Glossary: RAM | Sweetwater.com

«Back to Glossary Menu

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 0-9

RAM: Okay, back to the basics today. RAM - An acronym for Random Access Memory. A generic for chips that are used in computing devices to store sets of instructions, which can be computer programs and data or, in the case of some musical equipment, audio data. When you run an application like Microsoft Word, the program is called up from its permanent storage area (like the hard drive, floppy disk, or Cd_ROM) and moved into the RAM, where the CPU has much faster access to it. Data can be manipulated and calculations performed very quickly and then saved back to the storage medium. Sometimes RAM is just used as a buffer between subsystems or as a cache. There are many different types of RAM (DRAM, SRAM, EDO RAM, etc.) and each has its unique properties and price/performance characteristics. RAM is usually purchased by consumers as a small circuit board (often inaccurately called RAM chips) that are made of actual RAM chips and other components. These boards can be installed in computers and other devices to expand their available memory. Because of the widespread use of RAM in all sorts of devices the prices have dropped significantly in the past decade while the quantity of manufacturers and distributors has risen. RAM circuit boards can vary widely in quality and cost. There are many subtle and not so subtle factors that go into making very high quality RAM boards so it is a good idea to be careful when purchasing RAM.

R-Buss	R-DAT	Rack Rail
Rack Space	Radio Wave	Radius (Fingerboard)
RAID	RAID 0	RAID 1
RAID 2	RAID 3	RAID 4
RAID 5	RAID 6	RAM
RAM Disk	Random Access	Random Noise
Rank	RAR	Rare Earth Magnet
Rarefaction	Rasgueado	Rate/Level Envelope Generator
Ratio	RCA	Re-Amp
RealAudio	Real Time	Reboot
Recap (or Recapping)	Receiver Image	Reconstruction Filter
Record Enable	Recording Console	Rectifier
Recursive Formula (Filter)	Red Book	Reel
Reel-to-Reel	Reen	Reference Track
Refraction	Refurbished	Regal
Regal	Regeneration	Region
Register	Regulator (Voltage Regulator)	Rehearsal Mark
Relap	Release	Release Trigger
Release Velocity	Relic	Relief
Reluctance	Reluctance	Remix
Remote Control	REMS	Render
Repeater	Repeat Mark	Repro
Reproduction Right	Res-O-Glas	Resample
Reset All Controllers	Resistance	Resistor
Resolution	Resolve	Resonance
Resonant	Resonant Frequency	Resonator
Rest	Restart	Resultant Tone
Resynthesis	Retro	Retrofit
Return	Reverb	Reverse Breakdown Voltage
Reverse Engineering	Reversion Clause	ReWire
REX File	RFI	RFZ
RGB	Rhodes Electric Piano	Rhythm
RIAA	RIAA Equalization	Ribbon Cable
Ribbon Controller	Ribbon Mic	Ribbon Tweeter
Rick-O-Sound	Ricochet	RIFF
Rift Sawn	Ring Modulator	Ring Out
RIP	RISC	Rise Time/Fall Time
Ritardando	RMID	RMS
RMS (Root Mean Square)	Robert Moog	Rocket Network
Rocking Bar Bridge	RoHS	Roland Jupiter 8
Roll Mode	Rolloff	Rolloff Slope
ROM	Rompler	Root
Root Key (Sampling)	Rosette	Rosewood
Rotary Selector Switch	Rotary Speaker	Rototom
Round Wound	Rout	Royalty-free
RPM	RS-232	RS-422
RSS	RT60	Real Time Analyzer (RTA)
RTAS	Rubato	Rumble

FREE Publications Sign up today!	Win FREE Gear! Enter now	Sweetwater Careers The best place in the business to work! Learn more!	Financing More payment options for you! Learn more


Sweetwater Sound Inc. 5501 U.S. Hwy 30 W Fort Wayne, IN 46818 Get Directions »	Toll-free (800) 222-4700 Local (260) 432-8176 Fax (260) 432-1758 Contact Us »	Telephone hours: 9-9 Mon-Thu, 9-8 Fri, 9-7 Sat EST Retail Store hours: 9-8 Mon-Fri, 9-7 Sat EST Current Sweetwater time is 8:20 PM.