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Signal path

The signal path is the route audio takes from the source to the recording or playback system.

Level relevance: introduced at Nat 4; tagged for every later level where the same concept remains useful.

Explanation

A signal path describes how sound travels through equipment. For example, a vocal signal might go from microphone to audio interface preamp, into the DAW, through plugins, and finally to speakers or headphones. Understanding the signal path helps learners solve technical problems and set up recording sessions correctly.

Topics

RecordingHardwareTroubleshooting

Curriculum statussupporting vocabulary

Review statusdraft

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Related terms

Microphone

A microphone converts sound waves in the air into an electrical signal.

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Audio interface

An audio interface connects microphones, instruments, headphones, and speakers to a computer for recording and playback.

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Gain

Gain controls signal level at the input or processing stage of the signal path.

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Latency

Latency is the delay between an action and when the sound is heard or recorded.

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