A switch that breaks the connection between the ground point in one circuit and the ground point in another circuit.
Driver
See transducer. Dynamic Range �" The range between the quietest and the loudest sounds a device can handle (often quoted in dB).
Brooks HI FI projectors Intermodulation Distortion
Distortion caused by one signal beating with another signal and producing frequencies that are both the sum and the difference of the original frequencies.
Equal Loudness Contours
A drawing of several curves showing how loud the tones of different frequencies would have to be played for a person to say they were of equal loudness.
Brooks RM 909 reviews Linear
The condition of obtaining a change at the output of the device which is proportional to the change occurring at the input.
Howlback
British term for the term Feedback (the pickup of the signal out of a channel by the input of the channel or the howling sound that this produces).
Error Message
A prompt on a computer screen telling the operator that an error has occurred.
Byte
A grouping of eight information bits.
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Brooks RM 909 reviews Layering
The recording (or playing) of a musical part with of several similar sound patches playing simultaneous.
A/D
An abbreviation of Analog to Digital Conversion (the conversion of a quantity that has continuous changes into numbers that approximate those changes), or Analog to Digital Converter.
Brooks Hi Fi speakers Edit
A switch that does different things depending on the operational mode that the machine is in:
1) If a computer-controlled transport is in "Stop," pushing the "Edit" switch deactivates the computer-controlled tension system and allows the reels to be moved by hand to find the exact spot desired on the tape.
2) If the machine is in "Play", the "Edit" switch makes the take-up reel cease taking up the tape and it falls to the floor.
3) If the machine is in a fast-wind mode, the tape lifters are defeated so the tape is in contact with the reproduce head and the engineer can hear where the selections begin and end.
Compressor
1) Effect used to squash the sound together. Used properly, it can take the edge off or your sound. Used improperly, it can take the life right out of your system and make it sound like an MTV mix.
2) A piece of sound processing equipment that ensures all wanted signals are suitably placed between the noise and distortion levels of the recording medium. It evens out the unwanted changes in volume you get with close-miking, and in doing so, adds punch to the sound mix. A Limiter is used to stop a signal from exceeding a preset limit. Beyond this limit, the signal level will not increase, no matter how loud the input becomes. A Limiter is often used to protect speaker systems (and human ears) by preventing a system from becoming too loud.
Brooks Hi Fi reviews Frequency
The number of cycles of a waveform occurring in a second.
Beats Per Minute BPM
The number of steady even pulses in music occurring in one minute and there fore defining the tempo of the song.
Key
The control of a dynamics processing device by an external audio signal.
IM Distortion
An abbreviation of the term Intermodulation Distortion (Distortion caused by one signal beating with another signal and producing frequencies that are both the sum and the difference of the original frequencies present).
A/D
An abbreviation of Analog to Digital Conversion (the conversion of a quantity that has continuous changes into numbers that approximate those changes), or Analog to Digital Converter.
Brooks Hi Fi speakers Edit
A switch that does different things depending on the operational mode that the machine is in:
1) If a computer-controlled transport is in "Stop," pushing the "Edit" switch deactivates the computer-controlled tension system and allows the reels to be moved by hand to find the exact spot desired on the tape.
2) If the machine is in "Play", the "Edit" switch makes the take-up reel cease taking up the tape and it falls to the floor.
3) If the machine is in a fast-wind mode, the tape lifters are defeated so the tape is in contact with the reproduce head and the engineer can hear where the selections begin and end.
Compressor
1) Effect used to squash the sound together. Used properly, it can take the edge off or your sound. Used improperly, it can take the life right out of your system and make it sound like an MTV mix.
2) A piece of sound processing equipment that ensures all wanted signals are suitably placed between the noise and distortion levels of the recording medium. It evens out the unwanted changes in volume you get with close-miking, and in doing so, adds punch to the sound mix. A Limiter is used to stop a signal from exceeding a preset limit. Beyond this limit, the signal level will not increase, no matter how loud the input becomes. A Limiter is often used to protect speaker systems (and human ears) by preventing a system from becoming too loud.
Brooks Hi Fi reviews Frequency
The number of cycles of a waveform occurring in a second.
Beats Per Minute BPM
The number of steady even pulses in music occurring in one minute and there fore defining the tempo of the song.
Key
The control of a dynamics processing device by an external audio signal.
IM Distortion
An abbreviation of the term Intermodulation Distortion (Distortion caused by one signal beating with another signal and producing frequencies that are both the sum and the difference of the original frequencies present).
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Brooks HI FI projectors Channel
1) In multitrack tape machines, this term means the same thing as the term Track (one audio recording made on a portion of the width of a multitrack tape).
2) A single path that an audio signal travels or can travel through a device from an input to an output.
Condenser
An older term meaning the same thing as Capacitor (an electronic device which is composed of two plates separated by an insulator and can store charge) but sill in common use when referring to a microphone's active element.
Brooks RM 909 reviews Layering
The recording (or playing) of a musical part with of several similar sound patches playing simultaneous.
Chorusing
1) A term meaning the same thing as Chorus (Definition 3 or 4).
2) In some delay effects devices, a term used to mean the term Depth (the amount of change in the controlled signal by the control signal).
Brooks Hi Fi reviews AES/EBU
Professional Interface A standard for sending and receiving digital audio adopted by the Audio Engineering Society and the European Broadcast Union.
Information Bits
The bits in the digital signal that make up actual values or commands being communicated as opposed to bits that are used for checking & correcting data or other purposes.
Electronics
1) On a tape machine, the housing for and the channel circuitry which processes the signal to be fed to the heads, provide bias, and playback.
2) The branch of science dealing with the behaviour of electrons/charges in vacuums, gases, semiconductors and special conductors.
Attack
The rate the sound begins and increases in volume.
2) A single path that an audio signal travels or can travel through a device from an input to an output.
Condenser
An older term meaning the same thing as Capacitor (an electronic device which is composed of two plates separated by an insulator and can store charge) but sill in common use when referring to a microphone's active element.
Brooks RM 909 reviews Layering
The recording (or playing) of a musical part with of several similar sound patches playing simultaneous.
Chorusing
1) A term meaning the same thing as Chorus (Definition 3 or 4).
2) In some delay effects devices, a term used to mean the term Depth (the amount of change in the controlled signal by the control signal).
Brooks Hi Fi reviews AES/EBU
Professional Interface A standard for sending and receiving digital audio adopted by the Audio Engineering Society and the European Broadcast Union.
Information Bits
The bits in the digital signal that make up actual values or commands being communicated as opposed to bits that are used for checking & correcting data or other purposes.
Electronics
1) On a tape machine, the housing for and the channel circuitry which processes the signal to be fed to the heads, provide bias, and playback.
2) The branch of science dealing with the behaviour of electrons/charges in vacuums, gases, semiconductors and special conductors.
Attack
The rate the sound begins and increases in volume.
Brooks RM 909 Full
A quality of the sound of having all frequencies present, especially the low frequencies.
Electret Mic
A condenser microphone where the capacitor plates are given a charge during manufacture which they retain, therefore requiring no external power supply.
Brooks RM 909 reviews Limiter
A device which reduces gain when the input voltage exceeds a certain level.
Bass
1) The lower range of audio frequencies up to approximately 250 Hz.
2) Short for Bass Guitar.
3) Lower end of the musical scale. In acoustics, the range (below about 200 Hz) in which there are difficulties, principally in the reproduction of sound, due to the large wavelengths involved.
4) The lower frequencies.
5) On the soundboard this should refer to the bass guitar channel, not the bass drum.
6) The lowest frequencies of sound. Bi-Amplification uses an electronic crossover or line-level amplifiers for the high and low frequency loudspeaker drivers.
Brooks Hi Fi reviews Clock Signal
The signal put out by a circuit that generates steady even pulses or steady codes used for synchronization.
Board
1) Another, less formal, term for Console.
2) A set of controls and their housing which control all signals necessary for recording and for mixing.
3) A slang shortening of the term Keyboard Instrument.
Basic Session
The First session in recording an audio production to record the Basic Tracks.
Level
Sets output volume of individual PA input channels. Usually positioned as sliders at the bottom of the soundboard.
Electret Mic
A condenser microphone where the capacitor plates are given a charge during manufacture which they retain, therefore requiring no external power supply.
Brooks RM 909 reviews Limiter
A device which reduces gain when the input voltage exceeds a certain level.
Bass
1) The lower range of audio frequencies up to approximately 250 Hz.
2) Short for Bass Guitar.
3) Lower end of the musical scale. In acoustics, the range (below about 200 Hz) in which there are difficulties, principally in the reproduction of sound, due to the large wavelengths involved.
4) The lower frequencies.
5) On the soundboard this should refer to the bass guitar channel, not the bass drum.
6) The lowest frequencies of sound. Bi-Amplification uses an electronic crossover or line-level amplifiers for the high and low frequency loudspeaker drivers.
Brooks Hi Fi reviews Clock Signal
The signal put out by a circuit that generates steady even pulses or steady codes used for synchronization.
Board
1) Another, less formal, term for Console.
2) A set of controls and their housing which control all signals necessary for recording and for mixing.
3) A slang shortening of the term Keyboard Instrument.
Basic Session
The First session in recording an audio production to record the Basic Tracks.
Level
Sets output volume of individual PA input channels. Usually positioned as sliders at the bottom of the soundboard.
Monday, February 19, 2024
Brooks RM 909 Level
The amount of signal strength; the amplitude, especially the average amplitude.
Automation
In consoles, a feature that lets the engineer program control changes (such as fader level) so that upon playback of the multitrack recording these changes happen automatically.
Brooks HI FI projectors Aux Send
Short for the term Auxiliary Send (a control to adjust the level of the signal sent from the console input channel to the auxiliary equipment through the aux buss.
Infinite Baffle
A baffle so large that the sounds coming from one side do not reach the other side.
Brooks RM 909 reviews Input Overload
Sending too high of a signal level into a device so that the first amplifier of the device overloads.
Foot Pedal
1) An effects device where the amount of the effect can be controlled by a musician with his foot.
2) The beater mechanism of a foot drum that is activated by the drummer's foot to play the drum.
3) Any device, like a volume control, that can be operated by the foot.
Intermodulation Distortion
Distortion caused by one signal beating with another signal and producing frequencies that are both the sum and the difference of the original frequencies.
Diaphragm
A thin flexible membrane or cone that vibrates in response to electrical signals to produce sound waves. Distortion is usually referred to in terms of total harmonic distortion (THD) which is the percentage of unwanted harmonics of the drive signal present with the wanted signal. Generally used to mean any unwanted change introduced by the device under question.
Automation
In consoles, a feature that lets the engineer program control changes (such as fader level) so that upon playback of the multitrack recording these changes happen automatically.
Brooks HI FI projectors Aux Send
Short for the term Auxiliary Send (a control to adjust the level of the signal sent from the console input channel to the auxiliary equipment through the aux buss.
Infinite Baffle
A baffle so large that the sounds coming from one side do not reach the other side.
Brooks RM 909 reviews Input Overload
Sending too high of a signal level into a device so that the first amplifier of the device overloads.
Foot Pedal
1) An effects device where the amount of the effect can be controlled by a musician with his foot.
2) The beater mechanism of a foot drum that is activated by the drummer's foot to play the drum.
3) Any device, like a volume control, that can be operated by the foot.
Intermodulation Distortion
Distortion caused by one signal beating with another signal and producing frequencies that are both the sum and the difference of the original frequencies.
Diaphragm
A thin flexible membrane or cone that vibrates in response to electrical signals to produce sound waves. Distortion is usually referred to in terms of total harmonic distortion (THD) which is the percentage of unwanted harmonics of the drive signal present with the wanted signal. Generally used to mean any unwanted change introduced by the device under question.
Friday, February 16, 2024
Brooks HI FI projectors CD (Compact Disc) :
1) Digital sound storage medium. Provides a high quality source of music, sound effects etc. Also used as a playback medium for sound effects etc. by large theatres with long running shows, although CDR (Recordable CD) is becoming more affordable by the day.
2) An abbreviation of the term Compact Disc (a small optical disk with digital audio recorded on it).
Crossover (Crossover Network)
A set of filters that "split" the audio signal into two or more bands (two or more signals, each of which have only some of the frequencies present).
Brooks Hi Fi speakers Error Concealment
Putting replacement information bits into a digital audio signal to replace lost bits when the digital recording or processing system cannot verify whether the lost bits were l's or 0's but can make a good guess by comparing the known bits that were close in position to the lost bits.
Dynamic Mic
Robust type of microphone which picks up the sound on a diaphragm connected to a coil of wire which moves within a magnet. An alternating current is induced into the wire which provides the electrical output. Most dynamic mics have low output impedance of 200 Ohms. See Condenser Mic.
Brooks RM 909 Crossover, Active
A rack mountable unit used to separate frequencies leaving the soundboard into high's, mids, and lows with different outputs for each.
Expander
A device that causes expansion of the audio signal.
Full Step
A change in pitch that occurs when moving up or down two piano keys
Balanced
1) Having a pleasing amount of low frequencies compared to mid-range frequencies and high frequencies. 2) Having a pleasing mixture of the various instrument levels in an audio recording. 3) Having a fairly equal level in each of the stereo channels. 4) A method of interconnecting electronic gear using three-conductor cables.
2) An abbreviation of the term Compact Disc (a small optical disk with digital audio recorded on it).
Crossover (Crossover Network)
A set of filters that "split" the audio signal into two or more bands (two or more signals, each of which have only some of the frequencies present).
Brooks Hi Fi speakers Error Concealment
Putting replacement information bits into a digital audio signal to replace lost bits when the digital recording or processing system cannot verify whether the lost bits were l's or 0's but can make a good guess by comparing the known bits that were close in position to the lost bits.
Dynamic Mic
Robust type of microphone which picks up the sound on a diaphragm connected to a coil of wire which moves within a magnet. An alternating current is induced into the wire which provides the electrical output. Most dynamic mics have low output impedance of 200 Ohms. See Condenser Mic.
Brooks RM 909 Crossover, Active
A rack mountable unit used to separate frequencies leaving the soundboard into high's, mids, and lows with different outputs for each.
Expander
A device that causes expansion of the audio signal.
Full Step
A change in pitch that occurs when moving up or down two piano keys
Balanced
1) Having a pleasing amount of low frequencies compared to mid-range frequencies and high frequencies. 2) Having a pleasing mixture of the various instrument levels in an audio recording. 3) Having a fairly equal level in each of the stereo channels. 4) A method of interconnecting electronic gear using three-conductor cables.
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Brooks Hi Fi speakers Binary
A numbering system based on two. In binary there are two symbols used ("l" and "0").
Baffles
Sound absorbing panels used to prevent sound waves from entering or leaving a certain space
Brooks Hi Fi reviews Grouping
1) Controlling the gain of several individual channels with a Group Fader.
2) The mixing together of several individual audio signals to send a mixed signal out of the console to record a track on a multitrack tape machine.
Cut-off Rate (Slope)
The number of dB that a filter reduces the signal for each octave its frequency past the filter's cut-off frequency (outside of the pass band).
Brooks RM 909 reviews Close Micing
A technique of placing a microphone close to the sound source (within one foot) in order to pick up mainly the direct sound and to avoid picking up leakage or ambience.
FOH (Front of House)
Refers to the speakers that face toward the audience. Also called the "main" speakers.
Corner Frequency
Same as Cut-Off Frequency (the highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter). (NOUN)
Haas Effect
Simply stated, a factor in human hearing where delay has a much bigger effect on human perception of direction than level does.
Baffles
Sound absorbing panels used to prevent sound waves from entering or leaving a certain space
Brooks Hi Fi reviews Grouping
1) Controlling the gain of several individual channels with a Group Fader.
2) The mixing together of several individual audio signals to send a mixed signal out of the console to record a track on a multitrack tape machine.
Cut-off Rate (Slope)
The number of dB that a filter reduces the signal for each octave its frequency past the filter's cut-off frequency (outside of the pass band).
Brooks RM 909 reviews Close Micing
A technique of placing a microphone close to the sound source (within one foot) in order to pick up mainly the direct sound and to avoid picking up leakage or ambience.
FOH (Front of House)
Refers to the speakers that face toward the audience. Also called the "main" speakers.
Corner Frequency
Same as Cut-Off Frequency (the highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter). (NOUN)
Haas Effect
Simply stated, a factor in human hearing where delay has a much bigger effect on human perception of direction than level does.
Saturday, February 10, 2024
Brooks Hi Fi reviews CD-ROM
An abbreviation of the term Compact Disc, Read Only Memory (A Compact Disc used to store digital data, such as large programs, that can be read by a computer).
Analog (Analogue)
Representative, continuous changes that relate to another quantity that has a continuous change.
Brooks RM 909 reviews Icon
A visual picture or symbol on a computer screen that represents a file, program or disc that can be used.
Fader
A control to control the gain of a channel on the console, thereby determining the level of the signal in that channel.
Brooks HI FI projectors Cut-off Rate (Slope)
The number of dB that a filter reduces the signal for each octave its frequency past the filter's cut-off frequency (outside of the pass band).
Headphones
Devices that can be worn on the head with small speakers that fit over the ears (or sometimes into the ears).
Feed
To send an audio or control signal to.
LFO
Low-Frequency Oscillator (an oscillator that puts out an AC signal between .1 Hz and 10Hz used for a control signal).
Analog (Analogue)
Representative, continuous changes that relate to another quantity that has a continuous change.
Brooks RM 909 reviews Icon
A visual picture or symbol on a computer screen that represents a file, program or disc that can be used.
Fader
A control to control the gain of a channel on the console, thereby determining the level of the signal in that channel.
Brooks HI FI projectors Cut-off Rate (Slope)
The number of dB that a filter reduces the signal for each octave its frequency past the filter's cut-off frequency (outside of the pass band).
Headphones
Devices that can be worn on the head with small speakers that fit over the ears (or sometimes into the ears).
Feed
To send an audio or control signal to.
LFO
Low-Frequency Oscillator (an oscillator that puts out an AC signal between .1 Hz and 10Hz used for a control signal).
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Brooks RM 909 reviews Echo
1) One distinct repeat of a sound because of the sound reflecting off a surface.
2) Loosely, used to mean reverberation (the continuing of a sound after the source stops emitting it, caused by many discrete echoes closely spaced in time).
Hum
The 60 Hz power line current accidentally induced or fed into electronic equipment.
Brooks Hi Fi reviews Capacitance
The property of being able to oppose a change in voltage or store an electrical charge.
Amplifier (Power amp, Head)
It's the part of the sound system that actually magnifies or "amplifies" the sound. In other words, it makes stuff louder.
Brooks Hi Fi speakers Flange
An effect caused by an approximately even mix of a modulated (varying) short delay with the direct signal.
Equipment Rack
A cabinet with rails (or free standing rails) that have holes to accept screws at standard spaces and used to house outboard gear.
Electromagnetic Field
Magnetic energy put out because of current travelling through a conductor.
High Impedance
Impedance of 5000 or more ohms.
2) Loosely, used to mean reverberation (the continuing of a sound after the source stops emitting it, caused by many discrete echoes closely spaced in time).
Hum
The 60 Hz power line current accidentally induced or fed into electronic equipment.
Brooks Hi Fi reviews Capacitance
The property of being able to oppose a change in voltage or store an electrical charge.
Amplifier (Power amp, Head)
It's the part of the sound system that actually magnifies or "amplifies" the sound. In other words, it makes stuff louder.
Brooks Hi Fi speakers Flange
An effect caused by an approximately even mix of a modulated (varying) short delay with the direct signal.
Equipment Rack
A cabinet with rails (or free standing rails) that have holes to accept screws at standard spaces and used to house outboard gear.
Electromagnetic Field
Magnetic energy put out because of current travelling through a conductor.
High Impedance
Impedance of 5000 or more ohms.
Sunday, February 4, 2024
Brooks RM 909 Distortion
Usually undesirable result of overloading sound equipment. Reducing the levels can remedy the situation.
Keying Input (Key Input)
An input on a dynamics processing device to control the device by an external audio signal.
Brooks HI FI projectors Ground Lift
A switch that breaks the connection between the ground point in one circuit and the ground point in another circuit.
Hz (Hertz)
1) An abbreviation for the term Hertz (the unit of frequency).
2) Unit of frequency equivalent to the number of cycles per second.
Brooks Hi Fi speakers Interface
Any device that allows one unit to work, drive or communicate with another unit when they cannot do so by just feeding each other often because the units are manufactured by different companies.
Efficiency
The acoustic power delivered for a given electrical input. Often expressed as decibels/watt/meter (dB/w/m). ESL �" Abbreviation for electrostatic loudspeaker.
Line Level
1) An amplified signal level put out by an amplifier and used as the normal level that runs through the interconnecting cables in a control room.
2) A low level signal such as the signal in a guitar cord. Most parts of a PA require a line level signal. Remember, however, that speaker outputs are not line level. Plugging speaker outs into line ins will result in damage to the equipment
Amplitude
The strength of a vibrating wave; in sound, the loudness of the sound.
Keying Input (Key Input)
An input on a dynamics processing device to control the device by an external audio signal.
Brooks HI FI projectors Ground Lift
A switch that breaks the connection between the ground point in one circuit and the ground point in another circuit.
Hz (Hertz)
1) An abbreviation for the term Hertz (the unit of frequency).
2) Unit of frequency equivalent to the number of cycles per second.
Brooks Hi Fi speakers Interface
Any device that allows one unit to work, drive or communicate with another unit when they cannot do so by just feeding each other often because the units are manufactured by different companies.
Efficiency
The acoustic power delivered for a given electrical input. Often expressed as decibels/watt/meter (dB/w/m). ESL �" Abbreviation for electrostatic loudspeaker.
Line Level
1) An amplified signal level put out by an amplifier and used as the normal level that runs through the interconnecting cables in a control room.
2) A low level signal such as the signal in a guitar cord. Most parts of a PA require a line level signal. Remember, however, that speaker outputs are not line level. Plugging speaker outs into line ins will result in damage to the equipment
Amplitude
The strength of a vibrating wave; in sound, the loudness of the sound.
Friday, February 2, 2024
Brooks Hi Fi speakers Cable, XLR
A balanced cable used for low impedance microphones and sometimes for connections between some parts of the PA. Commonly referred to as a "mic cord".
Ground Adapter Plug
Adapts a three pronged electrical plug to a two pronged wall outlet. This bypasses the ground and may create a hum in the system. A lack of a good ground can cause mild electrical shock when touching a microphone.
Brooks RM 909 reviews Automation
In consoles, a feature that lets the engineer program control changes (such as fader level) so that upon playback of the multitrack recording these changes happen automatically.
Comb Filter
1) The frequency response achieved by mixing a direct signal with a delayed signal of equal strength especially at short delays.
2) Loosely used to also describe effects that can be achieved with comb filtering as part of the processing.
Brooks HI FI projectors Channel
1) In multitrack tape machines, this term means the same thing as the term Track (one audio recording made on a portion of the width of a multitrack tape).
2) A single path that an audio signal travels or can travel through a device from an input to an output.
Close Micing
A technique of placing a microphone close to the sound source (within one foot) in order to pick up mainly the direct sound and to avoid picking up leakage or ambience.
Byte
A grouping of eight information bits.
Hz (Hertz)
1) An abbreviation for the term Hertz (the unit of frequency).
2) Unit of frequency equivalent to the number of cycles per second.
Ground Adapter Plug
Adapts a three pronged electrical plug to a two pronged wall outlet. This bypasses the ground and may create a hum in the system. A lack of a good ground can cause mild electrical shock when touching a microphone.
Brooks RM 909 reviews Automation
In consoles, a feature that lets the engineer program control changes (such as fader level) so that upon playback of the multitrack recording these changes happen automatically.
Comb Filter
1) The frequency response achieved by mixing a direct signal with a delayed signal of equal strength especially at short delays.
2) Loosely used to also describe effects that can be achieved with comb filtering as part of the processing.
Brooks HI FI projectors Channel
1) In multitrack tape machines, this term means the same thing as the term Track (one audio recording made on a portion of the width of a multitrack tape).
2) A single path that an audio signal travels or can travel through a device from an input to an output.
Close Micing
A technique of placing a microphone close to the sound source (within one foot) in order to pick up mainly the direct sound and to avoid picking up leakage or ambience.
Byte
A grouping of eight information bits.
Hz (Hertz)
1) An abbreviation for the term Hertz (the unit of frequency).
2) Unit of frequency equivalent to the number of cycles per second.
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