Glossary

The key technical terms from MuSéa — in the order in which you meet them in the manual. Audio-technical matters are deliberately explained briefly and in everyday terms.

Bit-Perfect

The audio stream reaches the output device bit-exactly unchanged — without volume scaling, system mixer or DSP. Requirement: exclusive mode and volume at 100 %.

WASAPI / ASIO

Two ways in which Windows programs output to an audio device. WASAPI is the Windows-native path; ASIO is a low-latency driver path from the device manufacturer.

Shared / exclusive mode

Shared shares the device via the Windows mixer with other programs (not bit-perfect). Exclusive gives MuSéa the device alone — a requirement for bit-perfect playback.

Buffer

Intermediate storage between program and device. Small = low latency, large = more stability against dropouts.

Sample rate

How often per second the signal is digitally captured (e.g. 44.1 kHz, 96 kHz). Higher = more representable frequencies.

Bit depth

Resolution per sample (e.g. 16 or 24 bit). More bits = greater dynamic range, lower noise floor.

Nyquist frequency

Half the sample rate — the highest frequency a recording can physically contain (at 44.1 kHz therefore ~22 kHz).

Hi-Res

High-resolution: at least 24 bit and ≥ 88.2 kHz sample rate.

Upsampling

Exact upsampling of the output to a higher sample rate (never down). Adds no real information.

DSD / DoP

A high-resolution 1-bit audio format (DSD) and the method of transmitting it bit-exact over a PCM path (DSD over PCM). Only with a DoP-capable DAC.

Warm-up time (warmup)

A brief silence before the first track so the DAC or receiver can lock in before the music starts — prevents swallowed track beginnings.

Signal badge

The indicator below the current track: shows whether the output path is Bit-Perfect, Resampling, DSD (DoP), Shared or DSP mode (EQ/Aura active).

Library

MuSéa’s searchable collection of all imported tracks in a local database.

Axis

The grouping of the library view: albums, artists, genres or tracks.

Favorites

Tracks marked as favorites; quickly reached as a plain list via the sidebar.

DB cover / file cover

A cover image can be embedded in the file (file cover) or set by you in MuSéa’s database (DB cover); the DB cover takes precedence.

Thumbnail cache

Cache of the scaled-down cover images (thumbs.db); can be cleared, after which the tiles are regenerated.

Concurrency

How many processor cores read the import simultaneously. More cores = faster scan.

Visualization

Real-time representation of the sound in the centre of playback: oscilloscope, bar or radial spectrum, spectrogram or goniometer.

Goniometer

Representation of the stereo image as a phase figure — shows how wide and phase-correct the signal is.

Spectrogram

Running representation of the frequency distribution over time.

Waveform / zigzag line

Two styles of the progress display: the real waveform of the track (quiet passages visible) or a stylized zigzag line.

Playlist / nebula

Your own track compilation; in the Galaxy each playlist appears as a glowing nebula.

Galaxy

A playful view of the playlists as nebulae in a star field; connections define the playback order.

Equalizer (EQ)

Tool for boosting/cutting frequency ranges — parametric with 5, 7 or 10 bands. When active, the path is no longer bit-perfect.

Band

A single filter point of the equalizer (frequency, gain, quality/Q), draggable directly in the curve.

PEQ profile

Parametric correction profile (AutoEq/oratory1990) that automatically equalizes a specific headphone.

Linear-phase / minimum-phase

Two filter operating modes of the EQ: phase-pure with some latency (linear) or latency-free (minimum).

Auto-gain

Pulls the EQ curve automatically below 0 dB and thus prevents overdriving (clipping).

Analyzer

A spectrum and level display that can be shown in the equalizer.

Tone controls

Global controls for bass, mids and treble (±12 dB), in addition to the EQ bands.

Pre-gain (headroom)

A pre-level on the EQ signal to create headroom against clipping (0 dB = neutral).

Crossfeed

On headphones, mixes in a little of the respective other channel and softens the hard left/right separation (0 % = off).

Convolution / impulse response

Application of an FIR filter (WAV or text file), e.g. for room correction; adapts the filter rate to the playback rate if needed.

Aura

MuSéa’s sound mode: reconstruction filter bank with oversampling, noise-shaping and optional glow; replaces the normal upsampling and is independent of the EQ.

Timbre

Aura’s basic character: Classic (neutral), Gentle, Warm or Crystal — each a different reconstruction filter.

Glow

Aura’s optional, very subtle warm overtone (analogue shimmer).

Oversampling / noise-shaping

Aura computes internally at an increased rate (oversampling) and shifts quantization noise into inaudible ranges (noise-shaping).

Metadata (tags)

Information stored in the file such as title, artist, album, year or cover.

Track number assistant

Assigns track and disc numbers of a whole selection automatically (start value, leading zeros, “of N”, new disc per folder/album).

Compilation

A marker for samplers with varying artists so they stay grouped as one album.

ReplayGain

Loudness information stored in the file; MuSéa leaves such special tags untouched when writing.

SoundRay

Analysis of a track’s real frequency response; contrasts the declared with the measured quality.

Transcoding

Conversion from a lossy source (MP3/AAC) into a lossless container — SoundRay detects the tell-tale band limiting.

Bit padding

A file is declared as 24 bit but effectively uses only ~16 bit — the bit depth is “padded”.

Brickwall

A sharp, vertical band edge in the spectrum; typical of lossy codecs.

Hardware ID

Identifier of this PC to which a licence is bound.

Confirmation / reactivation code

The two codes of a licence move: release on the old PC (confirmation), activate on the new one (reactivation).

Licence Center

The dialog for licence status, hardware binding and the move to a new PC.

Demo mode (evaluation)

Operation without a full licence, with restrictions (e.g. 10-second preview, saving disabled).

.symbackup

MuSéa’s backup file — library and cover cache in a single archive.