Brooks Audio Design

The opposition to current flow by the first circuits of a device. Error Correct Exact replacement of lost information bits in digital audio. Brooks GT 44 Input 1) The jack or physical location of where a device receives a signal. 2) The signal being received by a device. 3) The action of receiving a signal by a device. Imaging To make a representation or imitation of the original sonic event. Brooks SS 81 Cascade To set and interconnect two mixers so that the stereo mixing buss(es) of the first mixer feeds the stereo buss(es) of a second mixer. Bi-Amplification 1) A way of optimizing the efficiency of a speaker system by separately amplifying the High Frequency (HF) and Low Frequency (LF) portions of the sound signal and sending them down two pairs of cables to the speaker. Multipin Speakon connectors have been developed to do this. 2)The process of having of having low-frequency speakers and high-frequency speakers driven by separate amplifiers.

An abbreviation of Beat Per Minute (the number of steady even pulses in music occurring in one minute and therefore defining the tempo). Amplitude The strength of a vibrating wave; in sound, the loudness of the sound. Brooks Cinema ZL 44 Auxiliary Equipment Effects devices separate from but working with the recording console. Capacitor 1) A device consisting of two or more conducting plates separated from one another by an insulating material and used for storing an electrical charge. Sometimes called a condenser. 2) An electronic device that is composed of two plates separated by an insulator. Brooks QS 70 Hearing Limitation An inability of the ear to hear important characteristics of sound under certain conditions. Characteristics that can be affected include pitch, level, clarity, presence and direction. Key The control of a dynamics processing device by an external audio signal. Floppy Disk (Floppy Disc) A round flat object (usually housed in

1) The jack or physical location of where a device receives a signal. 2) The signal being received by a device. 3) The action of receiving a signal by a device. Golden Section A ratio of height to width to length of a room to achieve "good acoustics" and first recommended by the ancient Greeks. The ratio is approximately the width 1.6 times the height and the length 2.6 times the height Brooks XB 22 Cord (Speaker, Mic, Instrument) Used to connect a sound system together. Each type of cord is made for a specific purpose and should not be used in place of another type of cord, not even if they look alike. Also see "cable" Boost To increase gain, especially to increase gain at specific frequencies with an equalizer. Brooks QS 70 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. Echo Send The outpu

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. High Impedance Impedance of 5000 or more ohms. Brooks Cinema Series Feedback 1) The delayed signal sent back to the input of a delay line, used in repeat-echo effects. 2) The pickup of the signal out of a channel by its input or the howling sound that this produces. 3) In an amplifier, the phase reversed output signal sent back to its input, reducing gain but also distortion and noise. 4) This occurs when the sound coming out of the speakers goes back into the microphones, then back out the speakers, then back into the mics…and so on. This can build very quickly to a point where everyone in the room is holding their ears and screaming at you. It can also cause damage to the PA. Level Sets output volume of individual PA input channels. Usually positioned as sliders at the bottom of the soundboard. Brooks M

To make a representation or imitation of the original sonic event. Direct box Used in line to convert a high impedance signal into a low impedance signal. Brooks GS 15 Balance Control A control on a stereo amplifier that when moved clockwise will make the right channel louder (and the left channel softer) and will do the reverse when moved counter-clockwise. Earth The British version of the term Ground (In electronics, a place that has zero volts). Brooks XT 20 Console A set of controls and their housing, which control all signals necessary for recording and mixing. Linearity The extent to which any signal handling process is accomplished without amplitude distortion. Headstock The area of the guitar at the end of the neck where the strings are tuned. Attack The rate the sound begins and increases in volume.

The frequency of the audio signal that is boosted or attenuated most by an equalizer with a peak equalization curve. Input/Output Module A set of controls, on one housing, for an in-line console that has two channels (one for recording and one for monitoring) and has controls for all console sections. Brooks Cinema TX 509 Equalization 1) The process of adjusting the tonal quality of a sound. A graphic equalizer provides adjustment for a wide range of frequency bands, and is normally inserted in the signal path after the mixing desk, before the amplifier. See Feedback. 2) Any time the amplitude of audio signals at specific set of frequencies are increased or decreased more than the signals at other audio frequencies. Analog Recording A recording of the continuous changes of an audio waveform. Brooks Cinema RM 909 Condenser Microphone A microphone which converts sound pressure changes into changes of capacitance. The capacitance changes are then converted into

Usually undesirable result of overloading sound equipment. Reducing the levels can remedy the situation. Integrated Circuit (IC) A miniature circuit of many components in a small, sealed housing with prongs to connect it into equipment. Brooks GS 15 Insulator A substance such as glass, air, plastic, etc., that will (for all practical purposes) not conduct electricity. Engineer 1) A technician in charge of a recording session; Also called Recording Engineer. 2) A person with an engineering degree. 3) A person with sufficient experience in the field to be equivalent to the education one would receive earning an engineering degree. Brooks Speakers Byte A grouping of eight information bits. High Impedance Impedance of 5000 or more ohms. In-Line Console A console with modules that have controls for all console sections in one long strip. Compression Driver The unit that feeds a sound pressure wave into the throat of a horn (in a horn loudspeak

An abbreviation of Audio Engineering Society. Feed To send an audio or control signal to. Brooks Cinema TX 509 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 GS 15 Inductance The property of an electric circuit by which a varying current in it produces a varying magnetic field that introduces voltages in the same circuit or in a nearby circuit. It is measured in henrys. Automatic Gain Control (Automatic Volume Control) A compressor with a very long release time used to keep the volume of the audio very constant. Cue Send Control A control that will adjust the amount of signal sent to a cue buss from a console channel. Fret Buzz A buzzing soun

Leakage of an audio signal into a channel that iris not intended to be in, from an adjacent or nearby channel. Full Range Describes a sound which covers all audible frequency ranges. As in "full range speaker cabinets." Brooks SS 81 Guitar Processor A unit that will add effects to a direct guitar signal, including a simulated instrument amplifier sound and (often) delay and reverb effects. Attack The rate the sound begins and increases in volume. Brooks Cinema RM 909 Hypercardioid Pattern A microphone pick up sensitivity pattern where the least sensitive pick up point is more than 90 degrees but less than 150 degrees off axis (usually 120 degrees). Line 1) Short for line level. 2) A cable. 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). Figure Eight Pattern Another name for Bi-directional Pattern (microphone picku

Same as Cut-Off Frequency (the highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter). (NOUN) Ground In electronics, a place (terminal) that has zero volts. Brooks Cinema ZL 44 Bass Roll Off An electrical network built into some microphones to reduce the amount of output at bass frequencies when close-micing. Cancellation A shortening of the term Phase Cancellation (the energy of one waveform significantly decreasing the energy of another waveform because of phase relationships at or close to 180 degrees). Brooks Cinema TX 509 Controller 1) In MIDI, a device that generates a MIDI signal to control synthesizers, sound modules or sample playback units. 2) A remote control unit for a multitrack tape machine which controls transport functions as well as monitor selection switching functions and record ready/safe status of each track. 3) Any device generating a control voltage or signal fed to another device's control input. Cut 1) One selection (o

Negatively charged particles, which revolve around the centre of atoms. The movement of such electrons down a conductor causes electrical current. Floor 1) An alternate tam meaning Range (a limit on the amount the signal is reduced when the input signal is low by an expander or gate). 2) A shortening of the term Noise Floor (the level of the noise). Brooks Cinema RM 909 Harmonics Integer multiples of a fundamental frequency, the fundamental itself being the first harmonic, its first overtone the second harmonic, etc. Attributing to instruments, voices, etc. their distinctive timbre. Cut-Off Frequency (Turnover Frequency) 1) The highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter. 2) The highest or lowest frequency passed by an audio device (the cut-off frequency is usually considered to be the first frequency to be 3 dB lower than a reference frequency in the middle of the bandwidth of the device) Brooks Cinema xm 808 Ground Lift A switch that breaks

1) A collection of sound patches (data as to the sequence and operating parameters of the synthesizer generators and modifiers) in memory. 2) A group of sound modules as a unit. Fader A control to control the gain of a channel on the console, thereby determining the level of the signal in that channel. Brooks KM 77 House Sync A synchronization signal such as SMPTE time code that is used by all recorders in the control room. Cascade To set and interconnect two mixers so that the stereo mixing buss(es) of the first mixer feeds the stereo buss(es) of a second mixer. Brooks RM 80 Icon A visual picture or symbol on a computer screen that represents a file, program or disc that can be used. Keynote Number A number assigned to each key of a synthesizer or controller keyboard that is transmitted in the MIDI signal. Headphones Devices that can be worn on the head with small speakers that fit over the ears (or sometimes into the ears). Kilo A prefix

An additional output from a sound desk that can be used for foldback or monitoring without tying up the main outputs. Each input channel will have a path to the Aux buss. Also used for feeding a signal to an effects processor. See Auxiliary Return. DC Abbreviation for direct current. Brooks GS 15 Clipping Distortion of a signal by its being chopped off. An overload problem caused by pushing an amplifier beyond its capabilities. The flat-topped signal has high levels of harmonic distortion which creates heat in a loudspeaker and is the major cause of loudspeaker component failure. 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. Brooks Speakers Guitar Processor A unit that will add effects to a direct guitar signal, including a simulated instrument amplifier sound and (often) delay and reverb effects. Co

The portion of the sound that comes from the surrounding environment rather than directly from the sound source. Folded Horn A speaker design where the speaker points back into the cabinet and bounces around finally coming out large ports in the front. It is intended to maximize low frequencies in a relatively small cabinet. Brooks KM 77 Full Range Describes a sound which covers all audible frequency ranges. As in "full range speaker cabinets." Full A quality of the sound of having all frequencies present, especially the low frequencies. Brooks M 44 Attenuator (Pot) The electronic dohickey under the knobs that increases or reduces the strength of the signal running through it. When these get old and dirty, they can make popping noises or rumbles in your PA (As in "my pots are dirty"). Assign Tochoose to which place an output is going to be sent. Headstock The area of the guitar at the end of the neck where the strings are tuned.

A synchronization signal such as SMPTE time code that is used by all recorders in the control room. Earth The British version of the term Ground (In electronics, a place that has zero volts). Brooks Cinema TZ 505 Aliasing A sampler mis-recognizing a signal sent to it that is at a frequency higher than the Nyquist Frequency. Upon playback, the system will provide a signal at an incorrect frequency (called an alias frequency). Aliasing is a kind of distortion. Compact Disc Recordable CDR A blank Compact Disc that can be recorded on one time. Brooks RM 80 Boost To increase gain, especially to increase gain at specific frequencies with an equalizer. Full A quality of the sound of having all frequencies present, especially the low frequencies. Flamenco A style of music with roots in Spanish and Arabic culture. Balanced input/output A "balanced" connection is one that has three wires to move the signal. One is a ground, and the other two

A computer program allowing the storage of the parameters of sound patches outside of a synthesizer. Consumer Format (Consumer DIF) A standard adopted by IEC for sending and receiving digital audio based on The AES Professional Interface. Brooks Cinema TX 509 Harmonics Integer multiples of a fundamental frequency, the fundamental itself being the first harmonic, its first overtone the second harmonic, etc. Attributing to instruments, voices, etc. their distinctive timbre. Attack The rate the sound begins and increases in volume. Brooks Cinema TZ 505 Blending 1) A condition where two signals mix together to form one sound or to give the sound of one sound source or one performance. 2) Mixing the left and right signal together slightly which makes the instruments sound closer to the center of the performance stage. 3) A method of panning during mixing where instruments are not panned extremely left or right. Jam Sync A generation of new SMPTE according t

A trademark of Alesis Corporation designating its modular digital multitrack recording system released in early 1993. Assistant Engineer A less elevated version of the term Second Engineer. Experienced seconds often place microphones, operate tape machines, break down equipment at the session end and keep the paperwork for the session. Brooks Cinema RM 909 Binary A numbering system based on two. In binary there are two symbols used ("l" and "0"). Circuit 1) One complete path of electric current. 2) Similar to definition 1, but including all paths and components to accomplish one function in a device. Brooks Cinema Series Attenuation A making smaller: reduction of electrical or acoustic signal strength. Electrostatic Charge The excess or deficiency of electrons in a given area. Ground In electronics, a place (terminal) that has zero volts. Chord Three or more musical pitches sung or played together.

An element in the sound of a voice or instrument that does not change frequency as different pitches are sounded. Chord Three or more musical pitches sung or played together. Brooks Cinema TZ 505 Line In (Input, return) Where a signal enters the board or component. Auxiliary Equipment Effects devices separate from but working with the recording console. Brooks Cinema TX 509 Compander Outboard sound equipment. Combination of a Compressor and an Expander. Equalization 1) The process of adjusting the tonal quality of a sound. A graphic equalizer provides adjustment for a wide range of frequency bands, and is normally inserted in the signal path after the mixing desk, before the amplifier. See Feedback. 2) Any time the amplitude of audio signals at specific set of frequencies are increased or decreased more than the signals at other audio frequencies. Frame 1) A division of one second in synchronization and recording coming from definition two. 2)

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. Front Loaded A speaker cabinet where the speaker faces out toward the front. Brooks RM 80 Lead The musical instrument that plays the melody of the tune, including the vocal. Flutter 1) High-frequency variations in pitch of a recorded waveform due to fast speed variations in a recorder or playback machine. 2) Originally, and more formally, any variations (fast or slow) in pitch of a recorded tone due to speed fluctuations in a recorder or playback unit. Brooks SS 81 Dry Describes a sound coming from the PA with no effects on it. High Frequencies The audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above. Balls 1) The depth and thickness of a sound, usually on the bottom end of the EQ (as in "needs more balls"). 2) The strength of the voice on the mic (as in "check i

1) In film production audio, a recording of the mixdown of all the sound effects for the film ready to be mixed with the dialogue and music. 2) In music recording, one track with a recording of effects to be added to another track of a multitrack recording. Editing 1) Changing the sequence of a recording by cutting the recording tape and putting the pieces together in the new sequence with splicing tape. 2) Punching in and then punching out on one or more tracks of a multitrack tape recorder to replace previously recorded performances. 3) Changing the sequence of a digital recording's playback by computer program. Brooks Cinema KP 30 Compander 1) A two section device that is used in noise reduction systems. The first section compresses the audio signal, before it is recorded, and the second section, expands the signal after recording. 2) In Yamaha brand digital consoles, a signal processing function that applies both compression and expansion to the same signa

1) The part of The song that is repeated and has the same music and lyrics each time; the chorus will usually give the point of the song. 2) A musical singing group that has many singers. 3) A delay effect that simulates a vocal chorus by adding several delays with a mild amount of feedback and a medium amount of depth. 4) A similar effect created in some synthesizers by detuning (reducing the pitch of, slightly) and mixing it with the signal that has regular tuning and with a slight delay. 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". Brooks QS 70 Foldback A European term for the signal sent to the stage monitors in a live performance. Bi A prefix meaning two. Brooks Cinema NZ 60 Balanced 1) Having a pleasing amount of low frequencies compared to mid-range frequencies and high frequencies. 2) Having a pleasing mixture of the vario

The area from 3 feet away from the sound source up to the critical distance. Leakage Sounds from other instruments and sources that were not intended to be picked up by the microphone. Brooks Cinema TX 509 Linear The condition of obtaining a change at the output of the device which is proportional to the change occurring at the input. Ground In electronics, a place (terminal) that has zero volts. Brooks Speakers Keying Input (Key Input) An input on a dynamics processing device to control the device by an external audio signal. Chorus 1) The part of The song that is repeated and has the same music and lyrics each time; the chorus will usually give the point of the song. 2) A musical singing group that has many singers. 3) A delay effect that simulates a vocal chorus by adding several delays with a mild amount of feedback and a medium amount of depth. 4) A similar effect created in some synthesizers by detuning (reducing the pitch of, slightly) and m

1) High-frequency variations in pitch of a recorded waveform due to fast speed variations in a recorder or playback machine. 2) Originally, and more formally, any variations (fast or slow) in pitch of a recorded tone due to speed fluctuations in a recorder or playback unit. Instrument Out Direct Feeding the output of an electric instrument (like an electric guitar) to the recording console or tape recorder without using a microphone. Brooks M 44 Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Figure Eight Pattern Another name for Bi-directional Pattern (microphone pickup pattern picking up best from the front and back of the diaphragm and not picking up from the side of the diaphragm). Brooks Cinema RM 909 Ground Lift A switch that breaks the connection between the ground point in one circuit and the ground point in another circuit. Frets Vertical metal wires which sit vertically on the guit

The VCA faders of individual channels that are all controlled by a Group Master Fader (a slide control used to send out a control voltage to several VCA faders in individual channels). Band Track 1) A mixdown of a song without the lead vocal or without the lead and background vocals. 2) A term with the same meaning as the term Rhythm Track. 3) The recording of the rhythm instruments in a music production. Brooks XB 22 Editing 1) Changing the sequence of a recording by cutting the recording tape and putting the pieces together in the new sequence with splicing tape. 2) Punching in and then punching out on one or more tracks of a multitrack tape recorder to replace previously recorded performances. 3) Changing the sequence of a digital recording's playback by computer program. Linear The condition of obtaining a change at the output of the device which is proportional to the change occurring at the input. Brooks M 44 Atom The smallest particle which

The musical instrument that plays the melody of the tune, including the vocal. Action In guitar playing, action refers to how far the strings sit off of the guitar neck. When strings are close to the neck, it is referred to as "Low Action". When the string sit far above the neck, it is called "High Action". Guitars with low action are easier to play, but make sure they are not too close, or it could causing buzzing. Brooks GS 15 Channels These are divided into two separate categories. Input channels are those channels coming into the soundboard such as microphones and direct lines. Output channels are those leaving the board such as monitor and main outputs. 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 BA 71 Beats Per Minute BPM The number of s

Describes a good clean high midrange sound. It can be good or bad depending on the look on the face of the guy who said it. Bulk Dump Short for System Exclusive Bulk Dump (a method of transmitting data, such as the internal parameters of a MIDI device to another MIDI device). Brooks TA 60 Chase The automatic adjusting of the speed of a recorder (or sequencer) to be time with another recorder. Format 1) The number of tracks, their width, spacing and order for tape recording. 2) To prepare a digital storage medium so that it will accept and store digital information bits. Brooks RM 80 Field 1) In video, one half of a frame. 2) In computer-controlled devices a window display with functions and choices that the operator can make Buss (Bus) A wire carrying signals to some place, usually fed from several sources. Hall Program A setting of a digital delay/reverb effects unit that approximates concert halls. Hall programs are characterized by pre-delay

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). Floppy Disk (Floppy Disc) A round flat object (usually housed in a protective sleeve) coated with material that can be magnetized in a similar manner to tape. Brooks Cinema NZ 60 Bar A term meaning the same thing as the term Measure (the grouping of a number of beats in music, most-often four beats). Corner Frequency Same as Cut-Off Frequency (the highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter). (NOUN) Brooks Cinema TX 509 Hall Program A setting of a digital delay/reverb effects unit that approximates concert halls. Hall programs are characterized by pre-delay of up to 25 ms. 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. Aliasing A sampler mis-recognizing a signal sent to it that is at a frequency higher th

A switch that breaks the connection between the ground point in one circuit and the ground point in another circuit. Compression Ratio How many dB the input signal has to rise above the threshold for every one dB more output of a compressor or limiter. Brooks RM 80 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. Corner Frequency Same as Cut-Off Frequency (the highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter). (NOUN) Brooks XB 22 Chamber 1) An Echo Chamber (a room designed with very hard, non-parallel surfaces equipped with a speaker and microphone so that when dry signals from the console are fed to the speaker, the microphone will

The recording (or playing) of a musical part with of several similar sound patches playing simultaneous. Input/Output Module A set of controls, on one housing, for an in-line console that has two channels (one for recording and one for monitoring) and has controls for all console sections. Brooks Cinema ZL 44 Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Feedback 1) The delayed signal sent back to the input of a delay line, used in repeat-echo effects. 2) The pickup of the signal out of a channel by its input or the howling sound that this produces. 3) In an amplifier, the phase reversed output signal sent back to its input, reducing gain but also distortion and noise. 4) This occurs when the sound coming out of the speakers goes back into the microphones, then back out the speakers, then back into the mics…and so on. This can build very quickly to a point where everyone in the room is holding the

A synchronization signal such as SMPTE time code that is used by all recorders in the control room. Acoustic Amplifier The portion of the instrument which makes the vibrating source move more air or move air more efficiently; this makes the sound of the instrument louder. Examples of acoustic amplifiers include: 1) The body of an acoustic guitar, 2) The sounding board of a piano, 3) The bell of a horn and 4) The shell of a drum. Brooks Speakers Dry Describes a sound coming from the PA with no effects on it. Group Master A slide control used to send out a control voltage to several VCA faders in individual channels, thus controlling the gain of several channels. Brooks GS 15 Linearity The extent to which any signal handling process is accomplished without amplitude distortion. 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 th