Brooks Audio Design

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. Clip The action of deforming a waveform during overload. Brooks Hi Fi reviews Bass Roll Off An electrical network built into some microphones to reduce the amount of output at bass frequencies when close-micing. Amplifier (Power amp, Head) It's the part of the sound system that actually magnifies or "amplifies" the sound. In other words, it makes stuff louder. Brooks Cinema GT 845 reviews 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. File A collection of digital data stored in a computer's memory bank or on a floppy disc. Cycles Per Second A unit used in the measure of frequency, equivalent to Hertz. Cycles Per Second is an outd...

Short for the term Acoustical Absorption (quality of a surface or substance to take in, not reflect, a sound wave). 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 Hi Fi reviews Frame 1) A division of one second in synchronization and recording coming from definition two. 2) The amount of time that one still picture is shown in film or video. High Frequencies The audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above. Brooks Cinema DESIGN ZL 44 reviews 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. 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 v...

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. Distortion Usually undesirable result of overloading sound equipment. Reducing the levels can remedy the situation. Brooks QS - 95 reviews Humbucker Pickups that are coupled together to get a certain sound. 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. Brooks Cinema GT 845 reviews Front Loaded A speaker cabinet where the speaker faces out toward the front. Frequency Practically speaking, high frequency means high pitch and low frequency means low p...

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. IM Distortion An abbreviation of the term Intermodulation Distortion (Distortion caused by one signal beating with another signal and producing frequencies that are both the sum and the difference of the original frequencies present). Brooks Cinema DESIGN ZL 44 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. Editing 1) Changing the sequence of a recording by cutting the recor...

The portion of the sound that comes from the surrounding environment rather than directly from the sound source. 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 Cinema GT 845 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. Amplitude The strength of a vibrating wave; in sound, the loudness of the sound. Broom RM 909 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). Headroom 1) The level difference (in dB) between normal operating level and clipping level in an amplifier or ...

A device which reduces gain when the input voltage exceeds a certain level. Foot (Foot Drum) Another name for Bass Drum (the largest drum in the Drum Kit which puts out bass frequencies and is played with a foot pedal). Brooks Cinema QS - 95 Keyboard Controller A device that has the standard music keys of piano but puts out MIDI signals 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. Brooks Cinema KM 22 Generating Element The portion of the microphone that actually converts the movement of the diaphragm into electrical current or voltage changes. Compressor A signal processing device that does not allow as much ...

Most often referring to electrical signals resulting from the sound pressure wave being converted into electrical energy. Humbucker Pickups that are coupled together to get a certain sound. Brooks QS - 95 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. Clock Signal The signal put out by a circuit that generates steady even pulses or steady codes used for synchronization. Brooks Cinema DESIGN ZL 4...

The two track stereo master tape which was mixed from the multitrack master. Barrier Micing A method of placing the head of a microphone as close as possible to a reflective surface, preventing phase cancellation. Brooks Cinema Projectors Corner Frequency Same as Cut-Off Frequency (the highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter). (NOUN) Cable, 1/4 inch An unbalanced cable most often used for instruments and patch cords. Commonly referred to as "guitar cords". Brooks GT 845 Crossover, Passive Used inside of full range speaker cabinets to separate highs, mids, and lows and send them to their respective speakers within the each cabinet. These are not as efficient as active crossovers because they require all frequencies to draw from the same source of amplification. Crosstalk Leakage of an audio signal into a channel that iris not intended to be in, from an adjacent or nearby channel. Level The amount of signal strength; the am...

It's the part of the sound system that actually magnifies or "amplifies" the sound. In other words, it makes stuff louder. 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. Brooks Cinema Projectors Balance 1) The relative level of two or more instruments in a mix, or the relative level of audio signals in the channels of a stereo recording. 2) To make the relative levels of audio signals in the channels of a stereo recording even. DC Abbreviation for direct current. Brooks Speakers Fletcher Munson Effect 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 somewh...

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). 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. Broom RM 909 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. 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 QS - 95 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). ...

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). Bottom The bass frequencies (as in "needs more bottom end"). Brooks Cinema XB 33 Coax Two-conductor cable consisting of one conductor surrounded by a shield. Edit A switch that does different things depending on the operational mode that the machine is in: 1) If a computer-controlled transport is in "Stop," pushing the "Edit" switch deactivates the computer-controlled tension system and allows the reels to be moved by hand to find the exact spot desired on the tape. 2) If the machine is in "Play", the "Edit" switch makes the take-up reel cease taking up the tape and it falls to the floor. 3) If the machine is in a fast-wind mode, the tape lifters are defeated so th...

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. Electrostatic Charge The excess or deficiency of electrons in a given area. Broom RM 909 Front Loaded A speaker cabinet where the speaker faces out toward the front. Echo Chamber 1) A room designed with very hard, non-parallel surfaces and equipped with a speaker and microphone. 2) Any artificial or electronic device that simulates the reverberation created in a room. Brooks QS - 95 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. Foot Switch A switch placed on the floor and pressed by a musician to do various functions. Kilo A prefix meaning 1000. Gain Structure The way in which the gain varies in the stages or sections of an audio system.

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. Coax Two-conductor cable consisting of one conductor surrounded by a shield. Brooks QS - 95 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. 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. ...

A signal processing device that does not allow as much fluctuation in the level of the signal above a certain adjustable or fixed level. BPM An abbreviation of Beat Per Minute (the number of steady even pulses in music occurring in one minute and therefore defining the tempo). Brooks Cinema DESIGN ZL 44 Lead The musical instrument that plays the melody of the tune, including the vocal. In Port A jack on a MIDI device or computer that will accept an incoming data signal. BROOKS HI fi Boom Stand A microphone stand equipped with a telescoping support arm to hold the microphone. 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. Frame 1) A division of one second in synchronization and recording coming from definition two. 2) The amount of time that one still pict...

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. 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 studio signals running through audio lines are AC). Brooks Cinema Projectors 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. Linearity The extent to which any signal handling process is accomplished without amplitude distortion. Brooks Cinema QS - 95 Impedance Matching Having or converting the output impedance of a device so that it matches the impedance of the input it will feed. Crossover (Crossover Network) A set of filters that "split" the audio signal into two or more ...

A slide control used to send out a control voltage to several VCA faders in individual channels, thus controlling the gain of several channels. 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. Brooks VT-50 kHz An Abbreviation of kilo-Hertz. 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 t...

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 DESIGN ZL 44 File A collection of digital data stored in a computer's memory bank or on a floppy disc. 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 VT-50 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. Fletcher Munson Effect 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 frequ...

Any musical instrument that puts out an electrical signal rather than an acoustic sound. 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 KM 22 Direct box Used in line to convert a high impedance signal into a low impedance signal. 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. Brooks QS-70 Haas Effect Simply stated, a factor in human hearing where delay has a much bigger effect on human perception of direction than level does. Bit The smallest unit of digital information representing...

The visible sparks generated by an electrical discharge. 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 Cinema XB 33 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. Fader A control to control the gain of a channel on the console, thereby determining the level of the signal in that channel. BROOKS AUDIO reviews 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 ...

A computer program allowing the storage of the parameters of sound patches outside of a synthesizer. Leakage Sounds from other instruments and sources that were not intended to be picked up by the microphone. Brooks Cinema XB 33 Compressor A signal processing device that does not allow as much fluctuation in the level of the signal above a certain adjustable or fixed level. 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. Brooks GT 845 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. First Generation A descriptive term meaning original (as opposed to a copy). Lead Sheet A written chart showing the melody, lyrics and chords of a tune ...

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. Ground Lifter 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. Brooks XB 33 Echo Send Control A control to send the signal from the input module to the echo chamber or effects device via the echo buss. Amplitude The height of a waveform above or below the zero line. BROOKS HI fi 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. ADAT A trademark of Alesis Corporation designatin...

The way in which the gain varies in the stages or sections of an audio system. 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) Loosely, a boomstand. 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. Amplitude The height of a waveform above or below the zero line. Brooks KM 22 Harmonic Distortion The presence of harmonics in the output signal of a device which were not present in the input signal. Capacitance The property of being able to oppose a change in voltage or store an electrical charge. Efficiency The acoustic power delivered for a given electrical input. Often expressed as decibels/watt/meter (dB/w/m). ESL �" Abbreviation for ...

A making smaller: reduction of electrical or acoustic signal strength. Effects Track 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. Brooks XS - 45 Electric Instrument Any musical instrument that puts out an electrical signal rather than an acoustic sound. Automation In consoles, a feature that lets the engineer program control changes (such as fader level) so that upon playback of the multitrack recording these changes happen automatically. Brooks Hi Fi reviews Harmonic Distortion The presence of harmonics in the output signal of a device which were not present in the input signal. 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 ...

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. Frequency Response How sensitive an electronic device (mic, amplifier, speaker, etc.) is to various frequencies; often communicated with a graph. Brooks Cinema KM 22 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). 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 QS - 95 Fundamental The tuned frequency and (almost always) the lowest frequency that is present in the sounding of a pitch by a musical instrument. Centre Frequency The frequency of the audio signal that is boosted or attenuated most by an equalizer with a peak ...

The condition of obtaining a change at the output of the device which is proportional to the change occurring at the input. Automatic Gain Control (Automatic Volume Control) A compressor with a very long release time used to keep the volume of the audio very constant. Brooks Cinema XB 33 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. 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. Brooks Cinema XS - 45 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 e...

Usually undesirable result of overloading sound equipment. Reducing the levels can remedy the situation. 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. Brooks XM 204 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) Loosely, a boomstand. Edit A switch that does different things depending on the operational mode that the machine is in: 1) If a computer-controlled transport is in "Stop," pushing the "Edit" switch deactivates the computer-controlled tension system and allows the reels to be moved by hand to find the exact spot desired on the tape. 2) If the machine is in "Play", the "Edit" switch makes the take-up reel cease taking up the tape and it falls to the...

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. High-Pass Filter A device that rejects signals that are below a certain frequency (called the cut-off frequency) and passes signals with frequencies that are higher. Brooks Gt 44 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. Chorus Common type of effect that makes sounds fuller and thicker. Broo...

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 below the zero line). Analog (Analogue) Representative, continuous changes that relate to another quantity that has a continuous change. Brooks QS - 95 File A collection of digital data stored in a computer's memory bank or on a floppy disc. Compressor A signal processing device that does not allow as much fluctuation in the level of the signal above a certain adjustable or fixed level. BROOKS AUDIO DESIGN 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) Loosely, a boomstand. Feedback 1) The delayed signal sent back to the input of a delay line, used in repeat-echo eff...

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 Centre Frequency The frequency of the audio signal that is boosted or attenuated most by an equalizer with a peak equalization curve. Brooks KM 22 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. 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. Brook...