O w n e r ’ s M a n u a l
Glossary
A-5
in a digital form or word. Where an analog signal
will be continuous as if it were going up a smooth
path, quantization will have discrete steps.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
In computers and computer-controlled
equipment, this is an area of processor memory
that can be read from and written to.
return
A return is a mixer line input dedicated to
the task of returning processed or added sound
from reverb, echo, and other effects devices.
Depending on the internal routing of your
mixer and your own inclination, you could use
returns as additional line inputs, or you could
route your reverb outputs to ordinary line in-
puts rather than the returns.
reverberation, reverb
The sound remaining in a room after the
source of sound is stopped. It’s what you hear in
a large tiled room immediately after you’ve
clapped your hands. Reverberation and echo are
terms that can be used interchangeably, but in
audio parlance a distinction is usually made:
reverberation is considered to be a diffuse, con-
tinuously smooth decay of sound, whereas echo
is a distinct, recognizable repetition of a word,
note, phrase, or sound. Reverberation and echo
can be added in sound mixing by sending the
original sound to an electronic (or electronic/
acoustic) system that mimics natural reverbera-
tion, or worse. The added reverb is returned to
the blend through additional mixer inputs.
Highly reverberant rooms are called live; rooms
with very little reverberation are called dead. A
sound source without added reverb is dry; one
with reverb or echo added is wet.
ROM (Read Only Memory)
In computers and computer-controlled
equipment, this is an area of processor memory
that can only be read from.
sampling frequency
This is the rate at which an analog signal is
sampled during the analog-to-digital conver-
sion process. It is selectable between 44.1kHz
and 48 kHz, rates which are fast enough to ac-
curately capture the analog signal information
into digital form.
send
A term used to describe a secondary mix and
output of the input signals, typically used for
foldback monitors, headphone monitors, or ef-
fects devices. Mackie mixers call it an aux send.
shelving
A term used to describe the shape of an
equalizer’s frequency response. A shelving
equalizer’s response begins to rise (or fall) at
some frequency and continues to fall (or rise)
until it reaches the shelf frequency, at which
point the response curve flattens out and re-
mains flat to the limits of audibility. If you were
to graph the response, it would look like a
shelf (or at least more like a shelf than, say, a
hiking boot). The EQ controls on your stereo
are usually shelving equalizers.
Signal-to-Noise ratio (S/N)
This is a major specification that describes
how much noise an audio component has com-
pared to the signal. Usually it is expressed in
dB below a given output level.
snapshot
In reference to the Digital 8•Bus, snapshots
are used to capture and save the settings for
the channel strips at any instant. Snapshots
can be recalled at a later time.
solo
Italian for all alone on Saturday night. In
audio mixers, a solo circuit allows the engineer
to listen to individual channels, buses, or other
circuits singly or in combination with other
soloed signals.
surround-sound
Multi-channel audio playback systems in 4,
5, 6, or 7 channel formats. Surround-sound is
typically found in movie theaters and home
theater systems.
talkback system
A system that allows the engineer in the
control room to talk to the talent in the studio.
The Digital 8•Bus has a talkback mic built into
the console surface. The talkback button is
located in the Control Room Section and routes
the signal from the talkback mic to the Phones/
Cue Mix outputs 1 and 2. The TALKBACK TO
STUDIO button in the Studio/Solo Section
routes the talkback signal to the Studio outputs.
trim
In audio mixers, the gain adjustment for the
first amplification stage of the mixer. The trim
control helps the mixer cope with the widely
varying range of input signals that come from
real-world sources. It is important to set the
trim control correctly; its setting determines
the overall noise performance in that channel
of the mixer. See
mic preamp
.
TRS
Acronym for Tip-Ring-Sleeve, a scheme for
connecting three conductors through a single
plug or jack.
1
⁄
4
" phone plugs and jacks and
1
⁄
8
"
mini phone plugs and jacks are commonly
wired TRS. Since the plug or jack can carry
two signals and a common ground, TRS con-
nectors are often referred to as stereo or
balanced plugs or jacks. Another common TRS
application is for insert jacks, used for insert-
ing an external processor into the signal path.
In Mackie mixers, the tip is send, ring is re-
turn, and sleeve is ground.
Summary of Contents for 8-BUS Series
Page 49: ...3 16 D i g i t a l 8 B u s Start Up ...
Page 57: ...4 8 D i g i t a l 8 B u s Connections ...
Page 77: ...5 20 D i g i t a l 8 B u s Preparing for a Session ...
Page 177: ...7 20 D i g i t a l 8 B u s Automation ...
Page 207: ...D 2 D i g i t a l 8 B u s Apogee UV22 ...
Page 219: ...F 4 D i g i t a l 8 B u s Optional I O Cards ...
Page 227: ...H 2 D i g i t a l 8 B u s Upgrading ...
Page 235: ...K 2 D i g i t a l 8 B u s ...
Page 237: ...D i g i t a l 8 B u s ...
Page 239: ...D i g i t a l 8 B u s ...
