Brooks Audio Design

A style of music with roots in Spanish and Arabic culture. 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 GT 845 Kilo A prefix meaning 1000. CPU Abbreviation of Central Processing Unit (The main "brain" chip of a computer or the main housing of a computer that contains the "brain" chip). Brooks XB 33 Current The amount of electron charge passing a point in a conductor per unit of time. Electromagnetic Induction or Pick Up The generation of electrical signal in a conductor moving in a magnetic field or being close to a changing magnetic field. Bit The smallest unit of digital information representing a single "0" or 1. Electromagnetic Field Magnetic energy put out because of current travelling through a conductor.

Abbreviation for direct current. Capacitance The property of being able to oppose a change in voltage or store an electrical charge. Brooks Cinema GT 845 Flamenco A style of music with roots in Spanish and Arabic culture. Analog (Analogue) Representative, continuous changes that relate to another quantity that has a continuous change. Brooks KM 77 Feed To send an audio or control signal to. 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 decibels, between the peak and RMS levels in program material. Alternating Current Electric current which flows back and forth in a circuit. In Short For "in the circuit," in other words "active."

A Compact Disc used to store digital data, such as large programs, that can be read by a computer. 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). Brooks XT 20 Centre Frequency The frequency of the audio signal that is boosted or attenuated most by an equalizer with a peak equalization curve. 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" Brooks GS 15 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. Editing 1) Changing the sequence of a recording by cutting the recording tape and putting the pieces together in the n...

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. Boom Stand A microphone stand equipped with a telescoping support arm to hold the microphone. Brooks Cinema TZ 505 Gate A dynamic processing device that turns a channel off or down when the signal drops below a certain level. Electromagnetic Theory A statement of the principles behind electromagnetic induction: When a conductor cuts magnetic lines of force, current is induced in that conductor. Brooks GS 15 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. 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. ...

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. 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 KM 77 Chip 1) A slang term with the same meaning as the term IC (a miniature circuit of many components that is in small, sealed housing with prongs to connect it into equipment). 2) The thread cut away from the master lacquer to make the groove, while disc recording. Ground Lifter An adapter that takes a three prong power cord and plugs into a two pr...

A dynamic processing device that turns a channel off or down when the signal drops below a certain level. 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. Brooks M 44 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. Group 1) A number of channels or faders that can be controlled by one Master VCA slide. 2) A shortening of the term Recording Group (a buss or the signal present on a buss). Brooks GT 44 Limiter A device which reduces gain when the input voltage exceeds a certain level. Auxiliary Output or Send 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 ...

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. Electret Condenser A condenser microphone that has a permanently polarized (charged) variable capacitor as its sound pressure level sensor. Brooks GT 845 Keying Input (Key Input) An input on a dynamics processing device to control the device by an external audio signal. Error Correct Exact replacement of lost information bits in digital audio. Brooks QS-70 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. 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. Direct box Used in line to convert a high imp...

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. Chord Three or more musical pitches sung or played together. Brooks Cinema XB 33 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. 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 ...

A product created by the marriage of two different technologies. Meant here as the combination of a dynamic woofer with an electrostatic transducer. 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 RM 909 Coax Two-conductor cable consisting of one conductor surrounded by a shield. 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 XR 607 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 breaking up of a sound wave caused by some type of mechanical interference such as a cabinet edge, grill frame, or other similar object. 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 Cinema Series Chorus Common type of effect that makes sounds fuller and thicker. Bar A term meaning the same thing as the term Measure (the grouping of a number of beats in music, most-often four beats). Brooks KS-55 Compact Disc, Read Only Memory CDROM A Compact Disc used to store digital data, such as large programs, that can be read by a computer. 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....

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 line level). Limiter A device which reduces gain when the input voltage exceeds a certain level. Brooks VT-50 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. Acoustic Echo Chamber A room designed with very hard, non-parallel surfaces and equipped with a speaker and microphone; dry signals from the console are fed to the speaker and the microphone will have a reverberation of these signals that can be mixed in with the dry signals at the console. Brooks KM 77 Keying...

The unit of frequency. Equivalent to cycles per second. Abbreviation: Hz. Infinite Baffle A baffle so large that the sounds coming from one side do not reach the other side. Brooks GT 44 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. Distortion Usually undesirable result of overloading sound equipment. Reducing the levels can remedy the situation. Brooks Cinema Series In-Line Console A console with modules that have controls for all console sections in one long strip. Ambient Field A term with the same meaning as the term Reverberant Field (the area away from the sound source where the reverberation is louder than the direct sound). Amp 1) An abbreviation of the term Amplifier (A device which increases the level of an electrical signal. 2) An abbreviation of Ampere (the unit of current). 3) An abbreviation of amplitude (the height of a waveform above or bel...

The strength of a vibrating wave; in sound, the loudness of the sound. Line 1) Short for line level. 2) A cable. Brooks GT 845 Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Formant An element in the sound of a voice or instrument that does not change frequency as different pitches are sounded. Brooks Cinema NZ 60 Analog (Analogue) Representative, continuous changes that relate to another quantity that has a continuous change. Layering The recording (or playing) of a musical part with of several similar sound patches playing simultaneous. Hall A large building designed for concerts; also called a concert hall. 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 t...

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. Graphic Equalizer 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). Brooks BA 71 Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Headstock The area of the guitar at the end of the neck where the strings are tuned. Brooks TA 60 Cycle 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. Basic Session The First session in recording an audio production to record the ...

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. 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. Brooks Cinema xm 808 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). Crosstalk Leakage of an audio signal into a channel that iris not intended to be in, from an adjacent or nearby channel. Brooks GT 845 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 Channel 1) In multitrack tape machines, this term means the sa...

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. Inductor A device designed primarily to introduce inductance into an electric circuit. Sometimes called a choke or coil. Brooks QS 70 Layering The recording (or playing) of a musical part with of several similar sound patches playing simultaneous. Capacitance The property of being able to oppose a change in voltage or store an electrical charge. Brooks QS-70 kHz An Abbreviation of kilo-Hertz. 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. Cue Sen...

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. Hum The 60 Hz power line current accidentally induced or fed into electronic equipment. Brooks GT 845 Input Impedance The opposition to current flow by the first circuits of a device. 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 Amplifier A device which increases the amplitude (level) of an electrical signal (making it louder). Crossover Frequency 1) The frequency that is the outer limit of one of the bands of a crossover. 2) In the Lexicon 480L delay/reverberation effects unit, the frequency at which the bass frequency reverb time is in effect rather than the mid frequency reverb time. Cardioid Pattern A micropho...

The squaring of the waveform that happens in the conversion of digital audio bits into analog signals. 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. Brooks GT 845 Linear The condition of obtaining a change at the output of the device which is proportional to the change occurring at the input. Electric Instrument Any musical instrument that puts out an electrical signal rather than an acoustic sound. Brooks Cinema KP 30 Electrostatic Charge The excess or deficiency of electrons in a given area. Hard Disk Recording The recording of digital audio onto a hard disc. Keynote Number A number assigned to each key of a synthesizer or controller keyboard that is transmitted in the MIDI signal. Ground In electronics, a place (terminal) that has zero volts.

This is used to filter out and adjust specific frequencies in the PA. This is the part of the PA where you have the most control over the band's overall sound. It is also the number one weapon against feedback. 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 Cinema TX 509 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). 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 Headstock The area of the guitar at the end of the neck where the strings are tuned. ...

The musical instrument that plays the melody of the tune, including the vocal. Auxiliary Output or Send 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. Brooks QS-70 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. Level Sets output volume of individual PA input channels. Usually positioned as sliders at the bottom of the soundboard. Brooks TA 60 Cue Send Control A control that will adjust the amount of signal sent to a cue buss from a console channel. Alternating Current Electric current which flows back and forth in a circuit. Ba...

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. Driver See transducer. Dynamic Range �" The range between the quietest and the loudest sounds a device can handle (often quoted in dB). Brooks TA 60 First Generation A descriptive term meaning original (as opposed to a copy). Barrier Micing A method of placing the head of a microphone as close as possible to a reflective surface, preventing phase cancellation. Brooks Cinema ZL 44 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. Bank 1) A collection of sound patches (data as to the sequence and operating parameters of the synthesizer generators and modifiers) in memory....

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 : Uses the hard disk present in most PCs as the recording medium. Hybrid A product created by the marriage of two different technologies. Meant here as the combination of a dynamic woofer with an electrostatic transducer. Brooks Cinema TX 509 Equalizer (Parametric,...

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. Fundamental The tuned frequency and (almost always) the lowest frequency that is present in the sounding of a pitch by a musical instrument. Brooks TA 60 Keyboard Controller A device that has the standard music keys of piano but puts out MIDI signals Cue 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). Brook...

A Compact Disc used to store digital data, such as large programs, that can be read by a computer. 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. Brooks QS 70 Flat 1) Lower in musical pitch. 2) A slang term used to describe the sensitivity to frequency of a microphone, amplifier, etc., as being even at all frequencies, usually within 2 dB. 3) Refers to the frequencies on the EQ when they are arranged in centred neutral positions. Chase The automatic adjusting of the speed of a recorder (or sequencer) to be time with another recorder. Brooks BA 71 Comb Filter 1) The frequency response achieved by mixing a direct signal with a delayed signal of equal strength especially at short delays. 2) Loosel...

The musical instrument that plays the melody of the tune, including the vocal. Highs Short for the term High Frequencies (the audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above). Brooks TM-22 ID An index signal (digital data that gives the machine information of where selections start, their selection number, etc.) on a DAT or CD. 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 TZ 505 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. Attenuation A making smaller: reduction of electrical or acoustic signal strength. AC 1) Abbreviation for alternating current. 2) An abbreviation of the term Alternating Current (electric current which flows back and forth in a circuit; all stu...

The full name for FSK (A simple clock signal that can be used to run a sequencer in time with an audio tape). 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 xm 808 Cue Send Control A control that will adjust the amount of signal sent to a cue buss from a console channel. 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 Speakers First Generation A descriptive term meaning original (as opposed to a copy). Expansion The opposite of compression; for example, an expander may allow the signal to increase 2 dB every time th...

A device that rejects signals that are below a certain frequency (called the cut-off frequency) and passes signals with frequencies that are higher. Direct box Used in line to convert a high impedance signal into a low impedance signal. Brooks Speakers 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. 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 Series 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. Automation ...

Having or converting the output impedance of a device so that it matches the impedance of the input it will feed. 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 Speakers 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. 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 VT-50 Active/Inactive Microphones Scientific definitions aside, active microphones genera...

Pressing and immediately releasing the switch on a computer's mouse. 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 NZ 60 High Impedance Mic A microphone designed to be fed into an amplifier with input impedance greater than 20 k ohms. Hi-Z An abbreviation of the term High Impedance (Impedance of 5000 or more ohms). Brooks TA 60 Full Step A change in pitch that occurs when moving up or down two piano keys Impedance Matching Having or converting the output impedance of a device so that it matches the impedance of the input it will feed. Graphic Equalizer 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). Active/Inactive Microphones Scientific definitions aside, active microphones generall...