Calista Home Theaters

The visible sparks generated by an electrical discharge. Cycles Per Second A unit used in the measure of frequency, equivalent to Hertz. Cycles Per Second is an outdated term replaced by Hertz in 1948. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Gain Reduction The working of a limiter or compressor reducing gain during high-level passages. 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 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. Linear The condition of obtaining a change at the output of the device which is proportional to the change occurring at the input. Clean Describes a distortion free sound with few effects. Calista Reviews Chorus Common type of effect that makes sou...

To set and interconnect two mixers so that the stereo mixing buss(es) of the first mixer feeds the stereo buss(es) of a second mixer. Face The front or body of the guitar. Calista C3-S Security System Driver See transducer. Dynamic Range �" The range between the quietest and the loudest sounds a device can handle (often quoted in dB). Coax Two-conductor cable consisting of one conductor surrounded by a shield. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. Infinite Baffle A baffle so large that the sounds coming from one side do not reach the other side. Linear The condition of obtaining a change at the output of the device which is proportional to the change occurring at the input. B...

Sound equipment that converts the low voltage, low current signal from a tape deck, mixer etc. into a higher current signal suitable for driving speakers. See Power Amplifier, Crossover. Generating Element The portion of the microphone that actually converts the movement of the diaphragm into electrical current or voltage changes. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Full Range Describes a sound which covers all audible frequency ranges. As in "full range speaker cabinets." 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 Chase The automatic adjusting of the speed of a recorder (or sequencer) to be time with another recorder. Chorus Common type of effect that makes sounds fuller and thicker. Line Level 1) An amplified signal level put out by an amplifier and used as the normal level ...

An effect caused by an approximately even mix of a modulated (varying) short delay with the direct signal. Bass 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. Calista C3-S Security System AES An abbreviation of Audio Engineering Society. Auxiliary Input or Return A route back into the sound desk for a signal sent to a piece of outboard equipment via an auxiliary send. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Group Master A slide control used to send out a control...

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). DC Abbreviation for direct current. Calista C2-88 Projector Isolation Booth/ Isolation Room A room that prevents loud sounds from other instruments from leaking in: an isolation booth is usually a smaller room that could be used for only one musician. 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 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). 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 ...

A wire carrying signals to some place, usually fed from several sources. Capacitance The property of being able to oppose a change in voltage or store an electrical charge. Calista C2-88 Projector Circuit 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. Coax Two-conductor cable consisting of one conductor surrounded by a shield. Calista C3-S Security System 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. Frequency The number of cycles of a waveform occurring in a second. Effects Track 1) In film pro...

An input designed to take a line level signal. Analog (Analogue) Representative, continuous changes that relate to another quantity that has a continuous change. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Echo Send Control A control to send the signal from the input module to the echo chamber or effects device via the echo buss. Guitar Processor A unit that will add effects to a direct guitar signal, including a simulated instrument amplifier sound and (often) delay and reverb effects. Calista C3-S Security System 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. Electric Instrument Any musical instrument that puts out an electrical signal rather than an acoustic sound. Diffraction The breaking up of a sound wave caused by some type of mechanical interference such as a cabinet edge, g...

A European term for the signal sent to the stage monitors in a live performance. Full Range Describes a sound which covers all audible frequency ranges. As in "full range speaker cabinets." Calista C2-88 Projector Buss (Bus) A wire carrying signals to some place, usually fed from several sources. Flange An effect caused by an approximately even mix of a modulated (varying) short delay with the direct signal. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. Balanced inpu...

A signal processing device that does not allow as much fluctuation in the level of the signal above a certain adjustable or fixed level. 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 C2-88 Projector Inductor A device designed primarily to introduce inductance into an electric circuit. Sometimes called a choke or coil. 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 C1-9 Home Theater Crosstalk Leakage of an audio signal into a channel that iris not intended to be in, from an adjacent or nearby channel. Engineer 1) A technician in charge of a recording session; Also called Recording En...

1) The frequency that is the outer limit of one of the bands of a crossover. 2) In the Lexicon 480L delay/reverberation effects unit, the frequency at which the bass frequency reverb time is in effect rather than the mid frequency reverb time. Buss (Bus) A wire carrying signals to some place, usually fed from several sources. Calista C3-S Security System Echo Send Control A control to send the signal from the input module to the echo chamber or effects device via the echo buss. Centre Frequency The frequency of the audio signal that is boosted or attenuated most by an equalizer with a peak equalization curve. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Linearity The extent to which any signal handling process is accomplished without amplitude distortion. 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 educatio...

1) The range of frequencies over which a tape recorder, amplifier or other audio device is useful. 2) The range of frequencies affected by an equalization setting. Layering The recording (or playing) of a musical part with of several similar sound patches playing simultaneous. 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. Far Field The area from 3 feet away from the sound source up to the critical distance. 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. Cut-Off Frequency (Turnover Frequency) 1) The highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter. 2) The highest or lowest frequency pa...

Leakage of an audio signal into a channel that iris not intended to be in, from an adjacent or nearby channel. Highs Short for the term High Frequencies (the audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above). Calista C3-S Security System Frequency Response How sensitive an electronic device (mic, amplifier, speaker, etc.) is to various frequencies; often communicated with a graph. 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 C2-88 Projector Amplitude The extreme range of a signal. Usually measured from the average to the extreme. 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 channels of a stereo recording even. Line Out (Line Output) Any output that sends out a line level signal...

1) On a tape machine, the housing for and the channel circuitry which processes the signal to be fed to the heads, provide bias, and playback. 2) The branch of science dealing with the behaviour of electrons/charges in vacuums, gases, semiconductors and special conductors. 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. Calista C3-S Security System Electrostatic Charge The excess or deficiency of electrons in a given area. Jam Sync A generation of new SMPTE according to the input SMPTE signal Calista C1-9 Home Theater Frets Vertical metal wires which sit vertically on the guitar neck. Floor 1) An alternate tam meaning Range (a limit on the amount the signal is reduced when the input signal is low by an expander or gate). 2) A shortening of the term Noise Floor (the level of the noise). Delay Outboard sound equipment that can momentaril...

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. Cue 1) The signal fed back to the musicians through headphones. 2) To set the tape or disc so that the intended selection will immediately play when the tape machine or player is started. 3) A location point entered into a computer controlling the playback or recording of a track or tape. 4) In MCI brand tape machines, a term meaning the same thing as Sync Playback (where the record head is used as a playback head for those tracks already recorded). Calista C2-88 Projector 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). 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 a...

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. Analog To Digital Converter The device which does the conversion of a quantity that has continuous changes (usually of voltage) into numbers that approximate those changes. Calista C3-S Security System Compact Disc Recordable CDR A blank Compact Disc that can be recorded on one time. 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. Calista C2-88 Projector Frequency Response How sensitive an electronic device (mic, amplifier, speaker, etc.) is to various frequencies; often communicated with a graph. Atom The smallest particle which makes up a specific substance. ...

A style of music with roots in Spanish and Arabic culture. Filter 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 Calista C3-S Security System Key The control of a dynamics processing device by an external audio signal. 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...

A double grounding of a line or electronic device at two different "ground" points of differing voltage. High-Pass Filter A device that rejects signals that are below a certain frequency (called the cut-off frequency) and passes signals with frequencies that are higher. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. Gain Reduction The working of a limiter or compressor reducing gain during high-level passages. Calista C3-S Security System Frequency Practically speaking, high frequency means high pitch and low frequency means low pitch. Cable, XLR A balanced cable used for low impedance microphones and sometimes for connections between some parts of the PA. Commonly referred to as a "mic cord". Distortion Usually undesirable result of overloading sound equipment. Reducing the levels can remedy the situati...

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 (by a speaker cone or driver) and the narrow opening flairs out to a larger opening. 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 C3-S Security System Headstock The area of the guitar at the end of the neck where the strings are tuned. Compander Outboard sound equipment. Combination of a Compressor and an Expander. Calista C2-88 Projector 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. Bottom The bass frequencies (as in "needs more bottom end"). Infinite Repeat A function on some delay lines that establish enough feedback so that the repeat...

The full name for FSK (A simple clock signal that can be used to run a sequencer in time with an audio tape). Aliasing 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. Calista C2-88 Projector Flamenco A style of music with roots in Spanish and Arabic culture. Floor Toms The large toms to the right of the drummer. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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 ...

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). Imaging To make a representation or imitation of the original sonic event. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Floor Toms The large toms to the right of the drummer. 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 C3-S Security System Bass 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 o...

Sound equipment that converts the low voltage, low current signal from a tape deck, mixer etc. into a higher current signal suitable for driving speakers. See Power Amplifier, Crossover. 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. Calista C2-88 Projector Envelope 1) How a sound or audio signal varies in intensity over a time span. 2) How a control voltage varies in level over time controlling a parameter of something other than gain or audio level. Clip The action of deforming a waveform during overload. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Ambience The portion of the sound that comes from the surrounding environment rather than directly from the sound source. Hertz The unit of frequency. Equivalent to cycles per second. Abbreviation: Hz. Full Step A change in pitch that occurs when moving up or down two piano keys Calista Reviews Driver ...

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. House Sync A synchronization signal such as SMPTE time code that is used by all recorders in the control room. Calista C3-S Security System Binary A numbering system based on two. In binary there are two symbols used ("l" and "0"). Ground Lifter 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. Calista C2-88 Projector Cable, 1/4 inch An unbalanced cable most often used for instruments and patch cords. Commonly referred to as "guitar cords". Effects Track 1) In film production audio, a recording of the mixdown of all the sound effects for the f...

1) The variable capacitor section of a condenser microphone. 2) In other types of microphones, the part of the microphone that includes the diaphragm and the active element. Frets Vertical metal wires which sit vertically on the guitar neck. 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. Hi-Z An abbreviation of the term High Impedance (Impedance of 5000 or more ohms). Calista C3-S Security System Echo Send Control A control to send the signal from the input module to the echo chamber or effects device via the echo buss. Boom Stand A microphone stand equipped with a telescoping support arm to hold the microphone. Level The amount of signal strength; the amplitude, especially the average amplitude. Calista Reviews Ground Lift A switch that breaks the connection between the ground point in one circ...

Where a signal enters the board or component. Electromagnetic Field Magnetic energy put out because of current travelling through a conductor. Calista C3-S Security System Earth The British version of the term Ground (In electronics, a place that has zero volts). Feed To send an audio or control signal to. Calista C2-88 Projector Layering The recording (or playing) of a musical part with of several similar sound patches playing simultaneous. Leakage Sounds from other instruments and sources that were not intended to be picked up by the microphone. 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 acoustic guitar, 2) The sounding board of a piano, 3) The bell of a horn and 4) The shell of a drum. Calista Reviews Line 1) Short for line level. 2) A cable.

A number assigned to each key of a synthesizer or controller keyboard that is transmitted in the MIDI signal. Final Mix The two track stereo master tape which was mixed from the multitrack master. 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. Error Correct Exact replacement of lost information bits in digital audio. Calista C2-88 Projector Feed To send an audio or control signal to. Generating Element The portion of the microphone that actually converts the movement of the diaphragm into electrical current or voltage changes. Hybrid A product created by the marriage of two different technologies. Meant here as the combination of a dynamic woofer with an electrostatic transducer. Bose 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 (...

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. Jam Sync A generation of new SMPTE according to the input SMPTE signal Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. 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 C2-88 Projector 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 ...

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). Ambience The portion of the sound that comes from the surrounding environment rather than directly from the sound source. Calista C2-88 Projector AES An abbreviation of Audio Engineering Society. Hz (Hertz) 1) An abbreviation for the term Hertz (the unit of frequency). 2) Unit of frequency equivalent to the number of cycles per second. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Close Micing A technique of placing a microphone close to the sound source (within one foot) in order to pick up mainly the direct sound and to avoid picking up leakage or ambience. Capo A clamp-like device that is placed vertically across the guitar neck. It is used to change the pitch of the guitar, acting as a moveable nut. Error Detection The process of discovery that sonic informatio...

1) Any musical instrument controlled by pressing a key. 2) The part of the computer that has the keys. Far Field The area from 3 feet away from the sound source up to the critical distance. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. 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 C3-S Security System Fidelity The recording or reproduction quality. 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. Bass Roll Off An electrical network built into some micr...

The First session in recording an audio production to record the Basic Tracks. Full Step A change in pitch that occurs when moving up or down two piano keys Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. 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 C2-88 Projector Insulator A substance such as glass, air, plastic, etc., that will (for all practical purposes) not conduct electricity. Chamber 1) An Echo Chamber (a room designed with v...