DSP is the acronym for Digital Signal Processor or Processing, a set of mathematical techniques used to extract information from an audio signal after it has been converted into a digital signal by what's called an A/D converter (analog to digital converter). DSP algorithms are then implemented using a Digital Signal Processor which is a special purpose microprocessor chip similar to that found in a computer except that it is optimized to perform only a fraction of a computer chips separate operations and therefore much faster. They are also generally less expensive and smaller.

DSP cards (such as the Audiomedia III card from Digidesign) are pieces of hardware that fit onto the PCI slots inside your computer and include the DSP chip that performs the DSP operations. This allows your computer microprocessor to get on with running your computer.

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