Mackie 1642-VLZ Pro Owner's Manual Glossary - Page 4

Depending on how used, it can be lovely or grotesque. clipping A form of severe audio distortion that results from peaks of the audio signal attempting to rise above the capabilities of the amplifier circuit. Seen on an oscilloscope, the audio peaks appear clipped off. To avoid clipping, reduce the system gain in or before the gain stage in which the clipping occurs. Also see headroom. common mode A signal which is referenced to the circuit common point, usually chassis ground. cueing In broadcast, stage and post-production work, to "cue up" a sound source (a record, a sound effect on a CD, a song on a tape) means to get it ready for playback by making sure you are in the right position on the "cue," making sure the level and EQ are all set properly. This requires a special monitoring circuit that only the mixing engineer hears. It does not go out on the air or to the main mixing buses. This "cueing" circuit is the same as pre-fader (PFL) solo on a Mackie mixer, and often the terms are interchangeable. D compressor D/A converter (DAC) This is a dynamics processor used to smooth out any large transient peaks in an audio signal that might otherwise overload your system or cause distortion. The amplitude threshold and other parameters such as attack time, release time, and tire pressure are adjustable. condenser Another term for the electronic component generally known as a capacitor. In audio, condenser often refers to a type of microphone that uses a capacitor as the sound pickup element. Condenser microphones require electrical power to run internal amplifiers and maintain an electrical charge on the capacitor. They are typically powered by internal batteries or "phantom power" supplied by an external source, such as a mixing console. console Another term for a sound mixer, usually a large desk-like mixer. crest factor The ratio of the peak value to the RMS value. Musical signals can have peaks many times higher than the RMS value. The larger the transient peaks, the larger the crest factor. Digital-to-analog converter, a device that transforms incoming digital signals into analog form. damping Damping factor is a number that represents the ratio of the impedance of the load to the output impedance of the amplifier. In practical terms, it is a measure of how well the amplifier can control the movement of a speaker's cone. The greater the damping factor, the better its ability to control the cone's movement. A low damping factor (high amplifier output impedance) allows a woofer to continue to move after the signal stops, resulting in an indistinct and mushy low frequency response. A high damping factor (200 or above) provides excellent control over low frequency woofers and produces a tight, clean bass. DAT Digital Audio Tape is a recording/playback system where analog signals are converted to digital form and stored on magnetic tape. It offers all the benefits of digital audio including low noise and wide dynamic range. 4