Midas M32R User Manual page 32

62 DIGITAL RACK MIXER M32R User Manual
Output fast strip: One of 16 channel strips in the output fast zone.
Provides detailed control of the currently selected outputs. See Output fast zone.
Output fast zone: Control area for fast access to primary main output functions.
Overload: A condition where the signal level is too high.
Overview: The main view in the GUI channel strip, which contains the control
sections of the selected channel. This represents the associated channel strip on
the control surface.
Overview screen: One of the GUI screens. This is the default screen of the
mix bay.
P
PAN: Abbreviation for 'panoramic'.
Panning: The left/right positioning of a signal across a stereo image.
Parameter: A setting whose value can be altered by the user.
Parametric EQ: A type of EQ that allows all of the parameters of equalisation to
be changed, including centre frequency, boost/cut in gain and bandwidth.
Patch: A temporary connection (physical or virtual) made between two audio
devices or inside one.
Patch connector: Any tab patching point, for example, an XLR connector, bus,
sidechain compressor etc. See Patching.
Patching: Also known as 'soft patching'. The process of routing a channel/signal
from a source to a destination(s).
PCB: Abbreviation for 'printed circuit board'.
PEQ: Abbreviation for 'parametric equaliser'. See Parametric EQ.
PFL: Abbreviation for 'pre-fade listen'. A function that allows the signal to be
monitored pre-fader, that is, before it reaches the fader.
Phantom power: The power required for the operation of a condenser
microphone when it is not supplied by internal batteries or a separate
power supply. This is supplied by the M32 Control Centre itself.
Phase: A measurement (in degrees) of the time diff erence between
two waveforms.
Pitch: A continuous frequency over time. Musical interpretation of an
audio frequency.
Pitch shift: Alteration of pitch or frequency, but without adjusting tempo.
Point scene: Subdivision of a scene. See Scene.
Pointer: 1. On the GUI, the pointer is the arrow-shaped object on the screen
that moves when the user moves the trackball or external mouse. 2. On a control
knob, it is the marking that, when used in conjunction with the ident around
edge of control knob, helps to indicate the setting.
POP: Abbreviation for 'population'.
POP group: A number of channels assigned to a group that has unfold and area
B controls. Provides an easy and quick method of manipulating and controlling
the numerous channels available on the M32 Control Centre.
Post-: The point for accessing audio just after it leaves a specifi c channel
component, for example, 'post-fader', where the audio is tapped from just after it
leaves the channel's main level control.
Pre-: The point for accessing audio just before it reaches a specifi c module, for
example, 'pre-EQ', where the audio is tapped from just before it gets to a channel
strip's EQ.
Primary navigation zone: Area in the master bay for mix and master bay GUI
screen navigation and control. Also has a screen access section for fast access to
GUI menu options.
Processing area: A display in a GUI channel strip showing a specifi c control
section. Accessed from the channel's overview display. See Overview.
PSU: Abbreviation for 'power supply unit'.
Psychoacoustics: The study of the perception of sound, that is, how we listen,
our psychological responses and the physiological eff ects on the human nervous
system.
Pschycoacoustic noise: Noise that aff ects the physiology of the listener.
Q
Quick access button: Button for navigation/ selection of a channel/bus/
processing area.
R
RAM: Abbreviation for 'Random access memory'.
Return: Auxiliary return or aux return. An extra input used for receiving a signal
from the output of an internal or external eff ect processor. See Bus.
Reverb: An eff ect where the ambience of a physical space is simulated.
This is done by copying a signal and replaying at regular intervals at
ever decreasing levels. The intervals are so close that each copy is not
heard individually.
RMS: Abbreviation for 'root-mean-square'. The square root of the mean of the
sum of the squares. Commonly used as the eff ective value of measuring a sine
wave's electrical power. A standard in amplifi er measurements. The eff ective
average value of an AC waveform.
RS: Abbreviation for 'right surround'. The right-hand rear speaker in a
5.1 surround system.
S
s: Symbol for 'second'. A unit of time.
Scene: In automation, a set of mix settings for a particular part of a
performance, for example, a play or song.
Sibilance: Energy from a voice, centred around 7 kHz, and caused by
pronouncing 's', 'sh' or 'ch' sounds.
Side chain: A special circuit that diverts a proportion of the main signal so that
it can be processed, as required. Compressors use the side chain to derive their
control signals.
Signal fl ow: The path of a signal from one place to another.
SIP: Abbreviation for 'solo in place'.
SIS: Abbreviation for 'spatial imaging system'. Combines a central loudspeaker
cluster with a left-right system to form three discrete sound channels.
Snapshot: A captured group of mixer settings that refl ect the state of the mixer
at a particular moment within a performance. This snapshot can then be recalled
at the required moment in the performance/playback.
Solo: During monitoring, the isolation of one signal by silencing all other signals.
Source: The patch connector from which a signal is patched. See Patching.
SPL: Abbreviation for 'sound pressure level'. Given in decibels (dB), SPL is an
expression of loudness or volume.
Splash screens: The GUI display during power up.
SRC: Abbreviation for 'sample rate converter'.
SSD: Abbreviation for 'solid-state disk'. Data storage device that uses non-
volatile memory to store data. Quicker than the conventional hard disk and less
susceptible to the failures associated with hard disk drives.
Status indicator: A device specifi cally designed to show the condition
of something. For example, an LED that shows whether a pushbutton is on or off ,
or a meter showing the level of a signal.
Stereo: Two separate channels, left and right, used to give the listener the
perception of where the noise is coming from. Usually used with music to
give a fuller, more natural sound.
Stereo image: The perception of the diff erent sound sources coming from far
left, far right or anywhere in between.
63 DIGITAL RACK MIXER M32R User Manual
Surround: Audio that has more that two speaker locations and, therefore,
more than two channels. Also commonly termed 'surround sound'.
Synchronisation (sync): Coordination of timing between devices.
T
Tab: A 'sheet' in the From and To sections that contains a specifi c group of
patch connectors. See Patching.
TFT: Abbreviation for 'thin fi lm transistor'.
Threshold: Level at which dynamics processing will begin to operate.
Tie line: A dedicated connection between two systems, typically between
FOH and MON positions.
To section: The rightmost area of the Patching screen that contains the
destination patch connectors. See Patching.
Tooltip: The information box that appears next to the pointer when it passes
over or pauses on items on certain GUI screens, such as the channels on the
Overview and Patching screens.
Touchpad: Also known as 'trackpad'. An input device on a laptop PC for
controlling the on-screen pointer.
Track: Single stream of recorded audio data.
Trackball: Device, located in the primary navigation zone, for GUI screen
navigation and control of the mix and master bays.
Treble: Higher frequencies in a signal.
TW: Abbreviation for 'twin-wire'.
U
Unbalanced audio: A type of audio connection that utilises only two of the
leads of a cable, connector and jack.
Unfold: Navigates the input channels of a group to the input bays.
USB: Abbreviation for 'universal serial bus'. A 'plug and play' interface
that provides a fast connection between a computer and peripherals,
such as keyboards, printers, scanners, digital cameras etc.
V
VCA: Abbreviation for 'variable control association' (also 'voltage
controlled amplifi er').
VCA fader: The fader control of a VCA group.
VCA group: A group of channels that are controlled globally, such as via
their group's fader and other controls. Provides an easy and quick method
of manipulating and controlling the numerous channels available on the
M32 Control Centre.
VGA: Abbreviation for 'video graphics array'. A graphics display system for PCs
developed by IBM.
Virtual rack: A traditional 19" rack, represented on the GUI. A virtual rack will,
typically, contain internal devices, such as eff ects and GEQs.
Volt (V): A unit of electrical potential diff erential or electromotive force.
Volume: General term for a signal's loudness.
W
Window: A small self-contained panel that appears on the GUI, usually after
selection of a specifi c control. Typically, contains a number of user-selectable
options or information in the form of a message or prompt.
X
X-over: Abbreviation for 'crossover'.
XLR connector: High-quality three-pin audio connector, which is also used for
AES/EBU digital audio connections.