DSP stands for Digital Signal Processor. It is a highly specialized microprocessor designed specifically to perform complex mathematical operations on digital signals with extreme speed and efficiency. In the audio universe, DSP chips act as dedicated engines for real-time processing, differing from a computer's CPU which is for general use. They are found inside audio interfaces to allow monitoring with effects without latency, in accelerator cards such as those from the UAD platform, in digital synthesizers, and even integrated into modern loudspeakers to perform acoustic corrections and crossover management.