Calista Home Theaters

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). Chase The automatic adjusting of the speed of a recorder (or sequencer) to be time with another recorder. Calista C3-S Security System Limiter A device which reduces gain when the input voltage exceeds a certain level. Compact Disc, Interactive CDI A Compact Disc, usually containing audio, video, and text, which the user can interact with in that the display or playback changes after the user performs some action. Calista C2-88 Projector In Short For "in the circuit," in other words "active." Hybrid A product created by the marriage of two different technologies. Meant here as the combination of a dynamic woofer with an electrostatic transducer. Bank 1) A collection of sound patches (data as to the sequence and operating parameters of the synthesizer generators and modifi...

A room designed with very hard, non-parallel surfaces and equipped with a speaker and microphone; dry signals from the console are fed to the speaker and the microphone will have a reverberation of these signals that can be mixed in with the dry signals at the console. Electrons Negatively charged particles, which revolve around the centre of atoms. The movement of such electrons down a conductor causes electrical current. Calista C2-88 Projector Amplitude The strength of a vibrating wave; in sound, the loudness of the sound. CD (Compact Disc) : 1) Digital sound storage medium. Provides a high quality source of music, sound effects etc. Also used as a playback medium for sound effects etc. by large theatres with long running shows, although CDR (Recordable CD) is becoming more affordable by the day. 2) An abbreviation of the term Compact Disc (a small optical disk with digital audio recorded on it). Calista C3-S Security System Expander A device that causes ...

Describes a sound coming from the PA with no effects on it. Engineer 1) A technician in charge of a recording session; Also called Recording Engineer. 2) A person with an engineering degree. 3) A person with sufficient experience in the field to be equivalent to the education one would receive earning an engineering degree. Calista C3-S Security System Coax Two-conductor cable consisting of one conductor surrounded by a shield. Bi A prefix meaning two. Calista C2-88 Projector Level The amount of signal strength; the amplitude, especially the average amplitude. Headphones Devices that can be worn on the head with small speakers that fit over the ears (or sometimes into the ears). Link (Said of compressors and dynamic processing units.) To combine the control input signals of two channels of a compressor (o Calista Reviews ADSR The letters A, D, S &R are the first letters of: Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release. These are the various ele...

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. ADAT A trademark of Alesis Corporation designating its modular digital multitrack recording system released in early 1993. Calista C2-88 Projector Bi-Directional Pattern A microphone pick up pattern which has maximum pick up directly in front and directly in back of the diaphragm and least pick up at the sides. 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 when touching a microphone. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Fret Buzz A buzzing sound made when a note is not properly fretted. Common with cheap guitars or beginning ...

A condenser microphone where the capacitor plates are given a charge during manufacture which they retain, therefore requiring no external power supply. Foot Switch A switch placed on the floor and pressed by a musician to do various functions. Calista C2-88 Projector 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 less than 150 degrees off axis (usually 120 degrees). Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. Head 1) In tape recording, the transducer (energy converter) that changes the audio energy from electrical energy to magnetic energy and back; also the devices that apply magnetism to the recording tape for other purposes such as in ...

Another term for Bass Drum. Interface Any device that allows one unit to work, drive or communicate with another unit when they cannot do so by just feeding each other often because the units are manufactured by different companies. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Dolby Trade name for a series of noise reduction systems that have become standard on many tape playback machines. Many film soundtracks are produced using this process. Different varieties are found from Dolby B on most personal cassette players, to Dolby SR and Digital, the current state of the art for cinema. Edit A switch that does different things depending on the operational mode that the machine is in: 1) If a computer-controlled transport is in "Stop," pushing the "Edit" switch deactivates the computer-controlled tension system and allows the reels to be moved by hand to find the exact spot desired on the tape. 2) If the machine is in "Play", the "Edit" switch ...

Abbreviation of Integrated Circuit (A miniature circuit of many components that is in small, sealed housing with prongs to connect it into equipment). Keying Input (Key Input) An input on a dynamics processing device to control the device by an external audio signal. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. Boom Stand A microphone stand equipped with a telescoping support arm to hold the microphone. Calista C2-88 Projector Golden Section A ratio of height to width to length of a room to achieve "good acoustics" and first recommended by the ancient Greeks. The ratio is approximately the width 1.6 times the height and the length 2.6 times the height 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...

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. Harmonic Distortion The presence of harmonics in the output signal of a device which were not present in the input signal. Calista C3-S Security System Leakage Sounds from other instruments and sources that were not intended to be picked up by the microphone. 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). Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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)...

1) An amplified signal level put out by an amplifier and used as the normal level that runs through the interconnecting cables in a control room. 2) A low level signal such as the signal in a guitar cord. Most parts of a PA require a line level signal. Remember, however, that speaker outputs are not line level. Plugging speaker outs into line ins will result in damage to the equipment Images The squaring of the waveform that happens in the conversion of digital audio bits into analog signals. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Fidelity The recording or reproduction quality. Frets Vertical metal wires which sit vertically on the guitar neck. Calista C2-88 Projector 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 use in telephone exchan...

Feeding the output of an electric instrument (like an electric guitar) to the recording console or tape recorder without using a microphone. 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. Calista C2-88 Projector Compressor A signal processing device that does not allow as much fluctuation in the level of the signal above a certain adjustable or fixed level. Corner Frequency Same as Cut-Off Frequency (the highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter). (NOUN) Calista C3-S Security System 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. ...

The amount of electron charge passing a point in a conductor per unit of time. Equipment Rack A cabinet with rails (or free standing rails) that have holes to accept screws at standard spaces and used to house outboard gear. Calista C3-S Security System Cancellation A shortening of the term Phase Cancellation (the energy of one waveform significantly decreasing the energy of another waveform because of phase relationships at or close to 180 degrees). Cut 1) One selection (one song) on a pre4ecorded music format. 2) A term with the same meaning as Mute (to turn off a channel or a signal). 3) To reduce gain of a particular band of frequencies (with an equalizer). 4) To not pass a particular band of frequencies (said of a filter) Calista C2-88 Projector Hall Program A setting of a digital delay/reverb effects unit that approximates concert halls. Hall programs are characterized by pre-delay of up to 25 ms. BPM An abbreviation of Beat Per Minute (the n...

The generation of electrical signal in a conductor moving in a magnetic field or being close to a changing magnetic field. ADAT A trademark of Alesis Corporation designating its modular digital multitrack recording system released in early 1993. Calista C2-88 Projector Compander Outboard sound equipment. Combination of a Compressor and an Expander. Instrument Out Direct Feeding the output of an electric instrument (like an electric guitar) to the recording console or tape recorder without using a microphone. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Beat 1) The steady even pulse in music. 2) The action of two sounds or audio signals mixing together and causing regular rises &.falls in volume. Hall A large building designed for concerts; also called a concert hall. Formant An element in the sound of a voice or instrument that does not change frequency as different pitches are sounded. Calista Reviews Beats Per Minute BPM The number of steady even pulses...

Outboard sound equipment. Combination of a Compressor and an Expander. Field 1) In video, one half of a frame. 2) In computer-controlled devices a window display with functions and choices that the operator can make Calista C3-S Security System Golden Section A ratio of height to width to length of a room to achieve "good acoustics" and first recommended by the ancient Greeks. The ratio is approximately the width 1.6 times the height and the length 2.6 times the height 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). Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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). Frequency The number of cycles of a waveform occurring ...

The device which does the conversion of a quantity that has continuous changes (usually of voltage) into numbers that approximate those changes. Bottom The bass frequencies (as in "needs more bottom end"). Calista C3-S Security System Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Field 1) In video, one half of a frame. 2) In computer-controlled devices a window display with functions and choices that the operator can make 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). Alternating Current Electric current which flows back and forth in a circuit. Echo 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,...

The extreme range of a signal. Usually measured from the average to the extreme. Hum The 60 Hz power line current accidentally induced or fed into electronic equipment. Calista C2-88 Projector Field 1) In video, one half of a frame. 2) In computer-controlled devices a window display with functions and choices that the operator can make Leakage Sounds from other instruments and sources that were not intended to be picked up by the microphone. Calista C3-S Security System High Impedance Impedance of 5000 or more ohms. Barrier Micing A method of placing the head of a microphone as close as possible to a reflective surface, preventing phase cancellation. Lead The musical instrument that plays the melody of the tune, including the vocal. Bose Clip The action of deforming a waveform during overload.

Magnetic energy put out because of current travelling through a conductor. Charge The electrical energy of electrons. The energy is in the form of a force that is considered negative and repels other like forces (other electrons) and attracts opposite (positive) forces. Calista C1-9 Home Theater ADSR The letters A, D, S &R are the first letters of: Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release. These are the various elements of volume changes in the sounding of a keyboard instrument. Expansion The opposite of compression; for example, an expander may allow the signal to increase 2 dB every time the signal input increased by 1 dB. Calista C2-88 Projector Line Out (Line Output) Any output that sends out a line level signal, such as the output of a console that feeds a recorder. Input Monitor A switch position and operational mode of the electronics of a tape machine where the signal at output of the electronics will be the same as the signal coming into the elect...

1) The relative level of two or more instruments in a mix, or the relative level of audio signals in the channels of a stereo recording. 2) To make the relative levels of audio signals in the channels of a stereo recording even. Balls 1) The depth and thickness of a sound, usually on the bottom end of the EQ (as in "needs more balls"). 2) The strength of the voice on the mic (as in "check it like you have some balls"). Calista C2-88 Projector Golden Section A ratio of height to width to length of a room to achieve "good acoustics" and first recommended by the ancient Greeks. The ratio is approximately the width 1.6 times the height and the length 2.6 times the height Distortion Usually undesirable result of overloading sound equipment. Reducing the levels can remedy the situation. Calista C3-S Security System Capacitance That property of a capacitor which determines how much charge can be stored in it for a given potential differe...

An electrical network built into some microphones to reduce the amount of output at bass frequencies when close-micing. 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. Calista C3-S Security System Input Monitor A switch position and operational mode of the electronics of a tape machine where the signal at output of the electronics will be the same as the signal coming into the electronics. In this mode, the tape machine's meter will read the input signal. Format 1) The number of tracks, their width, spacing and order for tape recording. 2) To prepare a digital storage medium so that it will accept and store digital information bits. Calista C2-88 Projector Jam Sync A generation of new SMPTE according to the input SMPTE signal Gate A dynamic processing device that turns a channel off or down when the signal drops below a certain level. Clip The action of defo...

A compressor with a very long release time used to keep the volume of the audio very constant. Crosstalk Leakage of an audio signal into a channel that iris not intended to be in, from an adjacent or nearby channel. Calista C2-88 Projector Byte A grouping of eight information bits. Balanced 1) Having a pleasing amount of low frequencies compared to mid-range frequencies and high frequencies. 2) Having a pleasing mixture of the various instrument levels in an audio recording. 3) Having a fairly equal level in each of the stereo channels. 4) A method of interconnecting electronic gear using three-conductor cables. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Front Loaded A speaker cabinet where the speaker faces out toward the front. Ambient Field A term with the same meaning as the term Reverberant Field (the area away from the sound source where the reverberation is louder than the direct sound). Dynamic Mic Robust type of microphone which picks up the sound on a dia...

The extreme range of a signal. Usually measured from the average to the extreme. Analog (Analogue) Representative, continuous changes that relate to another quantity that has a continuous change. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Frequency Shift Key / FSK The full name for FSK (A simple clock signal that can be used to run a sequencer in time with an audio tape). 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. Calista C2-88 Projector Boom Stand A microphone stand equipped with a telescoping support arm to hold the microphone. Attenuator (Pot) The electronic dohickey under the knobs that increases or reduces the strength of the signal running through it. When these get old and dirty, they can make popping noises or rumbles in your PA (As in "my pots are dirty"). Assign Tochoose to which place an output is going to be sent...

A buzzing sound made when a note is not properly fretted. Common with cheap guitars or beginning guitar players. Line 1) Short for line level. 2) A cable. Calista C2-88 Projector Field 1) In video, one half of a frame. 2) In computer-controlled devices a window display with functions and choices that the operator can make Insulator A substance such as glass, air, plastic, etc., that will (for all practical purposes) not conduct electricity. Calista C3-S Security System Flat 1) Lower in musical pitch. 2) A slang term used to describe the sensitivity to frequency of a microphone, amplifier, etc., as being even at all frequencies, usually within 2 dB. 3) Refers to the frequencies on the EQ when they are arranged in centred neutral positions. Critical Distance The point a distance away from the sound source where the direct sound and the reverberant sound are equal in volume. Bridge The bridge assembly, or just "bridge" is an area on ...

Refers to the speakers that face toward the audience. Also called the "main" speakers. AES An abbreviation of Audio Engineering Society. Calista C3-S Security System 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. Keynote Number A number assigned to each key of a synthesizer or controller keyboard that is transmitted in the MIDI signal. Calista C2-88 Projector Initialize To prepare a digital storage medium (like a floppy disk) so that it will accept and store digital information bits. Cancellation A shortening of the term Phase Cancellation (the energy of one waveform significantly decreasing the energy of another waveform because of phase relationships at or close to 180 degrees). Ambient Field A term with the same meaning as the term Reverberant Field (th...

A European term for the signal sent to the stage monitors in a live performance. Lead Sheet A written chart showing the melody, lyrics and chords of a tune with full musical notation. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Compact Disc Recordable CDR A blank Compact Disc that can be recorded on one time. Bouncing Alternate name for Ping-Ponging (playing several tacks with sync playback through a console to mix them together and record them on an open track). Calista C2-88 Projector Humbucker Pickups that are coupled together to get a certain sound. Ambient Field A term with the same meaning as the term Reverberant Field (the area away from the sound source where the reverberation is louder than the direct sound). Current The amount of electron charge passing a point in a conductor per unit of time. Bose Chord Three or more musical pitches sung or played together.

A term used to describe the number of times that the recorded audio signal has been copied. 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 magnetic head. When cooled, the magnetic information is read from the disk by laser. Tracks can be named, and are instant start. Very theatre-friendly system. 5) Direct to Disk : Uses the hard disk present in most PCs as the recording medium. Calista C2-88 Projector BPM An abbreviation of Beat Per Minute (the number of steady ev...

A number assigned to each key of a synthesizer or controller keyboard that is transmitted in the MIDI signal. Condenser Microphone A microphone which converts sound pressure changes into changes of capacitance. The capacitance changes are then converted into electrical voltage variations (an audio signal). Calista C2-88 Projector Fly In 1) To add sounds into a mix or recording that have no synchronization. 2) An application of this where a performance from one part of a tune is recorded and then recorded back into the recording at a different time in the recording. Grouping 1) Controlling the gain of several individual channels with a Group Fader. 2) The mixing together of several individual audio signals to send a mixed signal out of the console to record a track on a multitrack tape machine. Calista C3-S Security System Coincident Microphones (Coincident Pair) Two microphones whose heads are placed as lose as possible to each other so that the path lengt...