GLOSSARY
Auxiliary send | An output from the console comprising a mix of signals from channels derived |
| independently of the main stereo mix. |
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, these wires also have a screen which carries no signal. Any interference is |
| picked up equally by the two wires, which results in cancellation of the unwanted |
| signal. In this guide, the term can refer to various circuit architectures. Connection |
| details are given in relevant sections. |
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 |
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. |
Equaliser | 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 amplication in level of the signal. |
Headroom | The available signal range above the nominal level before clipping occurs. |
Impedance balancing A technique used on unbalanced outputs to minimise the effect of hum and interference when connecting to external balanced inputs.
Insert | A break point in the signal path to allow the connection of external devices, for in- |
| stance signal processors or other mixers at line level signals. Nominal levels can be |
| anywhere between 0dBu to +6dBu, usually coming from a low impedance source. |
Pan (pot) | Abbreviation of ‘panorama’: controls the levels sent to left and right outputs. |
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42 | Soundcraft EFX/EPM User Guide Issue 1210 |
