Chapter 7: Audio

A bayonet-type connector used for video and sometimes for digital audio

BNC connector

Equipment that plays back discs on which sound has been recorded digitally

CD (compact disc) player

A connector with an outer sleeve and a center shaft

RCA connector

A digital connecting system used in computers and computer-based devices. Provides a uniform system of connecting peripherals, such as cameras, hard drives, or solid state media to computer components

USB connector

A professional-quality balanced connector with three prongs

XLR connector

A connector that converts from one type of connector to another (e.g., from phone to RCA)

adapter

To change a video or audio signal so that it is different from the original signal that was transduced

alter

To magnify an audio or video electrical signal for mixing, distribution, and transducing purposes

amplify

The height of a sound wave. Determines the volume of the sound.

amplitude

A method of representing video or audio signals using a "wave" of continuously varying value

analog

A loop with prerecorded sound and inaudible cue signals used for playback during production

analog cartridge

The piece of equipment that is used to gather, mix, select, and amplify sounds and send them on to their next destination

audio console

The part of a condenser mic that is electrically charged

backplate

Audio cables that have three wires: one for positive, one for negative, and one for ground

balanced cables

Low sounds produced at fewer cycles per second (hertz) than higher treble sounds

bass

A microphone that picks up sound from two directions

bidirectional

Any device consisting of a movable base, an adjustable stand, and a long arm for suspending a microphone above and in front of a performer

boom

The person who is responsible for following performers with a directional mic attached to a boom during a production

boom operator

Wires that transport the signals needed for audio and video production

cables

The part of a condenser mic that stores electrical energy and permits the flow of alternating current

capacitor

A microphone that picks up sound in a heart-shaped pattern and is more sensitive to sound coming directly from the front

cardioid

Moving signals from one place to another

channeling

An electronic device used to lessen the distance between the highest and lowest audio volume levels

compressor

A high-quality mic whose transducer consists of a diaphragm, backplate, and capacitor

condenser

Metal or plastic housings that allow cables to be joined to one another or that allow cables to be connected to devices

connectors

A stereo mic setup that uses two cardioid mics placed like crossed swords, sometimes called "X-Y miking"

cross-pair miking

A basic unit of frequency measurement for electromagnetic and acoustic waves; now usually referred to as hertz

cycles per second

A unit of measurement of sound that compares the relative intensity of different sound sources

decibel (dB)

Amplitude is measured in ...

decibels

The vibrating element in a microphone that responds to the compressed air molecules of sound waves

diaphragm

A method of representing video or audio signals that uses discrete "on" and "off" pulses. The value at any point can be either "off" (0) or "on" (1)

digital

An outboard audio unit that records sound onto solid state media for playback

digital audio recorder (DAR)

A stand-alone computer that can be used to record, store, edit, sweeten, and mix sounds

digital audio workstation (DAW)

Recording medium that gives high-quality sound because it records information in digital form

digital audiotape (DAT)

A piece of equipment that replaced the analog cartridge player. It stores audio selections in files on a hard drive and can be programmed to bring up any files in any order

digital cart

A rugged microphone whose transducer consists of a diaphragm connected to a movable coil; also called a "moving coil mic"

dynamic mic

The difference between the softest and loudest sounds a piece of equipment can handle

dynamic range

Emphasizing, lessening, or eliminating certain audio frequencies

equalization

A unit that adjusts the amount of amplification given to certain audio frequencies, such as high, middle, and low frequencies

equalizer

Equipment or code within a computer program that cuts out a particular frequency or frequency range of an audio signal

filter

A small lightweight arm to which a microphone is attached, to be handheld by an audio assistant outside of the picture frame

fishpole

When all audio frequencies are recorded equally well

flat

A stand that holds a light; a microphone holder that rests on the floor and has a pole that can be adjusted to various height so that someone standing can talk into the mic

floor stand

The number of oscillations per second (hertz) of an electromagnetic wave, which, in the audio range, determines the pitch of the tone and, in the light range, determines color

frequency

The range of pitches (frequencies) that any particular piece of audio equipment can pick up or reproduce

frequency response

The main frequency of a particular sound

fundamental

A small boom that consists of a counterweighted arm supported by a tripod on casters

giraffe

The part of an XLR connector that is used to line up the male and female conductors accurately

guide pin

A microphone that a person holds to speak or sing into

hand mic

A basic unit of frequency measurement for electromagnetic and acoustical waves

hertz (Hz)

The ... the frequency, the ... the pitch

higher

A narrow pickup pattern in an elongated heart shape

hypercardioid (aska supercardioid or ultracarioid)

A female connector

jack

A small mic that can be worn near the neck

lavaliere

An electronic device used to cut off audio levels when the volume is too strong

limiter

An audio input for equipment, such as a video recorder or an audio recorder, that has already been amplified

line feed

The higher the amplitude, the ... the sound

louder

The relatively low strength of the electronic signal produced by a microphone prior to several stages of amplification

mic feed

A method of stereo miking with the mics forming an upside-down t. The stem of the T is a supercardioid mic, and the top can be either one bidrectional mic or two supercardioid ones

mid-side miking

A small audio connector with a sleeve and tip

miniphone connector

Sound coming from only one direction

monaural

Having inputs and outputs of an audio patch bay permanently wired so that sound goes from one to the other if it is not sent somewhere else by a patch chord

normalled

A microphone that picks up sound from all directions

omnidirectional

Pieces of equipment that are used in conjunction with the audio board, such as CD players, DAT recorders, and digital carts

outboard equipment

Acoustical or electrical frequencies that are higher than the fundamental tone

overtones (aka harmonics)

A control that shifts an audio signal from the left speaker to the right speaker for stereo mixing. For a mono mix it is usually placed at the 12:00 position

pan knob

A board with numerous terminals (inputs and outputs) through which various audio, video, or lighting signals can be connected by patch cords or other channels or circuits

patch bay

A cable with connectors on both ends that is used to go from one connector on a patch bay to another

patch chord

A large three-wheeled movable platform that hold a mic operator and a mic in such a way that the mic can follow action throughout a studio

perambulator

Current sent to a condenser mic from the audio console

phantom power

A problem encountered when mics placed too close to each other cancel out each other's audio

phase cancellation

A connector with a sleeve and tip that is used for patch bays, among with other things

phone connectors

The highness or lowness of a sound, determined by the frequency of the sound wave

pitch

The process of retrieving electronic signals from a storage device and turning them into sound and/or images

playback

A male connector

plug

The holes in a directional mic that allow reflected sound to be filtered out

ports

Knobs on an audio board that control the volume

pots (aka potentiometer)

A flat microphone that consists of a thin pickup plate that, when mounted on a table or ceiling, uses the surface it is mounted on to collect sound waves

pressure zone mic (aka boundary or surface mic)

A device that connects two networks and is sometimes used to send sound, or sound and picture, from one point in a studio complex to another

router

The process used to covert an analog signal into digital form by measuring the value of the analog signal at various temporal points and converting these values into digital information

sampling

The frequency at which an analog signal is sampled to convert it to digital form

sampling rate

Altering an audio or video signal by doing such things as filtering out certain frequencies, emphasizing high or low pitches, and squeezing an image into a smaller space

shaping

A highly directional microphone used for picking up sounds from a distance

shotgun

Changing the element of a sound or a picture, such as frequency response and gain, so that the resulting signal is different from the original one

signal processing

The relationship of desired sound to undesired electronic sound. The higher the ratio, the purer the sound

signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)

An output part of a number of connectors, such as phone, miniphone, and RCA

sleeve

A connector box that contains a large number of microphone input receptacles

snake

A frequency response characteristic of a mic that enables it to pick up speech frequencies better than other frequencies

speech bump

A method of stereo miking that mimics natural hearing by placing two mics several feet apart, sometimes called "A-B miking"

split-pair miking

Audio that is recorded, transmitted, and played back through two separate (left and right_ channels to simulate binaural hearing

stereo

Audio that comes from five or six speakers or more placed around a room

surround sound

A talk show where people sit around a table may use a number of mics mounted on ...

table stands

A distinctive quality each voice or musical instrument has, caused, to a large degree, by overtones

timbre

Receiving energy in one form (such as sound waves or light energy) and converting it into another form of energy (such as electromagnetic signals)

transducing

Sounds with more cycles per second (hertz) than lower bass sounds

treble

All else being equal, a higher rate of sampling result in a digital signal that is a ... representation of the original analog wave

truer

Audio cables that have two wires, one for positive and one for both negative and ground

unbalanced cables

A microphone that picks up from one direction. Also called a "cardioid"

unidirectional

Any system that sends audio or video signals through the airwaves as opposed to through cables

wireless

A microphone that can change its direction pattern gradually from cardioid to super-,hyer-,or ultracardioid

zoom mic