GLOSSARY

attenuate

to reduce or make quieter. decrease the signal level

auxiliary (aux)

send an output from the console to supplemental equipment that provide additional

 

capabilities. typically the feeds to the mix are implemented on rotary level controls. an aux

 

return on the mixer is intended to connect to the output of the supplemental equipment.

balance

the relative levels of the left and right channels of a stereo signal.

balanced

a method of audio connection which ‘balances’ the wanted signal between two wires and a

 

screen which carries no signal. any interference is picked up equally by the two wires, which

 

results in cancellation of the unwanted signal.

clipping

the onset of severe distortion in the signal path, usually caused by the peak signal voltage being

 

limited by the circuit’s power supply voltage.

DAT

Digital Audio Tape, a cassette-based digital recording format.

dB (decibel)

a ratio of two voltages or signal levels, expressed by the equation dB=20Log10 (V1/V2). Adding

 

the suffix ‘u’ denotes the ratio is relative to 0.775V RMS.

DI

(direct injection) the practice of connecting an electric musical instrument directly to the input

 

of the /DI Box mixing console, rather than to an amplifier and loudspeaker which is covered by a

 

microphone feeding the console.

direct output

a post fade line level output from the input channel, bypassing the summing amplifiers, typically

 

for sending to individual tape tracks during recording.

equalizer

a device that allows the boosting or cutting of selected bands of frequencies in the signal path.

fader

a linear control providing level adjustment.

feedback

the `howling’ sound caused by bringing a microphone too close to a loudspeaker driven from its

 

amplified signal.

foldback

a feed sent back to the artistes via loudspeakers or headphones to enable them to monitor the

 

sounds they are producing.

frequency response

the variation in gain of a device with frequency.

gain

the amount of amplification in level of the signal.

headroom

the available signal range above the nominal level before clipping occurs.

highpass filter

a filter that rejects low frequencies and passes only high frequencies. the cut-off frequency

 

determines the limit that frequencies are rejected or allowed to pass through.

impedance balancing

a technique used on unbalanced outputs to minimize the effect of hum and interference when

 

connecting to external balanced inputs.

 

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Cerwin-Vega CVM-1022 manual Glossary, Dat