Calista Home Theaters

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. Bit The smallest unit of digital information representing a single "0" or 1. Calista C2-88 Projector Atom The smallest particle which makes up a specific substance. It's composed of a center around which electrons revolve. Bank 1) A collection of sound patches (data as to the sequence and operating parameters of the synthesizer generators and modifiers) in memory. 2) A group of sound modules as a unit. Calista C3-S Security System 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...

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. 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 C3-S Security System Auxiliary Equipment Effects devices separate from but working with the recording console. Critical Distance The point a distance away from the sound source where the direct sound and the reverberant sound are equal in volume. Calista C2-88 Projector Bass Roll Off An electrical network built into some microphones to reduce the amount of output at bass frequencies when close-micin...

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. 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 C3-S Security System Bit The smallest unit of digital information representing a single "0" or 1. Blending 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 c...

British term for the term Feedback (the pickup of the signal out of a channel by the input of the channel or the howling sound that this produces). Input Overload Sending too high of a signal level into a device so that the first amplifier of the device overloads. Calista C2-88 Projector Bank 1) A collection of sound patches (data as to the sequence and operating parameters of the synthesizer generators and modifiers) in memory. 2) A group of sound modules as a unit. Contact Microphone A device that senses vibrations and puts out an audio signal proportional to the vibrations. Calista C3-S Security System 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. 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 distincti...

How sensitive an electronic device (mic, amplifier, speaker, etc.) is to various frequencies; often communicated with a graph. Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. 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 C3-S Security System Crossover, Active A rack mountable unit used to separate frequencies leaving the soundboard into high's, mids, and lows with different outputs for each. Bar A term meaning the same thing as the term Measure (the grouping of a number of beats in music, most-often four beats). Balance 1) The relativ...

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. Keynote Number A number assigned to each key of a synthesizer or controller keyboard that is transmitted in the MIDI signal. 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. Hard Disk Recording The recording of digital audio onto a hard disc. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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 de...

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). Infinite Baffle A baffle so large that the sounds coming from one side do not reach the other side. Calista C2-88 Projector Fundamental The tuned frequency and (almost always) the lowest frequency that is present in the sounding of a pitch by a musical instrument. Crosstalk Leakage of an audio signal into a channel that iris not intended to be in, from an adjacent or nearby channel. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. Electric Instrument Any musical instrument that puts out an electrical signal rather than an acoustic sound. Ambient Field A term with the same meaning as ...

The bass frequencies (as in "needs more bottom end"). Bandwidth 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. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. Frequency Range The range of frequencies over which an electronic device is useful or over which a sound source will put out substantial energy. Calista C3-S Security System High Frequencies The audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above. First Generation A descriptive term meaning original (as opposed to a copy). 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 frequenci...

Magnetic energy put out because of current travelling through a conductor. ADAT A trademark of Alesis Corporation designating its modular digital multitrack recording system released in early 1993. Calista C2-88 Projector Instrument Amplifier A device that has a power amplifier and speaker in a case (or in separate cases) to reproduce the signal put out by an electric instrument (such as an electric guitar) and to allow the instrument to be heard. Echo Send Control A control to send the signal from the input module to the echo chamber or effects device via the echo buss. 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. High Impedance Impedance of 5000 or more ohms. Analog Recording A recording of the continuous changes of an audio waveform. Calista Reviews Headphones Devices that can be worn on the head with sm...

The VCA faders of individual channels that are all controlled by a Group Master Fader (a slide control used to send out a control voltage to several VCA faders in individual channels). 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 Feed To send an audio or control signal to. AES/EBU Professional Interface A standard for sending and receiving digital audio adopted by the Audio Engineering Society and the European Broadcast Union. Calista C3-S Security System 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. Cut-off Rate (Slope) The number of dB that a filter reduces ...

Short for the term High Frequencies (the audio frequencies from 6000 Hz and above). 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 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. 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 C1-9 Home Theater Fidelity The recording or reproduction quality. Foot Switch A switch placed on the floor and pressed by a musician to do various functions. Gain 1)...

1) One distinct repeat of a sound because of the sound reflecting off a surface. 2) Loosely, used to mean reverberation (the continuing of a sound after the source stops emitting it, caused by many discrete echoes closely spaced in time). Inverse Square Law Simply stated, the fact that in an un-obstructed area (like an open field) the sound pressure level will drop to half-pressure (-6 dB) every time the distance to the sound source is doubled. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Layering The recording (or playing) of a musical part with of several similar sound patches playing simultaneous. 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 "...