Brooks Audio Design

The British version of the term Ground (In electronics, a place that has zero volts). Attack The rate the sound begins and increases in volume. Brooks QS-70 Boost To increase gain, especially to increase gain at specific frequencies with an equalizer. Clean Describes a distortion free sound with few effects. Brooks RM 80 Instrument Amplifier A device that has a power amplifier and speaker in a case (or in separate cases) to reproduce the signal put out by an electric instrument (such as an electric guitar) and to allow the instrument to be heard. Haas Effect Simply stated, a factor in human hearing where delay has a much bigger effect on human perception of direction than level does. Fade 1) A gradual reduction of the level of the audio signal. 2) A gradual change of level from one pre-set level to another. Equalizer (Parametric, Graphic) This is used to filter out and adjust specific frequencies in the PA. This is the part of the PA where

Negatively charged particles, which revolve around the centre of atoms. The movement of such electrons down a conductor causes electrical current. Compander Outboard sound equipment. Combination of a Compressor and an Expander. Brooks XT 20 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. Gain 1) Knob usually found at the top of each input channel on the soundboard. Used to set input levels of the separate channels to relatively equal positions. 2) The amount of increase in audio signal strength, often expressed in dB. Brooks XB 22 Contact Microphone A device that senses vibrations and puts out an audio signal proportional to the vibrations. Hearing Limitation An inability of the ear to hear important characteristics of sound under certain conditions. Characteristics that can be affected include

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). Keyboard 1) Any musical instrument controlled by pressing a key. 2) The part of the computer that has the keys. Brooks GT 44 Clean Describes a distortion free sound with few effects. Generating Element The portion of the microphone that actually converts the movement of the diaphragm into electrical current or voltage changes. Brooks Cinema ZL 44 Insulator A substance such as glass, air, plastic, etc., that will (for all practical purposes) not conduct electricity. Analog (Analogue) Representative, continuous changes that relate to another quantity that has a continuous change. 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

An adapter that takes a three prong power cord and plugs into a two prong outlet, used to disconnect the third (ground) pin of the power outlet. WARNING: It can be VERY DANGEROUS to have no ground connection to the case by using a ground lifter and not grounding the unit by other means. Compression Driver The unit that feeds a sound pressure wave into the throat of a horn (in a horn loudspeaker). Brooks VT-50 Cue Send Control A control that will adjust the amount of signal sent to a cue buss from a console channel. Balanced input/output A "balanced" connection is one that has three wires to move the signal. One is a ground, and the other two (called conductors) carry signals of equal value. This is why they are called balanced. Low Z cables and connections are the most common example. 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 de

An device with several slides controlling the gain of audio signal present which is within one of several evenly spaced frequency bands (spaced according to octaves). Crossover, Active A rack mountable unit used to separate frequencies leaving the soundboard into high's, mids, and lows with different outputs for each. Brooks GS 15 Compact Disc CD A small optical disk with digital audio recorded on it. Condenser Microphone A microphone which converts sound pressure changes into changes of capacitance. The capacitance changes are then converted into electrical voltage variations (an audio signal). Brooks BA 71 Attack The rate the sound begins and increases in volume. 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. ID An index signal (digital data

Simply stated, the fact that in an un-obstructed area (like an open field) the sound pressure level will drop to half-pressure (-6 dB) every time the distance to the sound source is doubled. Central Processing Unit 1) The main "brain" chip of a computer that performs the calculations and execution of instructions. 2) The main housing of a computer that contains the "brain" chip as opposed to other pieces of the computer system such as keyboards, monitors, etc. Brooks QS-70 Crosstalk Leakage of an audio signal into a channel that iris not intended to be in, from an adjacent or nearby channel. Face The front or body of the guitar. Brooks Cinema RM 909 Amplifier A device which increases the amplitude (level) of an electrical signal (making it louder). Haas Effect Simply stated, a factor in human hearing where delay has a much bigger effect on human perception of direction than level does. Current The amount of electron charge pas

The audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above. Formant An element in the sound of a voice or instrument that does not change frequency as different pitches are sounded. Brooks M 44 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. Delay (Digital, Analogue) 1) Effect used to create echo…echo…echo…echo…echo… 2) In more advanced systems used in very large venues, delay can be used to time the arrival of the signal to the speakers in the back of the room so that people in the back hear the sound coming from those speakers at the same time that the sound coming from the speakers in the front of the room arrives. Brooks KM 77 Clean Describ

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. 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 KP 30 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 connector mounted on the case of a device or on a panel. Crossover Frequency 1) The frequency that

A unit used in the measure of frequency, equivalent to Hertz. Cycles Per Second is an outdated term replaced by Hertz in 1948. 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 Cinema NZ 60 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. Amplifier A device which increases the amplitude (level) of an electrical signal (making it louder). Brooks XB 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. 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.

A small optical disk with digital audio recorded on it. 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 Cinema TX 509 Impedance Matching Having or converting the output impedance of a device so that it matches the impedance of the input it will feed. 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 GT 845 Driver See transducer. Dynamic Range �" The range between the quietest and the loudest sounds a device can handle (often quoted in dB). Error Message A prompt on a computer screen telling the operator that an error has occurred. Head 1) In tape recording, the transducer (energy converter) that changes the audio energy from electrical energy to magnetic energy and back; also the dev

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). 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. Brooks GT 845 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. Chamber 1) An Echo Chamber (a room designed with very hard, no

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. 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. Brooks Cinema XR 607 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. Impedance 1) A term for the electrical resistance found in a/c circuits. Affects the ability of a cable to transmit low level (e.g. sound) signals over a long distance. Measured in Ohms. Speakers are rated according to power handling capabilities (Watts, W) and impedance (Ohms). 2) The total opposition offered by an ele

The presence of harmonics in the output signal of a device which were not present in the input signal. Limiter A device which reduces gain when the input voltage exceeds a certain level. Brooks XT 20 Capacitance The property of being able to oppose a change in voltage or store an electrical charge. Byte A grouping of eight information bits. Brooks GS 15 Inductor A device designed primarily to introduce inductance into an electric circuit. Sometimes called a choke or coil. 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. Front Loaded A speaker cabinet where the speaker faces out toward the front. Linearity The extent to which any signal handling process is accomplished without amplitude distortion.

Usually undesirable result of overloading sound equipment. Reducing the levels can remedy the situation. Electric Instrument Any musical instrument that puts out an electrical signal rather than an acoustic sound. Brooks VT-50 Frequency Shift Key / FSK The full name for FSK (A simple clock signal that can be used to run a sequencer in time with an audio tape). ADSR The letters A, D, S &R are the first letters of: Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release. These are the various elements of volume changes in the sounding of a keyboard instrument. 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 have a reverberation of these signals that can be mixed in with the dry signals at the console). 2) A program in a delay/reverb effects device that simulates the sound of an Echo Chamber. Feedback 1

A statement of the principles behind electromagnetic induction: When a conductor cuts magnetic lines of force, current is induced in that conductor. Echo Send Control A control to send the signal from the input module to the echo chamber or effects device via the echo buss. Brooks GT 44 Icon A visual picture or symbol on a computer screen that represents a file, program or disc that can be used. 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"). Brooks GT 845 High Impedance Cord (High Z) A big word for instrument cable. These cords generally have quarter inch male ends. they tend to loose signal strength at lengths longer than 25 feet. Head Amp British name for Preamplifier (A low-noise amplifier designed to take a low-level signal, such as the output of a tape head, and bring it up to normal l

Common type of effect that makes sounds fuller and thicker. Electric Instrument Any musical instrument that puts out an electrical signal rather than an acoustic sound. 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. Console A set of controls and their housing, which control all signals necessary for recording and mixing. Brooks Cinema Series Isolation Booth/ Isolation Room A room that prevents loud sounds from other instruments from leaking in: an isolation booth is usually a smaller room that could be used for only one musician. BPM An abbreviation of Beat Per Minute (the number of steady even pulses in music occurring in one minute and therefore defining the tempo). Error Correct Exact rep

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). Clip The action of deforming a waveform during overload. Brooks VT-50 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. 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. Brooks KS-55 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. Isolation Booth/ Isolation Room A room that prevents loud sounds from other instruments from leaking in: an isol

A making smaller: reduction of electrical or acoustic signal strength. Fret Buzz A buzzing sound made when a note is not properly fretted. Common with cheap guitars or beginning guitar players. Brooks Cinema TZ 505 Kilo A prefix meaning 1000. Generating Element The portion of the microphone that actually converts the movement of the diaphragm into electrical current or voltage changes. Brooks KS-55 Electricity Electrical current (the amount of electron charge passing a point in a conductor per unit of time) or voltage (the force pushing electrons to obtain electrical current). Console A set of controls and their housing, which control all signals necessary for recording and mixing. Headroom 1) The level difference (in dB) between normal operating level and clipping level in an amplifier or audio device. 2) A similar level difference between normal tape operating level and the level where the distortion would be 3%. 3) The difference, in decibel

A slide control used to send out a control voltage to several VCA faders in individual channels, thus controlling the gain of several channels. Ground Loop A double grounding of a line or electronic device at two different "ground" points of differing voltage. Brooks Cinema RM 909 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. 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 applie

A microphone pick up pattern which has maximum pick up directly in front and directly in back of the diaphragm and least pick up at the sides. Echo Send The output of a console used to send a signal to an echo chamber or delay effects device. Brooks Cinema NZ 60 Gate A dynamic processing device that turns a channel off or down when the signal drops below a certain level. Imaging To make a representation or imitation of the original sonic event. Brooks Cinema Series Clicking Pressing and immediately releasing the switch on a computer's mouse. 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. Direct box Used in line to convert a high impedance signal into a low impedance signal. Analog Recording A recording of the continuous changes of an audio waveform.

A buzzing sound made when a note is not properly fretted. Common with cheap guitars or beginning guitar players. Bi A prefix meaning two. Brooks Cinema xm 808 Foldback A European term for the signal sent to the stage monitors in a live performance. Bridge The bridge assembly, or just "bridge" is an area on the face of the guitar where the string meet or are connected to the face. Brooks Cinema Projectors 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. Linear The condition of obtaining a change at the output of the device which is proportional to the change occurring at the input. Bass Roll Off An electrical network built into some microphones to reduce the amount of output at bass frequencies when close-micing. Formant An element in the sound of a voice or instrument

A unit used in the measure of frequency, equivalent to Hertz. Cycles Per Second is an outdated term replaced by Hertz in 1948. Hi-Z An abbreviation of the term High Impedance (Impedance of 5000 or more ohms). Brooks GS 15 Lead The musical instrument that plays the melody of the tune, including the vocal. Compact Disc CD A small optical disk with digital audio recorded on it. Brooks Cinema NZ 60 Link (Said of compressors and dynamic processing units.) To combine the control input signals of two channels of a compressor (o Atom The smallest particle which makes up a specific substance. It's composed of a center around which electrons revolve. 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. Expansion The opposite of compression; for example, an expander may allow the signal to increase 2 dB every time the signal input increase

An adapter that takes a three prong power cord and plugs into a two prong outlet, used to disconnect the third (ground) pin of the power outlet. WARNING: It can be VERY DANGEROUS to have no ground connection to the case by using a ground lifter and not grounding the unit by other means. Frequency Practically speaking, high frequency means high pitch and low frequency means low pitch. Brooks Cinema ZL 44 Hard Disk (Hard Disc) A storage unit for digital data that has rigid disks coated with magnetic material in a housing that includes the drive mechanism. Condenser Mic (Capacitor Mic) A microphone that uses the varying capacitance between two plates with a voltage applied across them to convert sound to electrical pulses. Condenser microphones need a power supply to provide the voltage across the plates, which may be provided by a battery within the case of the microphone, or it may be provided from an external phantom power supply. A condenser mic is more sensitive a

In electronics, a place (terminal) that has zero volts. 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 Projectors 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. 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 QS 70 Fader A control to control the gain of a channel on the console, thereby determining the level of the signal in that channel. Critical Distance The point a distance away from the sound source where the direct sound and the reverberant sound are equal in volume. Hard Disk (Hard Disc) A storag

A European term for the signal sent to the stage monitors in a live performance. Electrostatic Charge The excess or deficiency of electrons in a given area. Brooks TA 60 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. Compression Driver The unit that feeds a sound pressure wave into the throat of a horn (in a horn loudspeaker). Brooks BA 71 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 origin

The amount of electron charge passing a point in a conductor per unit of time. 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. Brooks Cinema xm 808 Digital Recording 1) ADAM : (Akai Digital Audio Multitrack). 12 track recording onto Video 8 tape. 16 bit, 44.1 or 48 kHz sampling rate. 2) DAT (Digital Audio Tape) Cassette-like system which has much higher quality than standard audio cassettes. Widely used in gathering sound effects, for news gathering, and for playback of music. 3) DCC (Digital Compact Cassette) Rival to DAT which also plays standard audio cassettes. 4) MiniDisc : Uses computer disk technology, rather than tape. A laser heats an area of magnetic disk which is then written to by a magnetic head. When cooled, the magnetic information is read from the disk by laser. Tracks can be named, and are instant start. Very theatre-friendly system. 5) Direct to Disk :

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). 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. Brooks GT 845 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. Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Brooks KM 77 Electromagnetic Field Magnetic energy put out because of current travelling through a conductor. Group 1) A num

A collection of digital data stored in a computer's memory bank or on a floppy disc. 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. Brooks Cinema NZ 60 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. Cable, 1/4 inch An unbalanced cable most often

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. 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 Brooks Cinema Projectors 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. High Impedance Cord (High Z) A big word for instrument cable. These cords generally have quarter inch male ends. they tend to loose signal strength at lengths longer than 25 feet. Brooks Cinema xm 808 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

1) An alternation of a waveform which begins at a point, passes through the zero line, and ends at a point with the same value and moving in the same direction as the starting point. 2) On a Solid State Logic Console, a command to have the console computer control the tape machine to play and replay a certain section of the tape. 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

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. Binary A numbering system based on two. In binary there are two symbols used ("l" and "0"). Brooks Cinema xm 808 Inverse Square Law Simply stated, the fact that in an un-obstructed area (like an open field) the sound pressure level will drop to half-pressure (-6 dB) every time the distance to the sound source is doubled. Foot Switch A switch placed on the floor and pressed by a musician to do various functions. Brooks GT 845 Full Step A change in pitch that occurs when moving up or down two piano keys Limiter A device which reduces gain when the input voltage exceeds a certain

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. 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 Cinema XR 607 Frets Vertical metal wires which sit vertically on the guitar neck. Expander A device that causes expansion of the audio signal. Brooks Speakers Error Message A prompt on a computer screen telling the operator that an error has occurred. Amplitude The strength of a vibrating wave; in sound, the loudness of the sound. Cord (Speaker, Mic, Instrument) Used to connect a sound system together. Each type of cord i