Calista Home Theaters

The unit of current, abbreviated Amp. Efficiency The acoustic power delivered for a given electrical input. Often expressed as decibels/watt/meter (dB/w/m). ESL �" Abbreviation for electrostatic loudspeaker. Calista C1-9 Home Theater File A collection of digital data stored in a computer's memory bank or on a floppy disc. 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. Calista C2-88 Projector Fret Buzz A buzzing sound made when a note is not properly fretted. Common with cheap guitars or beginning guitar players. Highs Short for the term High Frequencies (the audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above). Bi-Amplification 1) A way of optimizing the efficiency of a speaker system by separately amplifying the Hig...

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. 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). Calista C1-9 Home Theater Headstock The area of the guitar at the end of the neck where the strings are tuned. 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. Calista C3-S Security System Basic Session The First session in...

The process of discovery that sonic information bits have been lost in digital audio. Compression Driver The unit that feeds a sound pressure wave into the throat of a horn (in a horn loudspeaker). Calista C2-88 Projector Attenuation A making smaller: reduction of electrical or acoustic signal strength. Cascade 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. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Automatic Gain Control (Automatic Volume Control) A compressor with a very long release time used to keep the volume of the audio very constant. Cycle 1) An alternation of a waveform which begins at a point, passes through the zero line, and ends at a point with the same value and moving in the same direction as the starting point. 2) On a Solid State Logic Console, a command to have the console computer control the tape machine to play and replay a certain section of the tape. Floor ...

The visible sparks generated by an electrical discharge. Contact Microphone A device that senses vibrations and puts out an audio signal proportional to the vibrations. 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). Cable, TRS A less common balanced cable that has 3 different contacts on its 1/4 inch connectors. Most headphone jacks are a good example of a TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) connector. These are sometimes used instead of the more common XLR connection. Calista C3-S Security System 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. 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 compute...

Another name for Bi-directional Pattern (microphone pickup pattern picking up best from the front and back of the diaphragm and not picking up from the side of the diaphragm). Guitar Controller An electric guitar or device played like an electric guitar that puts out MIDI signals that can be used to control synthesizers and sound modules. Calista C1-9 Home Theater First Generation A descriptive term meaning original (as opposed to a copy). Jack Bay A series of jacks which have connections for most of the inputs and outputs of the equipment in the control room. Calista C3-S Security System 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. Humbucker Pickups that are coupled together to get a certain sound. Line 1) Short for line level. 2) A cable. Bose Effects Track 1) In film production audio, a recording of the mixdown of all the sou...

Describes a sound coming from the PA with no effects on it. Images The squaring of the waveform that happens in the conversion of digital audio bits into analog signals. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Boom Stand A microphone stand equipped with a telescoping support arm to hold the microphone. Impedance Matching Having or converting the output impedance of a device so that it matches the impedance of the input it will feed. Calista C3-S Security System Crosstalk Leakage of an audio signal into a channel that iris not intended to be in, from an adjacent or nearby channel. Bar A term meaning the same thing as the term Measure (the grouping of a number of beats in music, most-often four beats). 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 Tochoos...

Abbreviation of Integrated Circuit (A miniature circuit of many components that is in small, sealed housing with prongs to connect it into equipment). 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). Calista C2-88 Projector Kick (Kick Drum) Another term for Bass Drum. 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. Calista C3-S Security System Headphones Devices that can be worn on the head with small speakers that fit over the ears (or sometimes into the ears). Compact Disc Recordable CDR A blank Compact Disc that can be recorded on one time. DC Abbreviation for direct current. Calista Reviews Equalizer (Parametric, Graphic) This ...

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. Critical Distance The point a distance away from the sound source where the direct sound and the reverberant sound are equal in volume. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Level Sets output volume of individual PA input channels. Usually positioned as sliders at the bottom of the soundboard. 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 C2-88 Projector Electronics 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. Eff...

1) A device consisting of two or more conducting plates separated from one another by an insulating material and used for storing an electrical charge. Sometimes called a condenser. 2) An electronic device that is composed of two plates separated by an insulator. Console A set of controls and their housing, which control all signals necessary for recording and mixing. 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. 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 Generating Element The portion of the microphone that actually converts the movement of the diaphragm into electrical current or voltage changes. Frequency Practically speaking, high frequency means high...

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. Impedance 1) A term for the electrical resistance found in a/c circuits. Affects the ability of a cable to transmit low level (e.g. sound) signals over a long distance. Measured in Ohms. Speakers are rated according to power handling capabilities (Watts, W) and impedance (Ohms). 2) The total opposition offered by an electric circuit to the flow of an alternating current of a single frequency. It is a combination of resistance and reactance and is measured in ohms. Remember that a speaker's impedance changes with frequency, it is not a constant value. 3) The opposition to alternating current. Calista C2-88 Projector Line Out (Line Output) Any output that sends out a line level signal, such as the o...

A written chart showing the melody, lyrics and chords of a tune with full musical notation. 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 C1-9 Home Theater Inductance The property of an electric circuit by which a varying current in it produces a varying magnetic field that introduces voltages in the same circuit or in a nearby circuit. It is measured in henrys. Equal Loudness Contours A drawing of several curves showing how loud the tones of different frequencies would have to be played for a person to say they were of equal loudness. Calista C3-S Security System Diaphragm A thin flexible membrane or cone that vibrate...

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"). 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 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 exchanges and provide a high quality (and expensive) connection in jackfields. A-type jacks are cheaper and more common, but more fragile. A type jacks are available in 2 sizes : quarter inch and eighth inch. 3) A connector mounted on the case of a device or on a panel. Gate...

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. 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 C3-S Security System 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. Integrated Circuit (IC) A miniature circuit of many components in a small, sealed housing with prongs to connect it into equipment. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Error Detection The process of discovery that sonic information bits have been lost in digital audio. Echo Send Control A control to send the signal from the input module to ...

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. 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 C3-S Security System Inductance The property of an electric circuit by which a varying current in it produces a varying magnetic field that introduces voltages in the same circuit or in a nearby circuit. It is measured in henrys. Band Track 1) A mixdown of a song without the lead vocal or without the lead and background vocals. 2) A term with the same meaning as the term Rhythm Track. 3) The recording of the rhythm instruments in a music production. Calista C2-88 Projector Hz (Hertz) 1) An abbreviation for the term Hertz (the unit of frequency). 2) Un...

A condenser microphone that has a permanently polarized (charged) variable capacitor as its sound pressure level sensor. 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 C1-9 Home Theater Coax Two-conductor cable consisting of one conductor surrounded by a shield. 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. 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....

Impedance of 5000 or more ohms. Frequency Practically speaking, high frequency means high pitch and low frequency means low pitch. Calista C2-88 Projector 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. Contact Microphone A device that senses vibrations and puts out an audio signal proportional to the vibrations. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. Error Detection The process of discovery that sonic information bits have been lost in digital audio. Efficiency The acoustic power delivered for a given electrical input. Often expressed as decibels/watt/meter (dB/w/m). E...

1) Another, less formal, term for Console. 2) A set of controls and their housing which control all signals necessary for recording and for mixing. 3) A slang shortening of the term Keyboard Instrument. 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. Calista C3-S Security System 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 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. 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 charg...

The large toms to the right of the drummer. Capacitor 1) A device consisting of two or more conducting plates separated from one another by an insulating material and used for storing an electrical charge. Sometimes called a condenser. 2) An electronic device that is composed of two plates separated by an insulator. Calista C2-88 Projector Bar A term meaning the same thing as the term Measure (the grouping of a number of beats in music, most-often four beats). 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 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. 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). In Sho...

A blank Compact Disc that can be recorded on one time. Crossover, Active A rack mountable unit used to separate frequencies leaving the soundboard into high's, mids, and lows with different outputs for each. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Echo Chamber 1) A room designed with very hard, non-parallel surfaces and equipped with a speaker and microphone. 2) Any artificial or electronic device that simulates the reverberation created in a room. 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 Foot (Foot Drum) Another name for Bass Drum (the largest drum in the Drum Kit which puts out bass frequencies and is played with a foot pedal). Amplifier (Power amp, Head) It's the part of the sound system that actually magnifies or "amplifies" the sound. In other words, it makes stuff louder. ADSR The letters A, D, S ...

A baffle so large that the sounds coming from one side do not reach the other side. 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). Calista C2-88 Projector Error Detection The process of discovery that sonic information bits have been lost in digital audio. Cascade 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. Calista C3-S Security System House Sync A synchronization signal such as SMPTE time code that is used by all recorders in the control room. Input Overload Sending too high of a signal level into a device so that the first amplifier of the device overloads. Chorus Common type of effect that makes sounds fuller and thicker. Calista Reviews Isolation Booth/ Isolation Room A room that prevents loud sounds from other instruments from leaking in: an isolation booth is u...

An increasing of signal strength. Crossover Frequency 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. Calista C2-88 Projector ADAT A trademark of Alesis Corporation designating its modular digital multitrack recording system released in early 1993. Early Reflections The first echoes in a room, caused by the sound from the sound source reflecting off one surface before reaching the listener. Calista C3-S Security System 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. Channel 1) In multitrack tape machines, this term means the same thing as the term Track (one audi...

An input designed to take a line level signal. 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. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Crossover, Active A rack mountable unit used to separate frequencies leaving the soundboard into high's, mids, and lows with different outputs for each. Basic Session The First session in recording an audio production to record the Basic Tracks. Calista C2-88 Projector Amplitude The extreme range of a signal. Usually measured from the average to the extreme. Full Range Describes a sound which covers all audible frequency ranges. As in "full range speaker cabinets." High Hat A double cymbal on a stand which can be played w...

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. 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 C2-88 Projector Equalizer (Parametric, Graphic) This is used to filter out and adjust specific frequencies in the PA. This is the part of the PA where you have the most control over the ban...

A device which increases the amplitude (level) of an electrical signal (making it louder). 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. 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. Lead The musical instrument that plays the melody of the tune, including the vocal. Calista C2-88 Projector 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. Gain 1) Knob usually found at the top of each input ch...

Refers to the speakers that face toward the audience. Also called the "main" speakers. 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 Effects Track 1) In film production audio, a recording of the mixdown of all the sound effects for the film ready to be mixed with the dialogue and music. 2) In music recording, one track with a recording of effects to be added to another track of a multitrack recording. Earth The British version of the term Ground (In electronics, a place that has zero volts). Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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 chang...

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. Headphones Devices that can be worn on the head with small speakers that fit over the ears (or sometimes into the ears). Calista C3-S Security System Frequency Range The range of frequencies over which an electronic device is useful or over which a sound source will put out substantial energy. 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 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 ca...

An abbreviation of Beat Per Minute (the number of steady even pulses in music occurring in one minute and therefore defining the tempo). 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. 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 of sound. Bi-Amplification uses an electronic crossover or line-level amplifiers for the high and low frequency loudspeaker drivers. Haas Effect Simply stated, a factor in human hea...

To send an audio or control signal to. Layering The recording (or playing) of a musical part with of several similar sound patches playing simultaneous. Calista C3-S Security System 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. 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). Calista C2-88 Projector Linearity The extent to which any signal handling process is accomplished without amplitude distortion. Channel 1) In multitrack tape machines, this term means the same thing as the term Track (one audio recording made on a portion of the width of a multitrack tape). 2) A single path that an audio signal travels or can travel through a device from an input to an output. Equal Loudness Contours ...

Electric current which flows back and forth in a circuit. Cable, 1/4 inch An unbalanced cable most often used for instruments and patch cords. Commonly referred to as "guitar cords". Calista C1-9 Home Theater Decibel (dB) 1) Relative measurement for the volume (loudness) of sound. Also used to measure the difference between two voltages, or two currents. See Zero dB. 2) A numerical expression of the relative loudness of a sound. The difference in decibels between two sounds is ten times the common logarithm of the ratio of their power levels. 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 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. ...

A change in pitch that occurs when moving up or down two piano keys 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. Calista C3-S Security System Gain Structure The way in which the gain varies in the stages or sections of an audio system. Corner Frequency Same as Cut-Off Frequency (the highest or lowest frequency in the pass band of a filter). (NOUN) Calista C2-88 Projector Bi A prefix meaning two. Bass Roll Off An electrical network built into some microphones to reduce the amount of output at bass frequencies when close-micing. 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). Calista Reviews Hard Disk Recording The recording of digital audio onto a hard disc.

A number assigned to each key of a synthesizer or controller keyboard that is transmitted in the MIDI signal. Channel 1) In multitrack tape machines, this term means the same thing as the term Track (one audio recording made on a portion of the width of a multitrack tape). 2) A single path that an audio signal travels or can travel through a device from an input to an output. Calista C2-88 Projector Ground In electronics, a place (terminal) that has zero volts. 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 C1-9 Home Theater Full Step A change in pitch that occurs when moving up or down two piano keys Electromagnetic Induction or Pick Up The generation of electrical signal in a conductor moving in a magnetic field or being close to a changing ma...