Calista Home Theaters

The action of deforming a waveform during overload. 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 C3-S Security System Hall A large building designed for concerts; also called a concert hall. Auxiliary Equipment Effects devices separate from but working with the recording console. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Link (Said of compressors and dynamic processing units.) To combine the control input signals of two channels of a compressor (o Figure Eight Pattern 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). Hearing Limitation An inability of the ear to hear important characteristics of sound under certain conditions. Characteristics that can be affected include pitc...

Low-Frequency Oscillator (an oscillator that puts out an AC signal between .1 Hz and 10Hz used for a control signal). Byte A grouping of eight information bits. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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). Balls 1) The depth and thickness of a sound, usually on the bottom end of the EQ (as in "needs more balls"). 2) The strength of the voice on the mic (as in "check it like you have some balls"). Calista C2-88 Projector Figure Eight Pattern 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). Arc The visible sparks generated by an electrical discharge. Frequency Practicall...

An abbreviation of Analog to Digital Conversion (the conversion of a quantity that has continuous changes into numbers that approximate those changes), or Analog to Digital Converter. Comb Filter 1) The frequency response achieved by mixing a direct signal with a delayed signal of equal strength especially at short delays. 2) Loosely used to also describe effects that can be achieved with comb filtering as part of the processing. Calista C2-88 Projector 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. Barrier Micing A method of placing the head of a microphone as close as possible to a reflective surface, preventing phase cancellation. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Input 1) The jack or physical location of where a device receives a signal. 2) The ...

A number assigned to each key of a synthesizer or controller keyboard that is transmitted in the MIDI signal. 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 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). 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 C1-9 Home Theater Cue Send Control A control that will adjust the amount of signal sent to a cue b...

A prefix meaning two. Dynamic Mic 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. Calista C3-S Security System 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. 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 Capacitance The property of being able to oppose a change in voltage or store an electr...

The device which does the conversion of a quantity that has continuous changes (usually of voltage) into numbers that approximate those changes. 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 C1-9 Home Theater Fidelity The recording or reproduction quality. Gain 1) Knob usually found at the top of each input channel on the soundboard. Used to set input levels of the separate channels to relatively equal positions. 2) The amount of increase in audio signal strength, often expressed in dB. Calista C3-S Security System Capacitance The property of being able to oppose a change in voltage or store an electrical charge. Board 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 Keyboa...

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). Buss (Bus) A wire carrying signals to some place, usually fed from several sources. Calista C2-88 Projector Amplifier 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. Compression Ratio How many dB the input signal has to rise above the threshold for every one dB more output of a compressor or limiter. Calista C3-S Security System Input Monitor A switch position and operational mode of the electronics of a tape machine where the signal at output of the electronics will be the same as the signal coming into the electronics. In this mode, the tape machine's meter will read the input signal. Line Out (Line Output) Any output that sends out a line level signal, such as the output of a ...

1) To boost gain of audio at a particular band of frequencies with an equalizer. 2) An elevation device in the star trek series of TV programs. 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 C2-88 Projector Echo 1) One distinct repeat of a sound because of the sound reflecting off a surface. 2) Loosely, used to mean reverberation (the continuing of a sound after the source stops emitting it, caused by many discrete echoes closely spaced in time). Group Master A slide control used to send out a control voltage to several VCA faders in individual channels, thus controlling the gain of several channels. Calista C3-S Security System Floppy Disk (Floppy Disc) A round flat object (usually housed in a protectiv...

Trade name for a series of noise reduction systems that have become standard on many tape playback machines. Many film soundtracks are produced using this process. Different varieties are found from Dolby B on most personal cassette players, to Dolby SR and Digital, the current state of the art for cinema. Absorption Short for the term Acoustical Absorption (quality of a surface or substance to take in, not reflect, a sound wave). Calista C3-S Security System Ground Loop A double grounding of a line or electronic device at two different "ground" points of differing voltage. 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 Input Monitor A switch position and operational mode of the electronics of a tape machine where the signal at output of the electronics will be the same as the signal coming into the electronics. In this mode, the tape machine...

A term meaning the same thing as the term Measure (the grouping of a number of beats in music, most-often four beats). 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. Calista C2-88 Projector 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. Layering The recording (or playing) of a musical part with of several similar sound patches playing simultaneous. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Attack The rate the sound begins and increases in volume. Isolation Booth/ Isolation Room A room that prevents loud sounds from other instruments from lea...

The large toms to the right of the drummer. Acoustic Echo Chamber A room designed with very hard, non-parallel surfaces and equipped with a speaker and microphone; dry signals from the console are fed to the speaker and the microphone will have a reverberation of these signals that can be mixed in with the dry signals at the console. Calista C2-88 Projector Key The control of a dynamics processing device by an external audio signal. Crisp 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. Calista C3-S Security System 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). Distortion Usually undesirable result of overloading sound equipment. Reducing the levels can remedy the situation. Guitar Controller An electric guitar or device played like an electric guitar that...

The bass frequencies (as in "needs more bottom end"). 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 Attenuation A making smaller: reduction of electrical or acoustic signal strength. 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 C2-88 Projector Active Crossover Uses active devices (transistors, IC's, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Line 1) Short for line level. 2) A cable. Buss (Bus) A wire carrying signals to some place, usually fed from several sources. Bose Howlback 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).

The unit of current, abbreviated Amp. Equipment Rack A cabinet with rails (or free standing rails) that have holes to accept screws at standard spaces and used to house outboard gear. Calista C3-S Security System Assistant Engineer A less elevated version of the term Second Engineer. Experienced seconds often place microphones, operate tape machines, break down equipment at the session end and keep the paperwork for the session. Ground Loop A double grounding of a line or electronic device at two different "ground" points of differing voltage. Calista C1-9 Home Theater Error Correct Exact replacement of lost information bits in digital audio. Headroom 1) The level difference (in dB) between normal operating level and clipping level in an amplifier or audio device. 2) A similar level difference between normal tape operating level and the level where the distortion would be 3%. 3) The difference, in decibels, between the peak and RMS levels i...

The squaring of the waveform that happens in the conversion of digital audio bits into analog signals. Input Monitor A switch position and operational mode of the electronics of a tape machine where the signal at output of the electronics will be the same as the signal coming into the electronics. In this mode, the tape machine's meter will read the input signal. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. Amplifier A device which increases the amplitude (level) of an electrical signal (making it louder). Calista C2-88 Projector Absorption Short for the term Acoustical Absorpti...

The unit that feeds a sound pressure wave into the throat of a horn (in a horn loudspeaker). 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 C2-88 Projector Jack 1) Anywhere you plug something in. 2) Segmented audio connector. Mono Jacks have two connections �" tip and sleeve, and are unbalanced. Stereo jacks have three connections �" tip, ring and sleeve. B-type jacks (also known as Bantam jacks) were originally designed for use in telephone 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. Driver See transducer. Dynamic Range �" The range between the quietest and the lou...

The height of a waveform above or below the zero line. Leakage Sounds from other instruments and sources that were not intended to be picked up by the microphone. Calista C1-9 Home Theater 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. Linear The condition of obtaining a change at the output of the device which is proportional to the change occurring at the input. Calista C3-S Security System Crisp 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. Comb Filter 1) The frequency response achieved by mixing a direct signal with a delayed signal of equal strength especially at short delays. 2) Loosely used to also describe effects that can be achieved with comb filtering as part of the processing. Fundamental Th...

The height of a waveform above or below the zero line. Clean Describes a distortion free sound with few effects. Calista C2-88 Projector Current The amount of electron charge passing a point in a conductor per unit of time. Echo 1) One distinct repeat of a sound because of the sound reflecting off a surface. 2) Loosely, used to mean reverberation (the continuing of a sound after the source stops emitting it, caused by many discrete echoes closely spaced in time). Calista C3-S Security System Golden Section A ratio of height to width to length of a room to achieve "good acoustics" and first recommended by the ancient Greeks. The ratio is approximately the width 1.6 times the height and the length 2.6 times the height 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). Icon A visual picture or symbol on a co...