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
