音源(おんげん)

おんげん
noun
sound source; audio track
technical
1. sound source
The physical origin or point from which a sound emanates. Used in acoustics, engineering, and everyday descriptions.
音源(おんげん)がどこか分(わ)からない。
I can't tell where the sound is coming from.
壁(かべ)を隔(へだ)てた向(む)こう側(がわ)に音源(おんげん)があるようだ。
The sound source seems to be on the other side of the wall.
騒音(そうおん)の音源(おんげん)を特定(とくてい)して対策(たいさく)を立(た)てる必要(ひつよう)がある。
We need to identify the source of the noise and come up with countermeasures.
2. audio track; recording; audio file
A recorded piece of audio, such as a music track, sound effect, or voice recording. Very common in music production and digital media contexts.
新(あたら)しい音源(おんげん)を配信(はいしん)した。
We released a new audio track.
この音源(おんげん)はネットで無料(むりょう)でダウンロードできる。
This audio track can be downloaded for free online.
バンドのデモ音源(おんげん)を聴(き)いたレーベルの担当者(たんとうしゃ)が、すぐに契約(けいやく)の話(はなし)を持(も)ちかけてきた。
A label representative who listened to the band's demo recording immediately approached them about a contract.

Compound of 音(おん) (sound) + 源(げん) (source/origin).

SENSE 1 (sound source):
Used in acoustics, noise management, and general descriptions of where a sound originates.

SENSE 2 (audio track):
The dominant modern usage, especially in music and digital media.

Common collocations

Usage

In music contexts, 音源(おんげん) can refer to anything from a rough demo to a professionally mastered track. It also refers to synthesizer sound modules or virtual instruments in music production (e.g., ソフト音源(おんげん), a software sound source).

Related Words

Related: シンセサイザー (synthesizer)
general
Added 2026.3.3 18:02 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
14500/14699_ongen