Chapter 8: Appendix; Glossary Of General Audio And Recording Terms - Roland VS-880EX Application Manual

Chapter 8: Appendix

Glossary of General
Audio and Recording
Terms
Ambience
The distinctive acoustical characteristic of a given
concert hall, recording studio, etc. It results from
reverberations (multiple sound reflections) from the
walls and ceiling. Rooms that are said to be "dead"
lack ambience.
A m p l i f i e r , b a l a n c e d
An amplifier with high (+) and low (-) signal
connections and a separate shield (ground)
connection. This 3-wire approach can be achieved
with a transformer or with special electronics. An
amplifier can have a balanced input and output, or it
may have the input unbalanced and the output
balanced, or vice-versa. The term "balanced" does
not refer to frequency or level balance (also see
"balanced").
Amplifier, unbalanced
An amplifier with only two signal input or output
conductors; one being high (+), and the other being
low (-) and ground. An amplifier can have an
unbalanced input and output, or it may have the
input unbalanced and the output balanced, or vice-
versa.
Analog
An electrical signal whose frequency and level vary
continuously in direct relationship to the original
acoustical sound waves. "Analog" also may refer to a
control or circuit which continuously changes the
level of a signal in a direct relationship to the control
setting.
A t t e n u a t e
To reduce the level of an electrical signal, usually
with a volume or loudness control. Also, to reduce
sound levels acoustically through the use of
absorption materials.
Aux Send / Return
Normally refers to the output Bus of a mixer used to
"send" a signal to an external processing device. The
Aux Return is the return input to the mixer used for
the return signal from the effects device.
A u x ( A u x i l i a r y ) I n p u t
A high level input on an amplifier, mixer, tape
recorder, etc. which will accept a variety of line level
signals from external devices or systems.
Balanced
An audio circuit with 3 wires; two wires carry the
signal, high (+) and low (-), and the third is a shield
which is connected to a chassis or system ground.
The signal leads are both of equal potential difference
from the ground, and are hence "balanced" with
respect to ground. Sometimes improperly described
as "floating" (see "amplifier, balanced" and also
"floating").
Bass
The low audio frequency range, normally considered
to be below 500 Hz.
B r i d g i n g
A method of deriving signal from an audio circuit
without loading or taking appreciable power from
that circuit. (The input impedance of the "bridging"
device is at least 10 times the output impedance of
the signal source.)
Also, a technique for using a stereo power amplifier
as a higher powered mono power amplifier whereby
the inputs are driven with the same signal, but
reversed in polarity, and the output is derived from
the high (+) side of each channel's output: this may
cause damage to some amplifiers - consult
manufacturer.
Bus
A signal path to which a number of inputs may be
connected for feed to one or more outputs. In a
mixing console a Bus is usually a long piece of wire
to which any input channel may be connected by
means of a switch or control. The end of the wire
goes into a combining amplifier or summing
amplifier which then feeds one of the console
outputs.
Bypass
An alternate signal path that goes around a given
circuit. A "hard wire" bypass uses a switch and a
piece of wire to route the signal from the input to the
output of a device. A "bypass" switch is sometimes
called an "In-Out" switch.
C l i c k T r a c k
In motion picture or television sound recording, an
electronic metronome is applied to the audio
recording so that musicians can synchronize the
musical tempo with the visual action or frame rate.
The channel carrying the metronome signal is known
as the click track.
C l i p p i n g
Occurs when the capabilities of an amplifier are
exceeded. The result is very audible distortion, also
visible on an oscilloscope.
Chapter 8: Appendix
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