Calista Home Theaters

A control to control the gain of a channel on the console, thereby determining the level of the signal in that channel. High Hat A double cymbal on a stand which can be played with a foot pedal or by the top cymbal being hit with a stick. Calista C3-S Security System Condenser An older term meaning the same thing as Capacitor (an electronic device which is composed of two plates separated by an insulator and can store charge) but sill in common use when referring to a microphone's active element. Crossover, Passive Used inside of full range speaker cabinets to separate highs, mids, and lows and send them to their respective speakers within the each cabinet. These are not as efficient as active crossovers because they require all frequencies to draw from the same source of amplification. Calista C2-88 Projector Hearing Limitation An inability of the ear to hear important characteristics of sound under certain conditions. Characteristics that can be affected...

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. Chorusing 1) A term meaning the same thing as Chorus (Definition 3 or 4). 2) In some delay effects devices, a term used to mean the term Depth (the amount of change in the controlled signal by the control signal). Calista C3-S Security System Input/Output Module A set of controls, on one housing, for an in-line console that has two channels (one for recording and one for monitoring) and has controls for all console sections. AC 1) Abbreviation for alternating current. 2) An abbreviation of the term Alternating Current (electric current which flows back and forth in a circuit; all studio signals running through audio lines are AC). Calista C1-9 Home Theater Insulato...

1) In MIDI, a device that generates a MIDI signal to control synthesizers, sound modules or sample playback units. 2) A remote control unit for a multitrack tape machine which controls transport functions as well as monitor selection switching functions and record ready/safe status of each track. 3) Any device generating a control voltage or signal fed to another device's control input. Basic Session The First session in recording an audio production to record the Basic Tracks. Calista C2-88 Projector Ground In electronics, a place (terminal) that has zero volts. Action In guitar playing, action refers to how far the strings sit off of the guitar neck. When strings are close to the neck, it is referred to as "Low Action". When the string sit far above the neck, it is called "High Action". Guitars with low action are easier to play, but make sure they are not too close, or it could causing buzzing. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Chorusing ...

Simply stated, a factor in human hearing where delay has a much bigger effect on human perception of direction than level does. Electret Mic A condenser microphone where the capacitor plates are given a charge during manufacture which they retain, therefore requiring no external power supply. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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...

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. Hum The 60 Hz power line current accidentally induced or fed into electronic equipment. Calista C3-S Security System Fade 1) A gradual reduction of the level of the audio signal. 2) A gradual change of level from one pre-set level to another. Linear The condition of obtaining a change at the output of the device which is proportional to the change occurring at the input. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Attack The rate the sound begins and increases in volume. 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 interco...

Robust type of microphone which picks up the sound on a diaphragm connected to a coil of wire which moves within a magnet. An alternating current is induced into the wire which provides the electrical output. Most dynamic mics have low output impedance of 200 Ohms. See Condenser Mic. Coax Two-conductor cable consisting of one conductor surrounded by a shield. Calista C3-S Security System 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. Input 1) The jack or physical location of where a device receives a signal. 2) The signal being received by a device. 3) The action of receiving a signal by a device. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Chamber 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 s...

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"). 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 C3-S Security System Fidelity The recording or reproduction quality. Infinite Baffle A baffle so large that the sounds coming from one side...

The 60 Hz power line current accidentally induced or fed into electronic equipment. Ambient Micing Placing a microphone in the reverberant field (where the reverberation is louder than the direct sound) so as to do a separate recording of the ambience or to allow the recording engineer to change the mix of direct to reverberant sound in recording. Calista C2-88 Projector Early Reflections The first echoes in a room, caused by the sound from the sound source reflecting off one surface before reaching the listener. Chorus Common type of effect that makes sounds fuller and thicker. Calista C3-S Security System Aux Send Short for the term Auxiliary Send (a control to adjust the level of the signal sent from the console input channel to the auxiliary equipment through the aux buss. Hybrid A product created by the marriage of two different technologies. Meant here as the combination of a dynamic woofer with an electrostatic transducer. Condenser Microphone...

The British version of the term Ground (In electronics, a place that has zero volts). 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 C1-9 Home Theater Lead Sheet A written chart showing the melody, lyrics and chords of a tune with full musical notation. 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. Calista C2-88 Projector 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. Frets Vertical metal wires which sit vertically on the guitar neck. Images The...

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). High Frequencies The audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above. Calista C2-88 Projector Input 1) The jack or physical location of where a device receives a signal. 2) The signal being received by a device. 3) The action of receiving a signal by a device. Centre Frequency The frequency of the audio signal that is boosted or attenuated most by an equalizer with a peak equalization curve. Calista C3-S Security System High Impedance Impedance of 5000 or more ohms. Isolation A containing of the sound wave in a certain area so that it will not leak into other areas and/or unintended mics. Crossover 1) A route leading from one side of the stage to the other, out of the audiences view. 2) An electronic filter in a sound system that routes sound of the correct frequency to the correct part of the speaker system. Diffe...

(Said of compressors and dynamic processing units.) To combine the control input signals of two channels of a compressor (o Amplification An increasing of signal strength. Calista C2-88 Projector Absorption Short for the term Acoustical Absorption (quality of a surface or substance to take in, not reflect, a sound wave). Channels These are divided into two separate categories. Input channels are those channels coming into the soundboard such as microphones and direct lines. Output channels are those leaving the board such as monitor and main outputs. Calista C3-S Security System Clipping Distortion of a signal by its being chopped off. An overload problem caused by pushing an amplifier beyond its capabilities. The flat-topped signal has high levels of harmonic distortion which creates heat in a loudspeaker and is the major cause of loudspeaker component failure. CD (Compact Disc) : 1) Digital sound storage medium. Provides a high quality source of music,...

A set of controls and their housing, which control all signals necessary for recording and mixing. Driver See transducer. Dynamic Range �" The range between the quietest and the loudest sounds a device can handle (often quoted in dB). Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. Baffles Sound absorbing panels used to prevent sound waves from entering or leaving a certain space Calista C3-S Security System 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. Isolation A containing of the sound wave in a certain area so that it will not leak into other areas and/or unintended mics. Cable, TRS ...

1) A device that removes signals with frequencies above or below a certain point called the cut-off frequency. 2) An equalizer section, used in this sense because filters are used with other components to give an equalizer its frequency response characteristics. 3) The action of removing signals of some frequencies and leaving the rest. 4) A mechanical device to smooth out speed variations in tape machines called a Scrape Flutter Filter- more usually called a Scrape Flutter Idler Chip 1) A slang term with the same meaning as the term IC (a miniature circuit of many components that is in small, sealed housing with prongs to connect it into equipment). 2) The thread cut away from the master lacquer to make the groove, while disc recording. Calista C3-S Security System Compander Outboard sound equipment. Combination of a Compressor and an Expander. Guitar Controller An electric guitar or device played like an electric guitar that puts out MIDI signals that can ...

An element in the sound of a voice or instrument that does not change frequency as different pitches are sounded. Compander Outboard sound equipment. Combination of a Compressor and an Expander. Calista C2-88 Projector Information Bits The bits in the digital signal that make up actual values or commands being communicated as opposed to bits that are used for checking & correcting data or other purposes. Line Out (Output, Send) Where a signal leaves the board or component. Calista C3-S Security System Ground In electronics, a place (terminal) that has zero volts. Crosstalk Leakage of an audio signal into a channel that iris not intended to be in, from an adjacent or nearby channel. 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 Reviews Flutter 1) High-frequency variations in pitch of a recorded wa...

The opposition to current flow by the first circuits of a device. Fade 1) A gradual reduction of the level of the audio signal. 2) A gradual change of level from one pre-set level to another. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Graphic Equalizer An device with several slides controlling the gain of audio signal present which is within one of several evenly spaced frequency bands (spaced according to octaves). Ground Loop A double grounding of a line or electronic device at two different "ground" points of differing voltage. Calista C3-S Security System Amplification An increasing of signal strength. 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. Echo Send The output of a console used to send a signal to an echo chamber or delay effects device. Bose Ambient Field A term with the same meaning as the term Reverberant Field (th...

An abbreviation of the term Intermodulation Distortion (Distortion caused by one signal beating with another signal and producing frequencies that are both the sum and the difference of the original frequencies present). Electromagnetic Field Magnetic energy put out because of current travelling through a conductor. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Full Step A change in pitch that occurs when moving up or down two piano keys 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 C3-S Security System 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. Bulk Dump Short for System Exclusive Bulk Dump (a method of transmitting data, such as the internal parameters of a MIDI device to another MIDI device). Electret Mic A condenser microp...

Describes a good clean high midrange sound. It can be good or bad depending on the look on the face of the guy who said it. 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 C2-88 Projector Harmonics Integer multiples of a fundamental frequency, the fundamental itself being the first harmonic, its first overtone the second harmonic, etc. Attributing to instruments, voices, etc. their distinctive timbre. 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. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Acoustic Echo Chamber A room designed with very hard, non-parall...

Integer multiples of a fundamental frequency, the fundamental itself being the first harmonic, its first overtone the second harmonic, etc. Attributing to instruments, voices, etc. their distinctive timbre. 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 C2-88 Projector Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Equalization 1) The process of adjusting the tonal quality of a sound. A graphic equalizer provides adjustment for a wide range of frequency bands, and is normally inserted in the signal path after the mixing desk, before the amplifier. See Feedback. 2) Any time the amplitude of audio signals at specific set of frequencies are increased or decreased more than the signals at other audio frequencies. Calista C3-S Security System Hall Program A setti...

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. 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 C1-9 Home Theater Floppy Disk (Floppy Disc) A round flat object (usually housed in a protective sleeve) coated with material that can be magnetized in a similar manner to tape. Distortion Usually undesirable result of overloading sound equipment. Reducing the levels can remedy the situation. Calista C2-88 Projector In-Line Console A console with modules that have controls for all console sections in one long strip. Generation A term used to describe the number of tim...

An index signal (digital data that gives the machine information of where selections start, their selection number, etc.) on a DAT or CD. Chorus 1) The part of The song that is repeated and has the same music and lyrics each time; the chorus will usually give the point of the song. 2) A musical singing group that has many singers. 3) A delay effect that simulates a vocal chorus by adding several delays with a mild amount of feedback and a medium amount of depth. 4) A similar effect created in some synthesizers by detuning (reducing the pitch of, slightly) and mixing it with the signal that has regular tuning and with a slight delay. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Fundamental The tuned frequency and (almost always) the lowest frequency that is present in the sounding of a pitch by a musical instrument. Horn 1) The part of the speaker that emits midrange and higher range frequencies. 2) A speaker or speaker enclosure where sound waves are put into a narrow opening ...

1) A condition where two signals mix together to form one sound or to give the sound of one sound source or one performance. 2) Mixing the left and right signal together slightly which makes the instruments sound closer to the center of the performance stage. 3) A method of panning during mixing where instruments are not panned extremely left or right. Balanced input/output A "balanced" connection is one that has three wires to move the signal. One is a ground, and the other two (called conductors) carry signals of equal value. This is why they are called balanced. Low Z cables and connections are the most common example. Calista C2-88 Projector Floor Toms The large toms to the right of the drummer. Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Kilo A prefix meaning 1000. Diaphragm A thin flexible membrane or cone that vibrates in response to electrical ...

How many dB the input signal has to rise above the threshold for every one dB more output of a compressor or limiter. Joystick 1) A quad pan pot which distributes what percentage of on signal is sent to each of 4 outputs. 2) A control that is separately controlling two functions at one time. Calista C2-88 Projector Frequency Response How sensitive an electronic device (mic, amplifier, speaker, etc.) is to various frequencies; often communicated with a graph. 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 even respo...

A trademark of Alesis Corporation designating its modular digital multitrack recording system released in early 1993. 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 C1-9 Home Theater 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). 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. Calista C3-S Security System Initialize To prepare a digital storage medium (like a floppy disk) so that it will accept and store digital information bits. Electromagnetic Induction or Pick Up The generation of electrical signal in a conductor moving in a magnetic field or being close to a changing magnetic field....

1) One complete path of electric current. 2) Similar to definition 1, but including all paths and components to accomplish one function in a device. Central Processing Unit 1) The main "brain" chip of a computer that performs the calculations and execution of instructions. 2) The main housing of a computer that contains the "brain" chip as opposed to other pieces of the computer system such as keyboards, monitors, etc. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Direct box Used in line to convert a high impedance signal into a low impedance signal. Joystick 1) A quad pan pot which distributes what percentage of on signal is sent to each of 4 outputs. 2) A control that is separately controlling two functions at one time. Calista C2-88 Projector Crossover (Crossover Network) A set of filters that "split" the audio signal into two or more bands (two or more signals, each of which have only some of the frequencies present). Condenser Mic (Cap...

An abbreviation of the term High Impedance (Impedance of 5000 or more ohms). 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 C1-9 Home Theater Hearing Limitation An inability of the ear to hear important characteristics of sound under certain conditions. Characteristics that can be affected include pitch, level, clarity, presence and direction. Frequency The number of cycles of a waveform occurring in a second. Calista C2-88 Projector Error Detection The process of discovery that sonic information bits have been lost in digital audio. Icon A visual picture or symbol on a computer screen that represents a file, program or disc that can be used. Final Mix The two track stereo master tape which was mixed from the multitrack master. Bose Foot Switch A switch placed on the floor and pressed by a musician to do various functions.

A dynamic processing device that turns a channel off or down when the signal drops below a certain level. Electret Condenser A condenser microphone that has a permanently polarized (charged) variable capacitor as its sound pressure level sensor. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Full Step A change in pitch that occurs when moving up or down two piano keys Level Sets output volume of individual PA input channels. Usually positioned as sliders at the bottom of the soundboard. Calista C3-S Security System 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 pitch of a recorded tone due to speed fluctuations in a recorder or playback unit. ADAT A trademark of Alesis Corporation designating its modular digital multitrack recording system released in early 1993. Fly In 1) To add sounds into a mix or recording that h...

A device that rejects signals that are below a certain frequency (called the cut-off frequency) and passes signals with frequencies that are higher. 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 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 ca...

A product created by the marriage of two different technologies. Meant here as the combination of a dynamic woofer with an electrostatic transducer. Clipping Distortion of a signal by its being chopped off. An overload problem caused by pushing an amplifier beyond its capabilities. The flat-topped signal has high levels of harmonic distortion which creates heat in a loudspeaker and is the major cause of loudspeaker component failure. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. Acoustic Amplifier The portion of the instrument which makes the vibrating source move more air or move air more efficiently; this makes the sound of the instrument louder. Examples of acoustic amplifiers include: 1) The body of an acoust...

An electrical network built into some microphones to reduce the amount of output at bass frequencies when close-micing. Full A quality of the sound of having all frequencies present, especially the low frequencies. Calista C2-88 Projector Crossover, Passive Used inside of full range speaker cabinets to separate highs, mids, and lows and send them to their respective speakers within the each cabinet. These are not as efficient as active crossovers because they require all frequencies to draw from the same source of amplification. Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Calista C3-S Security System Amplitude The strength of a vibrating wave; in sound, the loudness of the sound. Floppy Disk (Floppy Disc) A round flat object (usually housed in a protective sleeve) coated with material that can be magnetized in a similar manner to tape. Attenuation A making smaller: reduction of elect...

A term used to describe the number of times that the recorded audio signal has been copied. 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 makes the take-up reel cease taking up the tape and it falls to the floor. 3) If the machine is in a fast-wind mode, the tape lifters are defeated so the tape is in contact with the reproduce head and the engineer can hear where the selections begin and end. Calista C2-88 Projector Balance 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 ch...

A written chart showing the melody, lyrics and chords of a tune with full musical notation. 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 Binary A numbering system based on two. In binary there are two symbols used ("l" and "0"). Highs Short for the term High Frequencies (the audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above). 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). Channels These are divided into two separate categories. Input channels are those channels coming into the soundboard such as microphones and direct lines. Output channels are those leaving the board such as monitor and main outputs. Fletcher Munson Effect A hearing limitatio...