Brooks Audio Design

A line around which a device operates. Example: In a microphone, this would be an imaginary line coming out from the front of the microphone in the direction of motion of the diaphragm. I/O Short for "Input/Output' and referring to: 1) An in-line console module that contains controls for the input section, output section and monitor section. 2) A module in electronic gear containing input and output amplifiers for the device. 3) A digital port (connector) able to both receive digital data and output digital data. Brooks GS 15 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). 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 unwant...

A prefix meaning two. Capsule 1) The variable capacitor section of a condenser microphone. 2) In other types of microphones, the part of the microphone that includes the diaphragm and the active element. Brooks SS 81 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. 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 RM 80 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). Fret Buzz A buz...

A dynamic processing device that turns a channel off or down when the signal drops below a certain level. Link (Said of compressors and dynamic processing units.) To combine the control input signals of two channels of a compressor (o Brooks M 44 Filter 1) A device that removes signals with frequencies above or below a certain point called the cut-off frequency. 2) An equalizer section, used in this sense because filters are used with other components to give an equalizer its frequency response characteristics. 3) The action of removing signals of some frequencies and leaving the rest. 4) A mechanical device to smooth out speed variations in tape machines called a Scrape Flutter Filter- more usually called a Scrape Flutter Idler 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 TA 60 Effects Electronic boxes (usually rack mounted)...

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. Imaging To make a representation or imitation of the original sonic event. Brooks Speakers Full Step A change in pitch that occurs when moving up or down two piano keys Distorted The way your PA sounds just before it blows up. Fuzzy and scratchy. If you hear this, it either means you have something hooked up wrong, or something in the system is going bad. It could be anything from your super expensive soundboard to a five dollar patch cord. Brooks GT 845 Fat Having more than a normal amount of signal strength at low frequencies or having more sound than normal (by use of compression or delay). Floor 1) An alternate tam meaning Range (a limit on the amount the signal is reduced when the input signal...

A device which reduces gain when the input voltage exceeds a certain level. Infinite Repeat A function on some delay lines that establish enough feedback so that the repeat echo will last forever, but not so much as to cause a howling sound. Brooks TM-22 Effects Electronic boxes (usually rack mounted) added to a PA system to subtly change and enhance the signals going through it. Examples include; Reverb, Delay, Compressor, Chorus. Attack The rate the sound begins and increases in volume. Brooks BA 71 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. LED A light that allows current to flow in one direction only and emits light whenever a voltage of a certain level or beyond is applied to it. Intermodulation Distortion...

A number assigned to each key of a synthesizer or controller keyboard that is transmitted in the MIDI signal. Haas Effect Simply stated, a factor in human hearing where delay has a much bigger effect on human perception of direction than level does. Brooks Cinema XR 607 Amplifier Sound equipment that converts the low voltage, low current signal from a tape deck, mixer etc. into a higher current signal suitable for driving speakers. See Power Amplifier, Crossover. Expansion The opposite of compression; for example, an expander may allow the signal to increase 2 dB every time the signal input increased by 1 dB. Brooks TA 60 Electromagnetic Field Magnetic energy put out because of current travelling through a conductor. 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. Compression Ratio How...

1) Short for line level. 2) A cable. Chord Three or more musical pitches sung or played together. Brooks XB 22 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. Clean Describes a distortion free sound with few effects. Brooks Cinema TZ 505 Axis A line around which a device operates. Example: In a microphone, this would be an imaginary line coming out from the front of the microphone in the direction of motion of the diaphragm. Full A quality of the sound of having all frequencies present, especially the low frequencies. Front Loaded A speaker cabinet where the speaker faces out toward the front. Charge The electrical energy of electrons. The energy is in the form of a force that is considered negative and repels other like forces (other electrons) and attracts opposite (positive) forces.

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 it like you have some balls"). Coincident Microphones (Coincident Pair) Two microphones whose heads are placed as lose as possible to each other so that the path length from any sound source to either microphone is for all practical purposes, the same. Brooks Cinema xm 808 Bank 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. Console A set of controls and their housing, which control all signals necessary for recording and mixing. Brooks Cinema NZ 60 Boom 1) A hand-held, telescoping pole used to hold the microphone in recording dialogue in film production. 2) A telescoping support arm that is attached to a microphone stand and which holds the microphone. 3...

1) The signal fed back to the musicians through headphones. 2) To set the tape or disc so that the intended selection will immediately play when the tape machine or player is started. 3) A location point entered into a computer controlling the playback or recording of a track or tape. 4) In MCI brand tape machines, a term meaning the same thing as Sync Playback (where the record head is used as a playback head for those tracks already recorded). Active/Inactive Microphones Scientific definitions aside, active microphones generally sound better than inactive ones, but they generally cost more. They also require the use of either a battery or phantom power while inactive mics need only be plugged into the mic cord in order to work. In most playing situations, the subtle improvement in sound quality from an active mic isn't worth the extra cost and hassle. One possible exception it the headset mic. Put simply, inactive headset mics just plain suck. Active headset mics pu...

A prefix meaning 1000. Harmonic Distortion The presence of harmonics in the output signal of a device which were not present in the input signal. Brooks GS 15 Baffles Sound absorbing panels used to prevent sound waves from entering or leaving a certain space 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 XT 20 Frequency The number of cycles of a waveform occurring in a second. Early Reflections The first echoes in a room, caused by the sound from the sound source reflecting off one surface before reaching the listener. 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 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 leak...

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. Flange An effect caused by an approximately even mix of a modulated (varying) short delay with the direct signal. Brooks Cinema KP 30 Group Faders 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). In Port A jack on a MIDI device or computer that will accept an incoming data signal. Brooks XT 20 Bouncing Alternate name for Ping-Ponging (playing several tacks with sync playback through a console to mix them together and record them on an open track). Clean Describes a distortion free sound with few effects. Fly In 1) To add sounds into a mix or recording that have no synchronization. 2) An application of this where a ...

A Compact Disc used to store digital data, such as large programs, that can be read by a computer. Contact Microphone A device that senses vibrations and puts out an audio signal proportional to the vibrations. Brooks TM-22 Chord Three or more musical pitches sung or played together. 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 M 44 Compression Driver The unit that feeds a sound pressure wave into the throat of a horn (in a horn loudspeaker). Bouncing Alternate name for Ping-Ponging (playing several tacks with sync playback through a console to mix them together and record them on an open track). Infinite Repeat A function on some delay lines that establish enough feedback so that the repeat echo will last forever, but not so much as to cause a howlin...

The front or body of the guitar. I/O Short for "Input/Output' and referring to: 1) An in-line console module that contains controls for the input section, output section and monitor section. 2) A module in electronic gear containing input and output amplifiers for the device. 3) A digital port (connector) able to both receive digital data and output digital data. Brooks Cinema RM 909 Decibel (dB) 1) Relative measurement for the volume (loudness) of sound. Also used to measure the difference between two voltages, or two currents. See Zero dB. 2) A numerical expression of the relative loudness of a sound. The difference in decibels between two sounds is ten times the common logarithm of the ratio of their power levels. 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. Brooks Cinema Projectors Line Out (Output, Send)...

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. Analog To Digital Converter The device which does the conversion of a quantity that has continuous changes (usually of voltage) into numbers that approximate those changes. Brooks Cinema Series Jack 1) Anywhere you plug something in. 2) Segmented audio connector. Mono Jacks have two connections �" tip and sleeve, and are unbalanced. Stereo jacks have three connections �" tip, ring and sleeve. B-type jacks (also known as Bantam jacks) were originally designed for use in telephone exchanges and provide a high quality (and expensive) connection in jackfields. A-type jacks are cheaper and more common, but more fragile. A type jacks are available in 2 sizes : quarter inch and eighth inch. 3) A connecto...

A baffle so large that the sounds coming from one side do not reach the other side. Alternating Current Electric current which flows back and forth in a circuit. Brooks Cinema TZ 505 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. Capo A clamp-like device that is placed vertically across the guitar neck. It is used to change the pitch of the guitar, acting as a moveable nut. Brooks Cinema ZL 44 Input Impedance The opposition to current flow by the first circuits of a device. Consumer Format (Consumer DIF) A standard adopted by IEC for sending and receiving digital audio based on The AES Professional Inter...

1) A quad pan pot which distributes what percentage of on signal is sent to each of 4 outputs. 2) A control that is separately controlling two functions at one time. Attack The rate the sound begins and increases in volume. Brooks QS 70 Face The front or body of the guitar. Bass Roll Off An electrical network built into some microphones to reduce the amount of output at bass frequencies when close-micing. Brooks Cinema Series Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Cut 1) One selection (one song) on a pre4ecorded music format. 2) A term with the same meaning as Mute (to turn off a channel or a signal). 3) To reduce gain of a particular band of frequencies (with an equalizer). 4) To not pass a particular band of frequencies (said of a filter) Line Level 1) An amplified signal level put out by an amplifier and used as the normal level that runs through the interconnecting c...

1) Any musical instrument controlled by pressing a key. 2) The part of the computer that has the keys. Cardioid Pattern A microphone pick up pattern, which has maximum pick up from the front, less pick up from the sides, and least pick up from the back of the diaphragm. Brooks TM-22 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. Electric Current A more formal term meaning the same as the term Current (the amount of electron charge passing a point in a conductor per unit of time). Brooks Cinema TX 509 Ground Loop A double grounding of a line or electronic device at two different "ground" points of differing voltage. Infinite Baffle A baffle so large that the sounds coming from one side do not reach the other side. Cut-off Rate (Slope) The number of dB that a filter reduces the signal...

The working of a limiter or compressor reducing gain during high-level passages. Kick (Kick Drum) Another term for Bass Drum. Brooks M 44 In-Line Console A console with modules that have controls for all console sections in one long strip. Axis A line around which a device operates. Example: In a microphone, this would be an imaginary line coming out from the front of the microphone in the direction of motion of the diaphragm. Brooks Cinema TZ 505 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). Final Mix The two track stereo master tape which was mixed from the multitrack master. 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. Cycle 1) An alternation of a waveform which b...

A substance such as glass, air, plastic, etc., that will (for all practical purposes) not conduct electricity. Harmonic Distortion The presence of harmonics in the output signal of a device which were not present in the input signal. Brooks Cinema TX 509 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 it like you have some balls"). Contact Microphone A device that senses vibrations and puts out an audio signal proportional to the vibrations. Brooks Speakers Gain Control A device that changes the gain of an amplifier or circuit, often a knob that can be turned or a slide that can be moved up arid down. Keyboard Controller A device that has the standard music keys of piano but puts out MIDI signals Horn 1) The part of the speaker that emits midrange and higher range frequencies. 2) A speaker or speaker enclosure whe...

Two microphones whose heads are placed as lose as possible to each other so that the path length from any sound source to either microphone is for all practical purposes, the same. 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. Brooks Cinema xm 808 Horn 1) The part of the speaker that emits midrange and higher range frequencies. 2) A speaker or speaker enclosure where sound waves are put into a narrow opening (by a speaker cone or driver) and the narrow opening flairs out to a larger opening. Bi A prefix meaning two. Brooks Cinema TX 509 Front Loaded A speaker cabinet where the speaker faces out toward the front. 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). Attack The rate ...

A wire carrying signals to some place, usually fed from several sources. Consumer Format (Consumer DIF) A standard adopted by IEC for sending and receiving digital audio based on The AES Professional Interface. Brooks TM-22 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. AES An abbreviation of Audio Engineering Society. Brooks KS-55 Fundamental The tuned frequency and (almost always) the lowest frequency that is present in the sounding of a pitch by a musical instrument. Absorption Short for the term Acoustical Absorption (quality of a surface or substance to take in, not reflect, a sound wave). 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 instrumen...

Vertical metal wires which sit vertically on the guitar neck. 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. Brooks Cinema XR 607 ID An index signal (digital data that gives the machine information of where selections start, their selection number, etc.) on a DAT or CD. 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 Projectors 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" Cut-Off Frequency (Turnover Frequency) 1) The highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter. 2) The...

Abbreviation of Integrated Circuit (A miniature circuit of many components that is in small, sealed housing with prongs to connect it into equipment). Fly In 1) To add sounds into a mix or recording that have no synchronization. 2) An application of this where a performance from one part of a tune is recorded and then recorded back into the recording at a different time in the recording. Brooks Cinema xm 808 Cable, 1/4 inch An unbalanced cable most often used for instruments and patch cords. Commonly referred to as "guitar cords". 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. Brooks TA 60 Amplifier A device which increases the amplitude (level) of an electrical signal (making it louder). Limiter A device w...

Pressing and immediately releasing the switch on a computer's mouse. Icon A visual picture or symbol on a computer screen that represents a file, program or disc that can be used. Brooks GS 15 Frequency The number of cycles of a waveform occurring in a second. Head 1) In tape recording, the transducer (energy converter) that changes the audio energy from electrical energy to magnetic energy and back; also the devices that apply magnetism to the recording tape for other purposes such as in the erase head. 2) The part of a device that immediately includes the transducer to change sound or audio signals from one energy form to another. Brooks BA 71 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. Buss (Bus) A wire carrying signals to some place, usually fed from several sources. Arc The visible sparks generated by an electrical discharge. ...

A microphone stand equipped with a telescoping support arm to hold the microphone. Centre Frequency The frequency of the audio signal that is boosted or attenuated most by an equalizer with a peak equalization curve. Brooks M 44 Clicking Pressing and immediately releasing the switch on a computer's mouse. Icon A visual picture or symbol on a computer screen that represents a file, program or disc that can be used. Brooks TA 60 Joystick 1) A quad pan pot which distributes what percentage of on signal is sent to each of 4 outputs. 2) A control that is separately controlling two functions at one time. 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. Binary A numbering system based on two. In binary there are two symbols used (...

Describes a distortion free sound with few effects. Distortion Usually undesirable result of overloading sound equipment. Reducing the levels can remedy the situation. Brooks SS 81 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). 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. Brooks Cinema KP 30 Level The amount of signal strength; the amplitude, especially the average amplitude. Gate A dynamic processing device that turns a channel off or down when the signal drops below a certain level. Flange An effect caused by an approximately even mix of a modulated (varying) short delay with the direct signal. Corner Frequency Same as ...

The way your PA sounds just before it blows up. Fuzzy and scratchy. If you hear this, it either means you have something hooked up wrong, or something in the system is going bad. It could be anything from your super expensive soundboard to a five dollar patch cord. Initialize To prepare a digital storage medium (like a floppy disk) so that it will accept and store digital information bits. Brooks Speakers DC Abbreviation for direct current. Frequency Practically speaking, high frequency means high pitch and low frequency means low pitch. Brooks Cinema NZ 60 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". ADAT A trademark of Alesis Corporation designating its modular digital multitrack recording system released in early 1993. Lead The musical instrument that plays the melody of the tune, including the vocal. Frame 1) A div...

A miniature circuit of many components in a small, sealed housing with prongs to connect it into equipment. 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. Brooks Cinema XR 607 Effects 1) Various ways an audio signal can be modified by adding something to the signal to change the sound. 2) Short for the term Sound Effects (sounds other than dialogue, narration or music like door closings, wind, etc. added to film or video shots). 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. Brooks TA 60 Fidelity The recording or reproduction quality. Chorusing 1) A term meanin...

1) Abbreviation for alternating current. 2) An abbreviation of the term Alternating Current (electric current which flows back and forth in a circuit; all studio signals running through audio lines are AC). 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 Cinema KP 30 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. 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). Brooks Cinema ZL 44 Ampere The unit of current, abbreviated Amp. Envelope 1) How a sound or audio signal varies in intensity over a time span. 2) How a control vol...

A hearing limitation shown by Fletcher Munson Equal Loudness Contours (as music is lowered in volume, it is much more difficult to hear bass frequencies and somewhat harder to hear very high frequencies). FOH (Front of House) Refers to the speakers that face toward the audience. Also called the "main" speakers. Brooks Cinema Projectors Beat 1) The steady even pulse in music. 2) The action of two sounds or audio signals mixing together and causing regular rises &.falls in volume. Frequency Practically speaking, high frequency means high pitch and low frequency means low pitch. Brooks M 44 Full A quality of the sound of having all frequencies present, especially the low frequencies. Analog To Digital Converter The device which does the conversion of a quantity that has continuous changes (usually of voltage) into numbers that approximate those changes. Alternating Current Electric current which flows back and forth in a circuit. A...

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) Line 1) Short for line level. 2) A cable. Brooks Cinema TZ 505 Amplifier Sound equipment that converts the low voltage, low current signal from a tape deck, mixer etc. into a higher current signal suitable for driving speakers. See Power Amplifier, Crossover. Feed To send an audio or control signal to. Brooks XB 22 Error Message A prompt on a computer screen telling the operator that an error has occurred. Capo A clamp-like device that is placed vertically across the guitar neck. It is used to change the pitch of the guitar, acting as a moveable nut. Formant An element in the sound of a voice or instrument that does not change frequency as different pitches are s...