Brooks Audio Design

Another name for Bass Drum (the largest drum in the Drum Kit which puts out bass frequencies and is played with a foot pedal). Chord Three or more musical pitches sung or played together. Brooks Cinema XS - 45 reviews 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 line level). 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 Cinema XB 33 reviews 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. E...

Another term for Bass Drum. Diffraction 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. Brooks Cinema KM 22 reviews 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. Imaging To make a representation or imitation of the original sonic event. Brooks QS-70 reviews 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. 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 ali...

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 electric circuit to the flow of an alternating current of a single frequency. It is a combination of resistance and reactance and is measured in ohms. Remember that a speaker's impedance changes with frequency, it is not a constant value. 3) The opposition to alternating current. Echo 1) One distinct repeat of a sound because of the sound reflecting off a surface. 2) Loosely, used to mean reverberation (the continuing of a sound after the source stops emitting it, caused by many discrete echoes closely spaced in time). Broom RM 909 reviews Input Monitor A switch position and operational mode of the electronics of a tape machine where the signal at output of th...

The tuned frequency and (almost always) the lowest frequency that is present in the sounding of a pitch by a musical instrument. 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 XS - 45 reviews Compander 1) A two section device that is used in noise reduction systems. The first section compresses the audio signal, before it is recorded, and the second section, expands the signal after recording. 2) In Yamaha brand digital consoles, a signal processing function that applies both compression and expansion to the same signal. Clip The action of deforming a waveform during overload. BROOKS HI fi reviews 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 ...

The audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above. 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. Brooks Cinema GT 845 reviews Compact Disc, Interactive CDI A Compact Disc, usually containing audio, video, and text, which the user can interact with in that the display or playback changes after the user performs some action. Amplitude The height of a waveform above or below the zero line. BROOKS AUDIO DESIGN reviews Analog (Analogue) Representative, continuous changes that relate to another quantity that has a continuous change. 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. Hard Disk (Hard Disc) A storage unit for digital data that has rigid disks coa...

A device that causes expansion of the audio signal. 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 XS - 45 reviews Chase The automatic adjusting of the speed of a recorder (or sequencer) to be time with another recorder. Feedback Control The control on a delay line or delay effects device that controls the amount of feedback. Brooks KM 22 reviews Auxiliary Input or Return A route back into the sound desk for a signal sent to a piece of outboard equipment via an auxiliary send. 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. ADAT A trademark of Alesis Corporation designating its modular digital multitrack recording system released in early 1993. Decibel (dB) 1) Relative measurement for...

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. Crossover 1) A route leading from one side of the stage to the other, out of the audiences view. 2) An electronic filter in a sound system that routes sound of the correct frequency to the correct part of the speaker system. Different speakers handle high frequencies (tweeters) and low frequencies (woofers). Sometimes known as a crossover network. An active crossover splits the signal from the mixing desk into high, mid and low frequencies which are then sent to three separate amplifiers. 3) An electrical circuit that divides a full bandwidth signal into the desired frequency bands for the loudspeaker components. Broom RM 909 reviews High Frequencies The audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above. Electronics ...

To make a representation or imitation of the original sonic event. 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 Hi Fi reviews Bi-Directional Pattern 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. Linearity The extent to which any signal handling process is accomplished without amplitude distortion. Brooks Cinema QS - 95 reviews Absorption Short for the term Acoustical Absorption (quality of a surface or substance to take in, not reflect, a sound wave). 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. C...

Abbreviation of Integrated Circuit (A miniature circuit of many components that is in small, sealed housing with prongs to connect it into equipment). Cascade To set and interconnect two mixers so that the stereo mixing buss(es) of the first mixer feeds the stereo buss(es) of a second mixer. Brooks QS-70 reviews 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. Floor Toms The large toms to the right of the drummer. Brooks Cinema KM 22 reviews Link (Said of compressors and dynamic processing units.) To combine the control input signals of two channels of a compressor (o Electromagnetic Theory A statement of the principles behind electromagnetic induction: When a conductor cuts magnetic lines of force, current is induc...

Short for the term High Frequencies (the audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above). Error Detection The process of discovery that sonic information bits have been lost in digital audio. Brooks Cinema XS - 45 reviews Fret Buzz A buzzing sound made when a note is not properly fretted. Common with cheap guitars or beginning guitar players. Equal Loudness Contours 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. Brooks Hi Fi reviews 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). 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 frequencies). Ground Adapter...

A style of music with roots in Spanish and Arabic culture. Jack Bay A series of jacks which have connections for most of the inputs and outputs of the equipment in the control room. Brooks Gt 44 reviews Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. 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 VT-50 reviews Console A set of controls and their housing, which control all signals necessary for recording and mixing. 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 F...

Short for the term High Frequencies (the audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above). Binary A numbering system based on two. In binary there are two symbols used ("l" and "0"). Brooks XB 33 reviews Cut-Off Frequency (Turnover Frequency) 1) The highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter. 2) The highest or lowest frequency passed by an audio device (the cut-off frequency is usually considered to be the first frequency to be 3 dB lower than a reference frequency in the middle of the bandwidth of the device) Insert 1) A punch in of the all of the tracks being recorded in a recording session. 2) On Solid State Logic consoles, placing an outboard piece of gear in the channel by patching and activating a switch. Brooks VT-50 reviews Final Mix The two track stereo master tape which was mixed from the multitrack master. Gain 1) Knob usually found at the top of each input channel on the soundboard. Used to set input levels of t...

The front or body of the guitar. Highs Short for the term High Frequencies (the audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above). Brooks Cinema GT 845 reviews Amplitude The height of a waveform above or below the zero line. Condenser An older term meaning the same thing as Capacitor (an electronic device which is composed of two plates separated by an insulator and can store charge) but sill in common use when referring to a microphone's active element. Brooks Cinema XS - 45 reviews Byte A grouping of eight information bits. Contact Microphone A device that senses vibrations and puts out an audio signal proportional to the vibrations. 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. DC Abbreviation for direct current.

A method of placing the head of a microphone as close as possible to a reflective surface, preventing phase cancellation. Compander Outboard sound equipment. Combination of a Compressor and an Expander. Brooks Cinema DESIGN ZL 44 reviews 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. 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...

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). 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. Brooks Cinema QS - 95 reviews Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. 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 Cinema DESIGN ZL 44 reviews 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," p...

A number assigned to each key of a synthesizer or controller keyboard that is transmitted in the MIDI signal. 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 AUDIO DESIGN reviews 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. Audio Most often referring to electrical signals resulting from the sound pressure wave being converted into electrical energy. Brooks XM 204 reviews Coax Two-conductor cable consisting of one conductor surrounded by a shield. Compressor 1) Effect used to squash the sound together. Used properly, it can take the edge off o...

Short for the term Acoustical Absorption (quality of a surface or substance to take in, not reflect, a sound wave). 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 DESIGN ZL 44 reviews 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. 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. Brooks Cinema ZL 44 reviews 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 ...

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). 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 Cinema KM 22 reviews 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". Engineer 1) A technician in charge of a recording session; Also called Recording Engineer. 2) A person with an engineering degree. 3) A person with sufficient experience in the field to be equivalent to the education one would receive earning an engineering degree. Brooks XB 33 reviews Bass Roll Off An electrical network built into some microphones to reduce the am...

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. 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. Broom RM 909 reviews Cable, 1/4 inch An unbalanced cable most often used for instruments and patch cords. Commonly referred to as "guitar cords". Floppy Disk (Floppy Disc) A round flat object (usually housed in a protective sleeve) coated with material that can be magnetized in a similar manner to tape. Brooks Cinema XB 33 reviews Hertz The unit of frequency. Equivalent to cycles per second. Abbreviation: Hz. Figure Eight Pattern Another name for Bi-directional Pattern (microphone pickup pattern...

A device that rejects signals that are below a certain frequency (called the cut-off frequency) and passes signals with frequencies that are higher. Crossover 1) A route leading from one side of the stage to the other, out of the audiences view. 2) An electronic filter in a sound system that routes sound of the correct frequency to the correct part of the speaker system. Different speakers handle high frequencies (tweeters) and low frequencies (woofers). Sometimes known as a crossover network. An active crossover splits the signal from the mixing desk into high, mid and low frequencies which are then sent to three separate amplifiers. 3) An electrical circuit that divides a full bandwidth signal into the desired frequency bands for the loudspeaker components. Brooks Cinema XS - 45 reviews Bi A prefix meaning two. Frets Vertical metal wires which sit vertically on the guitar neck. Brooks XS - 45 reviews Condenser Microphone A microphone which converts sound...

The bits in the digital signal that make up actual values or commands being communicated as opposed to bits that are used for checking & correcting data or other purposes. Input Monitor A switch position and operational mode of the electronics of a tape machine where the signal at output of the electronics will be the same as the signal coming into the electronics. In this mode, the tape machine's meter will read the input signal. Brooks Gt 44 reviews Foot Switch A switch placed on the floor and pressed by a musician to do various functions. Binary A numbering system based on two. In binary there are two symbols used ("l" and "0"). Broom RM 909 reviews Crosstalk Leakage of an audio signal into a channel that iris not intended to be in, from an adjacent or nearby channel. 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...

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. Gate A dynamic processing device that turns a channel off or down when the signal drops below a certain level. Brooks XS - 45 reviews Level Sets output volume of individual PA input channels. Usually positioned as sliders at the bottom of the soundboard. Headphones Devices that can be worn on the head with small speakers that fit over the ears (or sometimes into the ears). Brooks Cinema DESIGN ZL 44 reviews 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. Baffles Sound absorbing panels used to prevent sound waves from entering or leaving a certain space Cable, 1/4 inch An unbalanced cable most often ...

A switch that breaks the connection between the ground point in one circuit and the ground point in another circuit. Echo 1) One distinct repeat of a sound because of the sound reflecting off a surface. 2) Loosely, used to mean reverberation (the continuing of a sound after the source stops emitting it, caused by many discrete echoes closely spaced in time). Brooks XS - 45 reviews 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). Boost To increase gain, especially to increase gain at specific frequencies with an equalizer. Brooks Hi Fi reviews Bi-Directional Pattern 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. Cancellation A shortening of the term Phase Cancellation (the energy of one waveform...

Abbreviation for direct current. Corner Frequency Same as Cut-Off Frequency (the highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter). (NOUN) Brooks GT 845 reviews Impedance Matching Having or converting the output impedance of a device so that it matches the impedance of the input it will feed. Condenser An older term meaning the same thing as Capacitor (an electronic device which is composed of two plates separated by an insulator and can store charge) but sill in common use when referring to a microphone's active element. Brooks Cinema QS - 95 reviews Basic Session The First session in recording an audio production to record the Basic Tracks. Insert 1) A punch in of the all of the tracks being recorded in a recording session. 2) On Solid State Logic consoles, placing an outboard piece of gear in the channel by patching and activating a switch. Arc The visible sparks generated by an electrical discharge. In Port A jack on a MIDI ...

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. Auxiliary Equipment Effects devices separate from but working with the recording console. Broom RM 909 reviews Kilo A prefix meaning 1000. Hypercardioid Pattern A microphone pick up sensitivity pattern where the least sensitive pick up point is more than 90 degrees but less than 150 degrees off axis (usually 120 degrees). Brooks QS-70 reviews Bi-Directional Pattern 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. Frets Vertical metal wires which sit vertically on the guitar neck. Input Monitor A switch position and operational mode of the electronics of a tape machine where the signal at output of the electronics will be the sam...

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. 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 GT 845 reviews 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. Boost To increase gain, especially to increase gain at specific frequencies with an equalizer. Brooks Gt 44 reviews Corner Frequency Same as Cut-Off Frequency (the highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter). (NOUN) Guitar Processor A uni...

A microphone stand equipped with a telescoping support arm to hold the microphone. Icon A visual picture or symbol on a computer screen that represents a file, program or disc that can be used. Brooks XS - 45 reviews Lead Sheet A written chart showing the melody, lyrics and chords of a tune with full musical notation. Folded Horn A speaker design where the speaker points back into the cabinet and bounces around finally coming out large ports in the front. It is intended to maximize low frequencies in a relatively small cabinet. Brooks Cinema Projectors reviews Clock Signal The signal put out by a circuit that generates steady even pulses or steady codes used for synchronization. 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). AES An abbreviation of Audio Engineering Society. Automatic Gain Control (Automatic Volume Control) A...

The generation of electrical signal in a conductor moving in a magnetic field or being close to a changing magnetic field. 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 Cinema QS - 95 reviews 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. Generating Element The portion of the microphone that actually converts the movement of the diaphragm into electrical current or voltage changes. Brooks Cinema Projectors reviews Clean Describes a distortion free sound with few effects. Bi-Am...

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. 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. Brooks Cinema XS - 45 reviews Frequency Response How sensitive an electronic device (mic, amplifier, speaker, etc.) is to various frequencies; often communicated with a graph. Line Out (Line Output) Any output that sends out a line level signal, such as the output of a console that feeds a recorder. Brooks XM 204 reviews Echo Send Control A control to send the signal from the input module to the echo chamber or effects device via the echo buss. Kilo A prefix meaning 1000. Hertz The unit of frequency. Equ...

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. 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. Broom RM 909 reviews 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. 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 ...