Brooks Audio Design

A storage unit for digital data that has rigid disks coated with magnetic material in a housing that includes the drive mechanism. Keynote Number A number assigned to each key of a synthesizer or controller keyboard that is transmitted in the MIDI signal. Brooks RM 909 reviews 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. Byte A grouping of eight information bits. Brooks HI FI projectors 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. 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 make a representation or imitation of the original sonic event. Jack Bay A series of jacks which have connections for most of the inputs and outputs of the equipment in the control room. Brooks HI FI projectors 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. 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 Hi Fi speakers 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. Face The front or body of the guitar. Absorption Short for the term Acoustical Absorption (quality o

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). ADSR The letters A, D, S &R are the first letters of: Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release. These are the various elements of volume changes in the sounding of a keyboard instrument. Brooks HI FI projectors 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. 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 Hi Fi speakers Keyboard 1) Any musica

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. 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 RM 909 Compression Driver The unit that feeds a sound pressure wave into the throat of a horn (in a horn loudspeaker). 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. Brooks RM 909 reviews Electret Mic A condenser microphone where the capacitor plates are given a charge during manufacture which they retain, therefore requiring no external power supply. Impedance Matching Having or converting the output impedance of a device so that it matches the impedance of the input it will feed. Flutter 1) High-frequency variations in pitch of a recorde

The visible sparks generated by an electrical discharge. 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 RM 909 reviews 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. Electret Mic A condenser microphone where the capacitor plates are given a charge during manufacture which they retain, therefore requiring no external power supply. Brooks HI FI projectors 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. Echo Chamber 1) A room designed with very hard, non-parallel surfaces and equipped with a spea

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. Foldback A European term for the signal sent to the stage monitors in a live performance. Brooks RM 909 Barrier Micing A method of placing the head of a microphone as close as possible to a reflective surface, preventing phase cancellation. Linear The condition of obtaining a change at the output of the device which is proportional to the change occurring at the input. Brooks Hi Fi reviews AES/EBU Professional Interface A standard for sending and receiving digital audio adopted by the Audio Engineering Society and the European Broadcast Union. Audio Most often referring to electrical signals resulting from the sound pressure wave being converted into electrical energy. Cord (Speaker, Mic, Instrument) Used to connect a sound system together. Each type of cord is made for a specific purpose and should not b

A term used to describe the number of times that the recorded audio signal has been copied. Formant An element in the sound of a voice or instrument that does not change frequency as different pitches are sounded. Brooks Hi Fi speakers 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. 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. Brooks RM 909 Electret Condenser A condenser microphone that has a permanently polarized (charged) variable capacitor as its sound pressure level sensor. Amplitude The extreme range of a signal. Usually measured from the average to the extreme. Images The squaring of the waveform that happens in the conversion of digital audio bits into analog signals. L

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). 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 RM 909 reviews Frequency The number of cycles of a waveform occurring in a second. Lead The musical instrument that plays the melody of the tune, including the vocal. Brooks HI FI projectors LED A light that allows current to flow in one direction only and emits light whenever a voltage of a certain level or beyond is applied to it. ID An index signal (digital data that gives the machine information of where selections start, their selection number, etc.) on a DAT or CD. Boundary Mic A microphone

An element in the sound of a voice or instrument that does not change frequency as different pitches are sounded. 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 Hi Fi reviews 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. Frequency Range The range of frequencies over which an electronic device is useful or over which a sound source will put out substantial energy. Brooks Hi Fi speakers Line 1) Short for line level. 2) A cable. Error Conceal

A recording of the continuous changes of an audio waveform. 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 RM 909 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. 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 Hi Fi speakers 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. Headstock The area of the guitar at the end of the neck

A number assigned to each key of a synthesizer or controller keyboard that is transmitted in the MIDI signal. Compact Disc CD A small optical disk with digital audio recorded on it. Brooks HI FI projectors 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. 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. Brooks RM 909 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). Electret Condenser A condenser microphone that has a permanently polarized (charged) variable capacitor as its sound pressure level s

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. Centre Frequency The frequency of the audio signal that is boosted or attenuated most by an equalizer with a peak equalization curve. Brooks HI FI projectors 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 vol