Music Production terminology - DEFINITIVE glossary

"Digital Audio Workstation".
Software to make music

Short for equalizer.
With EQ you influence the frequencies.
With the EQ you can cut, boost or dip certain frequencies.
In most equalizers is an analyzer integrated.

An analyzer is a visual representation of the frequencies in the frequency spectrum. An analyzer can be separated from an EQ, but most EQ'shave an analyzer integrated.

A compressor is an effect that is applied to make sound louder or to duck away when the kick "hits" (called: sidechaining)

Ducking a signal makes the sound go quiet for a short amount of time. This is used to prevent frequency masking

Frequency masking or phase cancellation is a phenomenon where two sounds cancel each other out. When one sound signal is the exact opposite of the other when looking at the waveform.

See "ducking"