Brooks Audio Design

A set of filters that "split" the audio signal into two or more bands (two or more signals, each of which have only some of the frequencies present). Infinite Baffle A baffle so large that the sounds coming from one side do not reach the other side. Brooks Hi Fi reviews 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. Clicking Pressing and immediately releasing the switch on a computer's mouse. Brooks Hi Fi speakers 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. Level The amount of signal strength; the amplitude, e...

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. 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 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. Insulator A substance such as glass, air, plastic, etc., that will (for all practical purposes) not conduct electricity. Brooks HI FI projectors 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 elec...

Distortion caused by one signal beating with another signal and producing frequencies that are both the sum and the difference of the original frequencies. Basic Session The First session in recording an audio production to record the Basic Tracks. Brooks Cinema DESIGN ZL 44 reviews Line In (Input, return) Where a signal enters the board or component. Cardioid Pattern A microphone pick up pattern, which has maximum pick up from the front, less pick up from the sides, and least pick up from the back of the diaphragm. Brooks XS - 45 reviews 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. Final Mix The two track stereo master tape which was mixed from the multitrack master. Auxiliary Equipment Effects devices separate from but working with the recording console. Fly In 1) To add sounds int...

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). Frequency Response How sensitive an electronic device (mic, amplifier, speaker, etc.) is to various frequencies; often communicated with a graph. Brooks GT 845 reviews 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). Inductor A device designed primarily to introduce inductance into an electric circuit. Sometimes called a choke or coil. Brooks Cinema Projectors reviews 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 ground...

A generation of new SMPTE according to the input SMPTE signal Driver See transducer. Dynamic Range �" The range between the quietest and the loudest sounds a device can handle (often quoted in dB). Brooks Cinema XS - 45 reviews Hum The 60 Hz power line current accidentally induced or fed into electronic equipment. Analog Recording A recording of the continuous changes of an audio waveform. Broom RM 909 reviews In Short For "in the circuit," in other words "active." Golden Section A ratio of height to width to length of a room to achieve "good acoustics" and first recommended by the ancient Greeks. The ratio is approximately the width 1.6 times the height and the length 2.6 times the height 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/charge...

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. Crossover (Crossover Network) A set of filters that "split" the audio signal into two or more bands (two or more signals, each of which have only some of the frequencies present). Brooks XS - 45 reviews Flamenco A style of music with roots in Spanish and Arabic culture. Compression Driver The unit that feeds a sound pressure wave into the throat of a horn (in a horn loudspeaker). Broom RM 909 reviews Line 1) Short for line level. 2) A cable. Imaging To make a representation or imitation of the original sonic event. 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. Face The front or body of the guitar.

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. Impedance Matching Having or converting the output impedance of a device so that it matches the impedance of the input it will feed. BROOKS HI fi reviews Infinite Baffle A baffle so large that the sounds coming from one side do not reach the other side. Axis A line around which a device operates. Example: In a microphone, this would be an imaginary line coming out from the front of the microphone in the direction of motion of the diaphragm. Brooks Cinema Projectors reviews Consumer Format (Consumer DIF) A standard adopted by IEC for sending and receiving digital audio based on The AES Professional Interface. In Short For "in the circuit," in other words "active." Boost To increase gain, especially to increase gain at specific frequencies with an equalizer. Fr...

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. Console A set of controls and their housing, which control all signals necessary for recording and mixing. Broom RM 909 reviews BPM An abbreviation of Beat Per Minute (the number of steady even pulses in music occurring in one minute and therefore defining the tempo). Bass Roll Off An electrical network built into some microphones to reduce the amount of output at bass frequencies when close-micing. Brooks RM 909 Clock Signal The signal put out by a circuit that generates steady even pulses or steady codes used for synchronization. Compact Disc Recordable CDR A blank Compact Disc that can be recorded on one time. Electromagnetic Induction or Pick Up The generation of electrical signal in a conductor moving in a magnetic field or being ...

The rate the sound begins and increases in volume. 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. Brooks Cinema GT 845 reviews 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. 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. BROOKS HI fi reviews 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 rout...

A prompt on a computer screen telling the operator that an error has occurred. Figure Eight Pattern Another name for Bi-directional Pattern (microphone pickup pattern picking up best from the front and back of the diaphragm and not picking up from the side of the diaphragm). Brooks XM 204 reviews Highs Short for the term High Frequencies (the audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above). 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 Projectors reviews Flamenco A style of music with roots in Spanish and Arabic culture. Guitar Controller An electric guitar or device played like an electric guitar that puts out MIDI signals that can be used to control synthesizers and sound modules. Binary A numbering system based on two. In binary there are two symbols used ("l" and "0"). Lead Sheet A written chart showing th...

Practically speaking, high frequency means high pitch and low frequency means low pitch. 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. Brooks Cinema DESIGN ZL 44 reviews File A collection of digital data stored in a computer's memory bank or on a floppy disc. 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. Brooks Hi Fi reviews Far Field The area from 3 feet away from the sound source up to the critical distance. Link (Said of compressors and dynamic processing units.) To combine the control input signals of two channels of a compressor (o Linearity The extent to which any signal handling process is accomplished without amplitude distortion. Aux Send Short for the term Auxiliary Send (a control to adjust the level of the signal sent from the conso...

The two track stereo master tape which was mixed from the multitrack master. Analog (Analogue) Representative, continuous changes that relate to another quantity that has a continuous change. Brooks GT 845 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. Frequency Response How sensitive an electronic device (mic, amplifier, speaker, etc.) is to various frequencies; often communicated with a graph. Brooks XM 204 reviews Driver See transducer. Dynamic Range �" The range between the quietest and the loudest sounds a device can handle (often quoted in dB). Earth The British version of the term Ground (In electronics, a place that has zero volts). First Generation A descriptive term meaning original (as opposed to a copy). Intermodulation Distortion Distortion caused by one signal beating with another signal ...

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. 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). Broom RM 909 reviews 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. Full Step A change in pitch that occurs when moving up or down two piano keys Brooks XM 204 reviews 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. Head 1) In tape recording, the transducer (energy converter) that changes the audio energy from electrical energy...

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". Lift 1) To boost gain of audio at a particular band of frequencies with an equalizer. 2) An elevation device in the star trek series of TV programs. Broom RM 909 reviews Guitar Controller An electric guitar or device played like an electric guitar that puts out MIDI signals that can be used to control synthesizers and sound modules. Icon A visual picture or symbol on a computer screen that represents a file, program or disc that can be used. BROOKS AUDIO DESIGN reviews Haas Effect Simply stated, a factor in human hearing where delay has a much bigger effect on human perception of direction than level does. Electromagnetic Theory A statement of the principles behind electromagnetic induction: When a conductor cuts magnetic lines of force, current is induced in that conductor. Final Mix The ...

A blank Compact Disc that can be recorded on one time. Acoustic/Acoustical Having to do with sound that can be heard by the ears. AcousticsThe behaviour of sound and its study. The acoustics of a room depend on its size and shape and the amount and position of sound-absorbing and reflecting material. Brooks XM 204 reviews AES/EBU Professional Interface A standard for sending and receiving digital audio adopted by the Audio Engineering Society and the European Broadcast Union. Critical Distance The point a distance away from the sound source where the direct sound and the reverberant sound are equal in volume. Brooks KM 22 reviews Delay Outboard sound equipment that can momentarily stores a signal being sent to part of a P.A. system so that delayed reinforced sound reaches the audience at the same time as live sound from the stage. Direct box Used in line to convert a high impedance signal into a low impedance signal. Chorusing 1) A term meaning t...

The way in which the gain varies in the stages or sections of an audio system. 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 XS - 45 reviews Keynote Number A number assigned to each key of a synthesizer or controller keyboard that is transmitted in the MIDI signal. 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 level signal. Remember, however, that speaker outputs are not line level. Plugging speaker outs into line ins will result in damage to the equipment Brooks KM 22 reviews Full Range Describes a sound which covers all audible frequency ranges. As in "full range speaker cabinets." Chase The automatic adjusti...

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. Capacitance The property of being able to oppose a change in voltage or store an electrical charge. Brooks Cinema ZL 44 reviews Editing 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. Compact Disc CD A small optical disk with digital audio recorded on it. Brooks XM 204 reviews Joystick 1) A quad pan pot which distributes what percentage of on signal is sent to each of 4 outputs....

The full name for FSK (A simple clock signal that can be used to run a sequencer in time with an audio tape). Delay Outboard sound equipment that can momentarily stores a signal being sent to part of a P.A. system so that delayed reinforced sound reaches the audience at the same time as live sound from the stage. Brooks Cinema GT 845 reviews 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. Frequency The number of cycles of a waveform occurring in a second. Brooks Cinema ZL 44 reviews Clock Signal The signal put out by a circuit that generates steady even pulses or steady codes used for synchronization. Error Detection The process of discovery that sonic information bits have been lost in digital audio. Folded Horn A speaker design where the speaker points back into the cabinet and bounces around finally coming out large...

A device that changes the gain of an amplifier or circuit, often a knob that can be turned or a slide that can be moved up arid down. 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 XM 204 reviews Current The amount of electron charge passing a point in a conductor per unit of time. 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 KM 22 reviews 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. 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 b...

An element in the sound of a voice or instrument that does not change frequency as different pitches are sounded. 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 44 reviews Impedance Matching Having or converting the output impedance of a device so that it matches the impedance of the input it will feed. Acoustic Amplifier 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. Brooks Speakers reviews Comb Filter 1) The frequency response achieved by mixing a direct signal with a delayed signal of equal strength especially at s...

Trade name for a series of noise reduction systems that have become standard on many tape playback machines. Many film soundtracks are produced using this process. Different varieties are found from Dolby B on most personal cassette players, to Dolby SR and Digital, the current state of the art for cinema. Electrons Negatively charged particles, which revolve around the centre of atoms. The movement of such electrons down a conductor causes electrical current. Brooks Cinema ZL 44 reviews Crisp Describes a good clean high midrange sound. It can be good or bad depending on the look on the face of the guy who said it. 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 KM 22 reviews Jam Sync A generation of new SMPTE according to the input SMPTE signal Frequency Response How sensitive an electronic device (mic, amplifier, speaker, etc.) is to various frequenci...

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. Fret Buzz A buzzing sound made when a note is not properly fretted. Common with cheap guitars or beginning guitar players. BROOKS HI fi reviews Aliasing A sampler mis-recognizing a signal sent to it that is at a frequency higher than the Nyquist Frequency. Upon playback, the system will provide a signal at an incorrect frequency (called an alias frequency). Aliasing is a kind of distortion. 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 XM 204 reviews CPU Abbreviation of Central Processing Unit (The main "brain" chip of a computer or the main housing of a computer that con...

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. Kick (Kick Drum) Another term for Bass Drum. Brooks Cinema Projectors reviews 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. Error Message A prompt on a computer screen telling the operator that an error has occurred. Brooks RM 909 Bouncing Alternate name for Ping-Ponging (playing several tacks with sync playback through a console to mix them together and record them on an open track). ...

The control of a dynamics processing device by an external audio signal. Guitar Controller An electric guitar or device played like an electric guitar that puts out MIDI signals that can be used to control synthesizers and sound modules. Brooks Cinema ZL 44 reviews Keying Input (Key Input) An input on a dynamics processing device to control the device by an external audio signal. 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. Broom RM 909 reviews AES/EBU Professional Interface A standard for sending and receiving digital audio adopted by the Audio Engineering Society and the European Broadcast Union. ...

Another name for Bass Drum (the largest drum in the Drum Kit which puts out bass frequencies and is played with a foot pedal). Icon A visual picture or symbol on a computer screen that represents a file, program or disc that can be used. BROOKS AUDIO reviews Foot Pedal 1) An effects device where the amount of the effect can be controlled by a musician with his foot. 2) The beater mechanism of a foot drum that is activated by the drummer's foot to play the drum. 3) Any device, like a volume control, that can be operated by the foot. Clipping Distortion of a signal by its being chopped off. An overload problem caused by pushing an amplifier beyond its capabilities. The flat-topped signal has high levels of harmonic distortion which creates heat in a loudspeaker and is the major cause of loudspeaker component failure. Brooks Cinema DESIGN ZL 44 reviews Board 1) Another, less formal, term for Console. 2) A set of controls and their housing which control ...

A standard adopted by IEC for sending and receiving digital audio based on The AES Professional Interface. Cue Send Control A control that will adjust the amount of signal sent to a cue buss from a console channel. Brooks XS - 45 reviews Infinite Baffle A baffle so large that the sounds coming from one side do not reach the other side. 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 KM 22 reviews 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. Amplitude The strength of a vibrating wave; in sound, the loudness of the sound. Harmonics Integer multiples of a fundamental frequency, the fundamental itself being the first...

The acoustic power delivered for a given electrical input. Often expressed as decibels/watt/meter (dB/w/m). ESL �" Abbreviation for electrostatic loudspeaker. 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 Cinema GT 845 reviews Console A set of controls and their housing, which control all signals necessary for recording and mixing. Bit The smallest unit of digital information representing a single "0" or 1. Brooks Cinema XS - 45 reviews Hum The 60 Hz power line current accidentally induced or fed into electronic equipment. 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 An...

Where a signal enters the board or component. 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. Brooks Cinema KM 22 reviews 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. In-Line Console A console with modules that have controls for all console sections in one long strip. Broom RM 909 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. Baffles Sound absorbing panels used to prevent sound waves from entering or leaving a certain space Acoustic/Acoustical Having to do with sound that can be heard by the ears. AcousticsThe behaviour of sound and its st...

The area from 3 feet away from the sound source up to the critical distance. Consumer Format (Consumer DIF) A standard adopted by IEC for sending and receiving digital audio based on The AES Professional Interface. Brooks XB 33 reviews Error Correct Exact replacement of lost information bits in digital audio. Line 1) Short for line level. 2) A cable. Brooks XM 204 reviews 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). Capacitance That property of a capacitor which determines how much charge can be stored in it for a given potential difference between its terminals, measured in farads, by the ratio of the charge stored to the potential difference. LFO Low-Frequency Oscillator (an oscillator that puts out an AC signal between .1 Hz and 10Hz used for a control signal). Compression Ratio How many dB the input...

A European term for the signal sent to the stage monitors in a live performance. Final Mix The two track stereo master tape which was mixed from the multitrack master. Brooks Speakers reviews 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. 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. Brooks KM 22 reviews Consumer Format (Consumer DIF) A standard adopted by IEC for sending and receiving digital audio based on The AES Professional Interface. Fundamental The tuned frequency and (almost always) the lowest frequency ...

A device that has the standard music keys of piano but puts out MIDI signals Linear The condition of obtaining a change at the output of the device which is proportional to the change occurring at the input. Brooks XM 204 reviews Critical Distance The point a distance away from the sound source where the direct sound and the reverberant sound are equal in volume. 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. Brooks Gt 44 reviews Cancellation 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). Line 1) Short for line level. 2) A cable. Electrons Negatively charged particles, wh...