Mackie 1642-VLZ Pro Owner's Manual Glossary - Page 5

DAW Digital Audio Workstation is a dedicated recording/editing software application and hardware system, used for hard disk (non-linear) random access recording and playback. Many DAWs are used with personal computers using Windows® or Macintosh® operating systems, though some use their own proprietary computers. dB See decibel. dBA Sound Pressure Level (SPL) measured with an "A" weighting filter. Commonly used to describe signal levels in consumer equipment. To convert dBV to dBu, add 2.2 dB. decibel (dB) The dB is a ratio of quantities measured in similar terms using a logarithmic scale. Many audio system parameters measure over such a large range of values that the dB is used to simplify the numbers. A ratio of 1000:1=60 dB. Since dB is a unitless quantity, it doesn't matter if it's volts or dollars. (just try asking the chief engineer for a 3 dB raise) When one of the terms in the ratio is an agreed upon standard value such as 1.23 V, 1 V or 1 mw, the ratio becomes an absolute value, i.e., +4 dBu, -10 dBV or 0 dBm. delay dBm A unit of measurement of power in an electrical circuit, expressed in decibels referenced to 1 milliwatt. The "m" in dBm stands for "milliwatt." In a circuit with an impedance of 600 ohms, this reference (0 dBm) corresponds to a signal voltage of 0.775 VRMS (because 0.775 V across 600 ohms equals 1 mw). dBu A unit of measurement of audio signal voltage in an electrical circuit, expressed in decibels referenced to 0.775 VRMS into any impedance. Commonly used to describe signal levels within a modern audio system. Nobody is really sure if "u" stands for anything. dBv In sound work, delay usually refers to an electronic circuit or effects unit whose purpose it is to delay the audio signal for some short period of time. Delay can refer to one short repeat, a series of repeats or the complex interactions of delay used in chorusing or reverb. When delayed signals are mixed back with the original sound, a great number of audio effects can be generated, including phasing and flanging, doubling, Haas precedence-effect panning, slap or slapback, echo, regenerative echo, chorusing and hall-like reverberation. Signal time delay is central to many audio effects units. detent A point of slight physical resistance (a clickstop) in the travel of a knob or slide control. Most knobs on Mackie mixers are detented to indicate their unity gain or centered position. It's handy in the dark. A unit of measurement equal to the dBu no longer in use in the US, but sometimes still in Great Britain. It was too easy to confuse a dBv with a dBV, to which it is not equivalent. dBV diffraction The bending of sound waves around an obstacle (Huygens Principle). The longer the wavelength in comparison to the obstacle, the more the wave will diffract around it. A unit of measurement of audio signal voltage in an electrical circuit, expressed in decibels referenced to 1 VRMS across any impedance. 5