Calista Home Theaters

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. Echo Return An input of the console, which brings back the echo (reverberation) signal from the echo chamber or other echo effects device. Calista C2-88 Projector Barrier Micing A method of placing the head of a microphone as close as possible to a reflective surface, preventing phase cancellation. Hybrid A product created by the marriage of two different technologies. Meant here as the combination of a dynamic woofer with an electrostatic transducer. Calista C3-S Security System Bi A prefix meaning two. Direct box Used in line to convert a high impedance signal into a low impedance signal. Audio Most often referring to electrical signals resulting from the sound pr...

A speaker design where the speaker points back into the cabinet and bounces around finally coming out large ports in the front. It is intended to maximize low frequencies in a relatively small cabinet. Hard Disk Recording The recording of digital audio onto a hard disc. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Harmonic Distortion The presence of harmonics in the output signal of a device which were not present in the input signal. Frets Vertical metal wires which sit vertically on the guitar neck. Calista C2-88 Projector Echo Send Control A control to send the signal from the input module to the echo chamber or effects device via the echo buss. Foot Switch A switch placed on the floor and pressed by a musician to do various functions. Error Detection The process of discovery that sonic information bits have been lost in digital audio. Bose Inverse Square Law Simply stated, the fact that in an un-obstructed area (like an open field) the sound pressure level ...

A device that rejects signals that are below a certain frequency (called the cut-off frequency) and passes signals with frequencies that are higher. Key The control of a dynamics processing device by an external audio signal. Calista C3-S Security System Jam Sync A generation of new SMPTE according to the input SMPTE signal Capacitance The property of being able to oppose a change in voltage or store an electrical charge. Calista C1-9 Home Theater CD-ROM An abbreviation of the term Compact Disc, Read Only Memory (A Compact Disc used to store digital data, such as large programs, that can be read by a computer). Delay Outboard sound equipment that can momentarily stores a signal being sent to part of a P.A. system so that delayed reinforced sound reaches the audience at the same time as live sound from the stage. Keynote Number A number assigned to each key of a synthesizer or controller keyboard that is transmitted in the MIDI signal. Bose Cros...

A sampler mis-recognizing a signal sent to it that is at a frequency higher than the Nyquist Frequency. Upon playback, the system will provide a signal at an incorrect frequency (called an alias frequency). Aliasing is a kind of distortion. Editing 1) Changing the sequence of a recording by cutting the recording tape and putting the pieces together in the new sequence with splicing tape. 2) Punching in and then punching out on one or more tracks of a multitrack tape recorder to replace previously recorded performances. 3) Changing the sequence of a digital recording's playback by computer program. Calista C3-S Security System Group 1) A number of channels or faders that can be controlled by one Master VCA slide. 2) A shortening of the term Recording Group (a buss or the signal present on a buss). Highs Short for the term High Frequencies (the audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above). Calista C1-9 Home Theater Headphones Devices that can be worn on t...

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). Delay (Digital, Analogue) 1) Effect used to create echo…echo…echo…echo…echo… 2) In more advanced systems used in very large venues, delay can be used to time the arrival of the signal to the speakers in the back of the room so that people in the back hear the sound coming from those speakers at the same time that the sound coming from the speakers in the front of the room arrives. Calista C3-S Security System Error Message A prompt on a computer screen telling the operator that an error has occurred. 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). Calista C2-88 Projector Input/Output Modul...

A cabinet with rails (or free standing rails) that have holes to accept screws at standard spaces and used to house outboard gear. 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). Calista C3-S Security System Bi-Amplification 1) A way of optimizing the efficiency of a speaker system by separately amplifying the High Frequency (HF) and Low Frequency (LF) portions of the sound signal and sending them down two pairs of cables to the speaker. Multipin Speakon connectors have been developed to do this. 2)The process of having of having low-frequency speakers and high-frequency speakers driven by separate amplifiers. 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. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Input Overload Sending too high of a s...

A grouping of eight information bits. Images The squaring of the waveform that happens in the conversion of digital audio bits into analog signals. Calista C3-S Security System Jam Sync A generation of new SMPTE according to the input SMPTE signal Fletcher Munson Effect A hearing limitation shown by Fletcher Munson Equal Loudness Contours (as music is lowered in volume, it is much more difficult to hear bass frequencies and somewhat harder to hear very high frequencies). Calista C1-9 Home Theater Corner Frequency Same as Cut-Off Frequency (the highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter). (NOUN) Imaging To make a representation or imitation of the original sonic event. Frets Vertical metal wires which sit vertically on the guitar neck. Calista Reviews Headstock The area of the guitar at the end of the neck where the strings are tuned.

The presence of harmonics in the output signal of a device which were not present in the input signal. Hard Disk Recording The recording of digital audio onto a hard disc. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Effects Electronic boxes (usually rack mounted) added to a PA system to subtly change and enhance the signals going through it. Examples include; Reverb, Delay, Compressor, Chorus. Frequency Practically speaking, high frequency means high pitch and low frequency means low pitch. Calista C2-88 Projector 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. Foot Switch A switch placed on the floor and pressed by a musician to do various functions. Echo Return An input of the console, which brings back the echo (reverberation) signal from the echo chamber or other echo effects device. Calista R...

1) An Echo Chamber (a room designed with very hard, non-parallel surfaces equipped with a speaker and microphone so that when dry signals from the console are fed to the speaker, the microphone will have a reverberation of these signals that can be mixed in with the dry signals at the console). 2) A program in a delay/reverb effects device that simulates the sound of an Echo Chamber. Audio Most often referring to electrical signals resulting from the sound pressure wave being converted into electrical energy. Calista C3-S Security System Leakage Sounds from other instruments and sources that were not intended to be picked up by the microphone. Foldback A European term for the signal sent to the stage monitors in a live performance. Calista C2-88 Projector Ground Adapter Plug Adapts a three pronged electrical plug to a two pronged wall outlet. This bypasses the ground and may create a hum in the system. A lack of a good ground can cause mild electrical shock ...

The number of cycles of a waveform occurring in a second. Capacitance That property of a capacitor which determines how much charge can be stored in it for a given potential difference between its terminals, measured in farads, by the ratio of the charge stored to the potential difference. Calista C3-S Security System Error Concealment Putting replacement information bits into a digital audio signal to replace lost bits when the digital recording or processing system cannot verify whether the lost bits were l's or 0's but can make a good guess by comparing the known bits that were close in position to the lost bits. Gain Structure The way in which the gain varies in the stages or sections of an audio system. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Head Amp British name for Preamplifier (A low-noise amplifier designed to take a low-level signal, such as the output of a tape head, and bring it up to normal line level). Frequency Shift Key / FSK The full name for...

A grouping of eight information bits. Diaphragm A thin flexible membrane or cone that vibrates in response to electrical signals to produce sound waves. Distortion is usually referred to in terms of total harmonic distortion (THD) which is the percentage of unwanted harmonics of the drive signal present with the wanted signal. Generally used to mean any unwanted change introduced by the device under question. Calista C3-S Security System Flange An effect caused by an approximately even mix of a modulated (varying) short delay with the direct signal. Hard Disk (Hard Disc) A storage unit for digital data that has rigid disks coated with magnetic material in a housing that includes the drive mechanism. Calista C2-88 Projector Impedance Matching Having or converting the output impedance of a device so that it matches the impedance of the input it will feed. Electromagnetic Induction or Pick Up The generation of electrical signal in a conductor moving in a ma...

Short for the term High Frequencies (the audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above). Group Master A slide control used to send out a control voltage to several VCA faders in individual channels, thus controlling the gain of several channels. Calista C2-88 Projector Hi-Z An abbreviation of the term High Impedance (Impedance of 5000 or more ohms). Frequency Range The range of frequencies over which an electronic device is useful or over which a sound source will put out substantial energy. Calista C3-S Security System Hum The 60 Hz power line current accidentally induced or fed into electronic equipment. House Sync A synchronization signal such as SMPTE time code that is used by all recorders in the control room. Bit The smallest unit of digital information representing a single "0" or 1. Bose Centre Frequency The frequency of the audio signal that is boosted or attenuated most by an equalizer with a peak equalization curve.

A round flat object (usually housed in a protective sleeve) coated with material that can be magnetized in a similar manner to tape. Electricity Electrical current (the amount of electron charge passing a point in a conductor per unit of time) or voltage (the force pushing electrons to obtain electrical current). Calista C2-88 Projector In Short For "in the circuit," in other words "active." Digital Recording 1) ADAM : (Akai Digital Audio Multitrack). 12 track recording onto Video 8 tape. 16 bit, 44.1 or 48 kHz sampling rate. 2) DAT (Digital Audio Tape) Cassette-like system which has much higher quality than standard audio cassettes. Widely used in gathering sound effects, for news gathering, and for playback of music. 3) DCC (Digital Compact Cassette) Rival to DAT which also plays standard audio cassettes. 4) MiniDisc : Uses computer disk technology, rather than tape. A laser heats an area of magnetic disk which is then written to by a mag...

A dynamic processing device that turns a channel off or down when the signal drops below a certain level. Line Out (Output, Send) Where a signal leaves the board or component. Calista C2-88 Projector 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. Basic Session The First session in recording an audio production to record the Basic Tracks. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Boom 1) A hand-held, telescoping pole used to hold the microphone in recording dialogue in film production. 2) A telescoping support arm that is attached to a microphone stand and which holds the microphone. 3) Loosely, a boomstand. Amplitude The height of a waveform above or below the zero line. Active/Inactive Microphones Scientific definitions aside, active microphones generally sound b...

The frequency of the audio signal that is boosted or attenuated most by an equalizer with a peak equalization curve. Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Calista C2-88 Projector Effects 1) Various ways an audio signal can be modified by adding something to the signal to change the sound. 2) Short for the term Sound Effects (sounds other than dialogue, narration or music like door closings, wind, etc. added to film or video shots). Fundamental The tuned frequency and (almost always) the lowest frequency that is present in the sounding of a pitch by a musical instrument. Calista C3-S Security System Face The front or body of the guitar. Compressor 1) Effect used to squash the sound together. Used properly, it can take the edge off or your sound. Used improperly, it can take the life right out of your system and make it sound like an MTV mix. 2) A piece of sound processing equipmen...

The way your PA sounds just before it blows up. Fuzzy and scratchy. If you hear this, it either means you have something hooked up wrong, or something in the system is going bad. It could be anything from your super expensive soundboard to a five dollar patch cord. Feedback 1) The delayed signal sent back to the input of a delay line, used in repeat-echo effects. 2) The pickup of the signal out of a channel by its input or the howling sound that this produces. 3) In an amplifier, the phase reversed output signal sent back to its input, reducing gain but also distortion and noise. 4) This occurs when the sound coming out of the speakers goes back into the microphones, then back out the speakers, then back into the mics…and so on. This can build very quickly to a point where everyone in the room is holding their ears and screaming at you. It can also cause damage to the PA. Calista C1-9 Home Theater High Impedance Mic A microphone designed to be fed into an amplifier ...

A small optical disk with digital audio recorded on it. Effects 1) Various ways an audio signal can be modified by adding something to the signal to change the sound. 2) Short for the term Sound Effects (sounds other than dialogue, narration or music like door closings, wind, etc. added to film or video shots). Calista C2-88 Projector Beats Per Minute BPM The number of steady even pulses in music occurring in one minute and there fore defining the tempo of the song. Condenser Mic (Capacitor Mic) A microphone that uses the varying capacitance between two plates with a voltage applied across them to convert sound to electrical pulses. Condenser microphones need a power supply to provide the voltage across the plates, which may be provided by a battery within the case of the microphone, or it may be provided from an external phantom power supply. A condenser mic is more sensitive and has a faster reaction to percussive sounds than a Dynamic mic and produces a more ev...

The area from 3 feet away from the sound source up to the critical distance. Flange An effect caused by an approximately even mix of a modulated (varying) short delay with the direct signal. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Coincident Microphones (Coincident Pair) Two microphones whose heads are placed as lose as possible to each other so that the path length from any sound source to either microphone is for all practical purposes, the same. Automation In consoles, a feature that lets the engineer program control changes (such as fader level) so that upon playback of the multitrack recording these changes happen automatically. Calista C3-S Security System Feedback Control The control on a delay line or delay effects device that controls the amount of feedback. 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 pi...

An input of the console, which brings back the echo (reverberation) signal from the echo chamber or other echo effects device. Fat Having more than a normal amount of signal strength at low frequencies or having more sound than normal (by use of compression or delay). Calista C3-S Security System Boundary Mic A microphone mounted on a flat plate that acts as a reflective surface directing sound into the mic capsule. Used for general pick-up over a large area. See PCC, PZM. Bank 1) A collection of sound patches (data as to the sequence and operating parameters of the synthesizer generators and modifiers) in memory. 2) A group of sound modules as a unit. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Jack 1) Anywhere you plug something in. 2) Segmented audio connector. Mono Jacks have two connections �" tip and sleeve, and are unbalanced. Stereo jacks have three connections �" tip, ring and sleeve. B-type jacks (also known as Bantam jacks) were originally designed for ...

The tuned frequency and (almost always) the lowest frequency that is present in the sounding of a pitch by a musical instrument. Bridge The bridge assembly, or just "bridge" is an area on the face of the guitar where the string meet or are connected to the face. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Clean Describes a distortion free sound with few effects. 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. Calista C3-S Security System Light Emitting Diode 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. In-Line Console A console with modules that have controls for all console sections in one long strip. Hypercardioid Pattern A microphone pick up sensitivity pattern where the least sensitive pick up point is more than 90 degrees but le...

(Said of compressors and dynamic processing units.) To combine the control input signals of two channels of a compressor (o Distorted The way your PA sounds just before it blows up. Fuzzy and scratchy. If you hear this, it either means you have something hooked up wrong, or something in the system is going bad. It could be anything from your super expensive soundboard to a five dollar patch cord. Calista C3-S Security System I/O Short for "Input/Output' and referring to: 1) An in-line console module that contains controls for the input section, output section and monitor section. 2) A module in electronic gear containing input and output amplifiers for the device. 3) A digital port (connector) able to both receive digital data and output digital data. Electric Current A more formal term meaning the same as the term Current (the amount of electron charge passing a point in a conductor per unit of time). Calista C1-9 Home Theater Compression Driver ...

1) Various ways an audio signal can be modified by adding something to the signal to change the sound. 2) Short for the term Sound Effects (sounds other than dialogue, narration or music like door closings, wind, etc. added to film or video shots). Insert 1) A punch in of the all of the tracks being recorded in a recording session. 2) On Solid State Logic consoles, placing an outboard piece of gear in the channel by patching and activating a switch. Calista C3-S Security System Limiter A device which reduces gain when the input voltage exceeds a certain level. AES/EBU Professional Interface A standard for sending and receiving digital audio adopted by the Audio Engineering Society and the European Broadcast Union. Calista C2-88 Projector Cut-off Rate (Slope) The number of dB that a filter reduces the signal for each octave its frequency past the filter's cut-off frequency (outside of the pass band). Interface Any device that allows one unit to wo...

A descriptive term meaning original (as opposed to a copy). Compact Disc Recordable CDR A blank Compact Disc that can be recorded on one time. Calista C3-S Security System Electromagnetic Theory A statement of the principles behind electromagnetic induction: When a conductor cuts magnetic lines of force, current is induced in that conductor. CPU Abbreviation of Central Processing Unit (The main "brain" chip of a computer or the main housing of a computer that contains the "brain" chip). Calista C1-9 Home Theater Active/Inactive Microphones Scientific definitions aside, active microphones generally sound better than inactive ones, but they generally cost more. They also require the use of either a battery or phantom power while inactive mics need only be plugged into the mic cord in order to work. In most playing situations, the subtle improvement in sound quality from an active mic isn't worth the extra cost and hassle. One possible exc...

1) The lower range of audio frequencies up to approximately 250 Hz. 2) Short for Bass Guitar. 3) Lower end of the musical scale. In acoustics, the range (below about 200 Hz) in which there are difficulties, principally in the reproduction of sound, due to the large wavelengths involved. 4) The lower frequencies. 5) On the soundboard this should refer to the bass guitar channel, not the bass drum. 6) The lowest frequencies of sound. Bi-Amplification uses an electronic crossover or line-level amplifiers for the high and low frequency loudspeaker drivers. Electricity Electrical current (the amount of electron charge passing a point in a conductor per unit of time) or voltage (the force pushing electrons to obtain electrical current). Calista C2-88 Projector Chase The automatic adjusting of the speed of a recorder (or sequencer) to be time with another recorder. Error Detection The process of discovery that sonic information bits have been lost in digital audi...