BNO Acoustics SQ-9: Input Overload

Sending too high of a signal level into a device so that the first amplifier of the device overloads.

Phase Shift
A delay introduced into an audio signal measured in degrees delayed.

Master Fader
1) The fader which controls the main output(s) of the console during mixdown.
2) In some consoles, faders which control the outputs to the multitrack tape recorder during recording.
3) Occasionally used to mean a VCA master (one slide that controls the control voltage sent to several VCA faders).

A/D
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.

BNO Acoustics 6k-52: Resonate
1) To vibrate at the resonant frequency.
2) To linger on, as in reverberation, said of sound in a room or used to describe a room/area that has reverberation with a long reverb time.

Compact Disc CD
A small optical disk with digital audio recorded on it.

BNO Speakers: Compressor
1) Effect used to squash the sound together. Used properly, it can take the edge off or your sound. Used improperly, it can take the life right out of your system and make it sound like an MTV mix.
2) A piece of sound processing equipment that ensures all wanted signals are suitably placed between the noise and distortion levels of the recording medium. It evens out the unwanted changes in volume you get with close-miking, and in doing so, adds punch to the sound mix. A Limiter is used to stop a signal from exceeding a preset limit. Beyond this limit, the signal level will not increase, no matter how loud the input becomes. A Limiter is often used to protect speaker systems (and human ears) by preventing a system from becoming too loud.

BNO Acoustics LK-61: Modem

A device that allows digital data to be sent and received over telephone lines.

BNO Acoustics QT-5: 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).

BNO Acoustics GK-3: Talkback
The system which allows the engineer to talk into a microphone in the control room and have his voice come over the studio monitors and/or headphones so he can talk to the musicians.

BNO Acoustics SQ-9: 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.

Notch
A narrow band of audio frequencies.

Room Equalization
An equalizer inserted in the monitor system that attempts to compensate for frequency response changes caused by the acoustics of the room.

BNO Acoustics XV-16: Shotgun Microphone
A microphone with a long line filter (a tube that acoustically cancels sound arriving from the side) to make the microphone pick up much better in one direction than in any other direction.

BNO Acoustics GT-60: Wrap

The angle formed by the tape as it bends around the head.

Stretched String Instruments
Instruments that use stretched strings to generate the tones such as guitars, violins and pianos.

Sampling
The technique of recording a sound digitally (translating the analogue audio waveform into a series of electrical ons and offs that can be manipulated by a computer) for subsequent processing, editing and playback.

Wavelength
1) The length of one cycle (in feet, inches, etc.)
2) The distance measured in the direction of progression of a wave, from any given point characterized by the same phase.

Monitor Section (Monitor Mixer Section)
The section of the console which is used to do a rough mix so the engineer can hear what is being recorded without effecting the levels being fed to the multitrack recorder.

XLR Connector
1) A common 3 pin connector used in balanced audio connections.
2) A microphone Cable.

Nano-Webers Per Meter
The standard unit in measuring the amount of magnetic energy.

BNO Acoustics QT-5: Phon

1) A unit of equal loudness for all audio frequencies.
2) The phon is numerically equal to dBspl at 1000 Hz but varies at other frequencies according to ear sensitivity to frequency.

BNO Acoustics QS-4: Record Ready
A control state of one track of a multitrack tape recorder where the track will go into record when the record function of the tape recorder is activated.

Hearing Limitation
An inability of the ear to hear important characteristics of sound under certain conditions. Characteristics that can be affected include pitch, level, clarity, presence and direction.

Mini Disk (MiniDisc)
A small compact disc that can be recorded on by general consumers; introduced by Sony at the end of 1992.

Pure Tone
A tone without harmonic frequencies except for the fundamental frequency and with a sine wave shape.

Arc
The visible sparks generated by an electrical discharge.

Time Constant
In a circuit that has reactance, the time it takes for the current or voltage to substantially stabilize in the circuit when the voltage or current is changing.

BNO Acoustics SQ-9: FOH (Front of House)

Refers to the speakers that face toward the audience. Also called the "main" speakers.

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.

Program Equalization
Changing the level of any signal in a certain range of frequencies to accent (or de-emphasize) certain frequency elements of an instrument or sound source and change its tone.

Notch
A narrow band of audio frequencies.

Flange
An effect caused by an approximately even mix of a modulated (varying) short delay with the direct signal.

Feedback Control
The control on a delay line or delay effects device that controls the amount of feedback.

Telephone Filter
A filter used to simulate the sound in telephones by removing signals at frequencies below 300 Hz and above 3500 Hz.

BNO Acoustics 6k-52: Electrostatic Charge

The excess or deficiency of electrons in a given area.

Peak Detecting
Recognizing and responding to peak values of a waveform rather than average values.

Synchronization
The running of two devices (such as two tape decks) in time with one another.

Volt Meter
A meter that can test the level of voltage.

BNO Acoustics Speakers: Wrap
The angle formed by the tape as it bends around the head.

Linear
The condition of obtaining a change at the output of the device which is proportional to the change occurring at the input.

Operating Level
The maximum level that should not be exceeded in normal operation.

BNO Acoustics GT-60: Recording Session

Any period where music is being recorded, especially the first such period where the rhythm instruments are being recorded.

Spot Erase
The action or function of erasing a very small segment of one track (or several tracks) of a multitrack recording by disengaging the normal tape drive system while the machine is in record; the engineer moves the tape by hand or by using a shuttle control.

BNO Acoustics HD-70: Masking
The characteristic of hearing by which loud sounds prevent the ear from hearing softer sounds of similar frequency.

Compression Driver
The unit that feeds a sound pressure wave into the throat of a horn (in a horn loudspeaker).

BNO Speakers: Punching In and Out
Putting the recorder in record on a previously-recorded track while the tape is playing in sync playback and the singer or musician is singing or playing along is called Punching In.

Quantization Distortion/Quantization Error
A modulation noise (also perceived as a distortion) that occurs in digital processing/recording caused by the sample levels being altered to conform to standard Quantization levels.

BNO Acoustics XR-90: MIDI Interface
A device that converts a MIDI signal into the digital format of a computer so that the computer can store and use the MIDI signal.