Appendix F : Glossary Of Terms - Mackie DL16S Owner's Manual

DL16S • DL32S Owner's Manual

Appendix F : Glossary Of Terms

The glossary contains brief definitions of many of the audio and electronic terms and acronyms used in discussions
of sound mixing and recording. If you would like more information, we recommend the following:
The Audio Dictionary — Glenn White
Tech Terms — Peterson & Oppenheimer
Handbook For Sound Engineers — Glen Ballou
Pro Audio Reference — Dennis Bohn
Sound Reinforcement Handbook — Gary Davis
A/D Converter — Analog-to-digital converter. A device that transforms incoming analog signals into digital form.
AFL — An acronym for After Fade Listen, which is another way of saying post-fader solo function.
Attenuate — To reduce or make quieter.
Aux — Short for auxiliary.
Auxiliary — Long for aux. In sound mixers, supplemental equipment or features that provide additional capabilities
to the basic system.
Aux Send — A mixer bus output designed to send a signal to an auxiliary processor or monitor system.
Balanced Input — An input consists of two leads, neither of which is common to the circuit ground. This is a "differential pair",
where the signal consists of the difference in voltage between the two leads. Balanced input circuits can offer excellent
rejection of common-mode noise induced into the line.
Balanced Output — In a classic balanced audio circuit, the output is carried on two leads (high or + and low or –) which
are isolated from the circuit ground by exactly the same impedance.
A symmetrical balanced output carries the same signal at exactly the same level but of opposite polarity with respect to ground.
A special case of a balanced output carries the signal on only one lead, with the other lead being at zero voltage with respect
to ground, but at the same impedance as the signal-carrying lead. This is sometimes called impedance balanced.
Bandwidth — The band of frequencies that pass through a device with a loss of less than 3 dB, expressed in Hertz [Hz]
or in musical octaves. Also see Q.
Channel — A functional path in an audio circuit: an input channel, an output channel, an FX channel and so on.
Channel Strip — An audio channel consisting of a long, vertical strip.
Clipping — A form of severe audio distortion that results from peaks of the audio signal attempting to rise above the capabilities
of the amplifier circuit. Seen on an oscilloscope, the audio peaks appear clipped off. To avoid clipping, reduce the system gain
in or before the gain stage in which the clipping occurs. Also see headroom.
Compressor — This is a dynamic processor used to smooth out any large transient peaks in an audio signal that might otherwise
overload your system or cause distortion. The amplitude threshold and other parameters such as attack time, release time,
and tire pressure are adjustable.
Condenser — Another term for the electronic component generally known as a capacitor. In audio, condenser often refers
to a type of microphone that uses a capacitor as the sound pickup element. Condenser microphones require electrical power
to run internal amplifiers and maintain an electrical charge on the capacitor. They are typically powered by internal batteries
or phantom power supplied by the mixer.
Console — Another term for mixer. DL32S mixer = DL32S console.
D/A Converter — Digital-to-analog converter. A device that transforms incoming digital signals into analog form.
dB — See decibel.
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