6/8, etc.
quantize	クオンタイズ	Snap notes to a grid for perfect timing
automation	オートメーション	Programmed parameter changes over time
gain staging	ゲインステージング	Managing signal levels throughout the chain
latency	レイテンシー	Delay between input and output
buffer size	バッファサイズ	Affects latency vs. CPU load tradeoff
plugin	プラグイン	Software effect or instrument (VST, AU, AAX)
sample rate	サンプルレート	44.1kHz, 48kHz, 96kHz, etc.
bit depth	ビット深度	16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit float
MIDI	ミディ	Musical Instrument Digital Interface
audio interface	オーディオインターフェース	Hardware for connecting mics/instruments to computer

Term	Japanese	Context
take	テイク	"Let's do another take." (もう一回録ろう)
punch in/out	パンチイン/アウト	Re-record a specific section
overdub	オーバーダブ	Record additional layers on top
comping	コンピング	Selecting the best parts from multiple takes
click track	クリック/メトロノーム	Metronome track for timing reference
scratch track	スクラッチトラック	Rough reference recording
bleed	被り/かぶり	Sound from other sources leaking into a mic
proximity effect	近接効果	Bass boost when close to a directional mic
pop filter	ポップフィルター	Screen to reduce plosive sounds (p, b)
DI (Direct Input)	ダイレクトインプット	Recording instrument directly without a mic
phantom power	ファンタム電源	48V power for condenser mics
gain	ゲイン	Input level of a preamp
headroom	ヘッドルーム	Space between peak level and clipping
clipping	クリッピング	Distortion from signal exceeding 0dB
noise floor	ノイズフロア	The base level of unwanted noise

Type	Japanese	Best For
condenser	コンデンサー	vocals, acoustic instruments, overheads
dynamic	ダイナミック	loud sources, live performance, guitar amps
ribbon	リボン	warm tone, room ambience, brass
shotgun	ガンマイク	dialogue, field recording

Term	Japanese	Explanation
low-cut / high-pass filter	ローカット	Remove frequencies below a point
high-cut / low-pass filter	ハイカット	Remove frequencies above a point
shelf	シェルフ	Boost/cut all frequencies above or below a point
bell curve / parametric	ベルカーブ	Boost/cut a specific frequency range
bandwidth / Q	Q値	How narrow or wide the EQ band is
notch	ノッチ	Very narrow cut to remove a problem frequency
muddy	もっさり/こもった	Too much low-mid energy (200-500Hz)
harsh	きつい/痛い	Too much high-mid energy (2-5kHz)
airy	空気感のある	Boosted high frequencies (10kHz+)
boomy	ブーミー	Excessive low frequencies
tinny	薄っぺらい	Lacking low frequencies
boxy	箱鳴り感	Resonance around 300-600Hz

Term	Japanese	Explanation
threshold	スレッショルド	Level where compression starts
ratio	レシオ	Amount of compression (2:1, 4:1, etc.)
attack	アタック	How fast the compressor reacts
release	リリース	How fast the compressor stops
knee	ニー	Soft or hard transition into compression
makeup gain	メイクアップゲイン	Gain added after compression
sidechain	サイドチェイン	Use another signal to trigger compression
limiter	リミッター	Extreme compression to prevent clipping
parallel compression	パラレルコンプ	Blend compressed and dry signals
multiband compression	マルチバンドコンプ	Compress different frequency ranges independently
de-esser	ディエッサー	Reduce sibilance (s sounds) in vocals

Effect	Japanese	Description
reverb	リバーブ	Simulates room acoustics
delay	ディレイ	Echo effect
chorus	コーラス	Thickens sound by slight detuning copies
flanger	フランジャー	Swept comb filter effect
phaser	フェイザー	Phase-shifted copies of signal
distortion	ディストーション	Adds harmonic overtones
saturation	サチュレーション	Subtle, warm distortion
tremolo	トレモロ	Volume modulation
vibrato	ビブラート	Pitch modulation

Term	Explanation
panning	Placing sounds left/right in stereo field
stereo width	How wide the stereo image is
mono compatibility	How the mix sounds summed to mono
frequency masking	Two sounds competing in the same frequency range
separation	Each instrument having its own space
glue	Making elements sound cohesive
in the pocket	Tight, groove-locked timing
punchy	Strong transients, impactful
warm	Pleasant low-mid and harmonic content
bright	Emphasized high frequencies
dark	Reduced high frequencies
dry	No effects applied
wet	Fully effected signal

Term	Explanation
LUFS	Loudness Units Full Scale — standard loudness measurement
peak level	Maximum signal level
RMS level	Average signal level
true peak	Inter-sample peak measurement
loudness normalization	Streaming platforms adjust volume (-14 LUFS Spotify)
dithering	Adding noise when reducing bit depth
limiting	Preventing the signal from exceeding a set level
stereo enhancement	Widening the stereo image
mid/side processing	Processing center and sides independently
reference track	A professional track used for comparison
A/B comparison	Switching between two versions to compare

Genre	Description	Key Characteristics
EDM	Electronic Dance Music	Four-on-the-floor kick, synths, drops
lo-fi	Low fidelity	Vinyl crackle, tape saturation, chill
trap	Hip-hop subgenre	808s, hi-hat rolls, heavy bass
shoegaze	Guitar-driven dreamy	Layered reverb, distorted guitars
ambient	Atmospheric	Pads, textures, minimal rhythm
indie	Independent	DIY aesthetic, various sounds
R&B	Rhythm and Blues	Soul vocals, groove, neo-soul
jazz fusion	Jazz + other genres	Complex harmony, improvisation