Appendix B: Glossary - Mackie SR24•4 Owner's Manual

APPENDIX B: GLOSSARY

many of the audio and electronic terms used
in discussions of sound mixing and recording.
Many of the terms have other meanings or
nuances or very rigorous technical definitions
which we have sidestepped here because we
figure you already have a lot on your mind. If
you'd like to get more information, you can
call Mix Bookshelf at 1-800-233-9604. We
recommend the following titles: The Audio
Dictionary, by Glenn White; Tech Terms, by
Peterson & Oppenheimer; and Handbook for
Sound Engineers, by Glen Ballou.
AFL
another way of saying post-fader solo function.
AFL is one of two popular solo modes used in
Mackie mixers, and in the SR24•4 AFL is en-
abled by depressing the SOLO MODE switch
to the IN PLACE AFL position. AFL is usually
a stereo monitoring mode (vs. mono PFL).
assign
Appendices
route a signal to a particular signal path or
combination of signal paths.
attenuate
aux
auxiliary
or features which provide additional capabili-
ties to the basic system. Examples of auxiliary
equipment include specialized equalizers,
compressors, limiters, gates and reverberation
and delay devices. Most mixers have aux send
buses and aux return inputs to accommodate
auxiliary equipment.
balanced
two legs of the circuit (+ and –) are iso-
lated from the circuit ground by exactly the
same impedance. Additionally, each leg may
carry the signal at exactly the same level
but with opposite polarity, with respect to
ground. In some balanced circuits only one
leg actually carries the signal but both legs
exhibit the same impedance characteristics
with respect to ground. Balanced input
circuits can offer excellent rejection of
common-mode noise induced into the line
42
This Glossary contains brief definitions of
An acronym for after fade listen, which is
In sound mixers, assign means to switch or
To reduce or cut down.
See next entry.
In sound mixers, supplemental equipment
In a classic balanced audio circuit, the
and also make proper (no ground loops)
system grounding easier. Usually termi-
nated with 1/4" TRS or XLR connectors.
bandwidth
The band of frequencies that pass through a
device with a loss of less than 3dB, expressed
in Hertz or in musical octaves. Also see Q.
bus
An electrical connection common to three
or more circuits. In mixer design, a bus usu-
ally carries signals from a number of inputs
to a mixing amplifier, just like a city bus car-
ries people from a number of neighborhoods
to their jobs.
Cannon
A manufacturer of electrical connectors
who first popularized the three-pin connector
now used universally for balanced micro-
phone connections. In sound work, a Cannon
connector is taken to mean a Cannon XLR-3
mic connector or any compatible connector.
cardioid
Means heart-shaped. In sound work, car-
dioid refers to the shape of the sensitivity
pattern of some directional microphones.
channel
A functional path in an audio circuit: an in-
put channel, an output channel, a recording
channel, the left channel and so on.
channel strip
The physical representation of an audio
channel on the front panel of a mixer; usually
a long, vertical strip of controls.
chorusing
An effect available in some digital delay
effects units and reverbs. Chorusing involves a
number of moving delays and pitch shifting,
usually panned across a stereo field. Depend-
ing on how used, it can be lovely or grotesque.
clipping
Is a cause of severe audio distortion which
is the result of excessive gain requiring the
peaks of the audio signal to rise above the ca-
pabilities of the amplifier circuit. Seen on an
oscilloscope, the audio peaks appear clipped
off. To avoid distortion, reduce the system
gain in or before the gain stage in which the
clipping occurs. See also headroom.
condenser
Is another term for the electronic component
generally known as a capacitor. In audio,