Doc Q7.0
189
Glossary & Resources
16.17
4CM
: See “Four Cable Method.”
A/D, D/A Converter
: Analog-to-Digital or Digital-to-Analog Converter.
ADSR
: Technically, this stands for Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release but used as a noun it refers to an Envelope
Generator which, when “triggered,” produces a control signal that can be used to change parameter values in a
way that is predictable over time. Envelopes are typically “one-shot,” meaning they play through and stop. But
when set to loop, they can behave more like LFOs (below).
AES/EBU: A
udio
E
ngineering
S
ociety/
E
uropean
B
roadcasting
U
nion. The name applied to a professional audio
interface used for transferring digital audio between devices. AES for short. AES and S/PDIF both supply the same
audio data with slight differences in the frame bits.
Aliasing:
Aliasing in digital audio refers to the phenomenon that happens when we try to reproduce frequencies
higher than one-half the sampling rate. See http://www.earlevel.com/main/1996/10/20/what-is-aliasing for an
excellent description.
Axe-Edit
: The companion editor/librarian software for the Axe-Fx line. Download it from our web site at
Balanced/Unbalanced:
Balanced refers to audio signals designed to be carried over a three-conductor cable, which
minimizes unwanted noise and interference. Cables designed to carry balanced signals are called Balanced Cables
and usually use the XLR or Tip-Ring-Sleeve (TRS) connector end-types.
BPM
: Beats per minute. A measure of musical tempo. The typical human heartbeat is about 60–80 BPM.
CPU:
Central Processing Unit.
dB
: Decibels. The unit for measuring sound intensity, or loudness. You’ll see this on level or volume parameters.
There are abundant resources about the science behind loudness, but simply making a few adjustments can get
your dB sense going.
Deg
: Degrees (360ths of a circle) are used on the Axe-Fx II to specify differences in stereo LFO phase.
DSP
: Digital Signal Processor/Processing.
Feedback
: When an output is connected to an input, feedback occurs. The connection might change mediums, as it
does when sound travels from an amp’s speaker through the air to excite guitar strings connected to that amp’s
input. It can also be direct, such as when some of the output of a flanger or phaser is routed back to the effect’s
input. Feedback is also sometimes known in the effects world as “regeneration” and, less aptly, “resonance.”
Four Cable Method (4CM)
: A rig design where the Axe-Fx II is used both “in front of” and inside the effects loop of
a tube amp. See p.
Fractal-Bot
: Fractal-Bot is an application for Mac or Windows computers which enables you to easily transmit
firmware updates or other files to your Axe-Fx II. http://www.fractalaudio.com/fractal-bot.php