Mackie ms1402vlz User Manual

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This Glossary contains brief definitions of

many of the audio and electronic terms used in
discussions of sound mixing and recording. Many
of the terms have other meanings or nuances or
very rigorous technical definitions which we have
sidestepped here because we figure you already
have a lot on your mind. If you’d like to get more
information, you can call Mix Bookshelf at 1-800-
233-9604. We recommend the following titles: 

Audio Dictionary, by Glenn White; Tech Terms,
by Peterson & Oppenheimer;  

Sound Engineers, by Glen Ballou, Mackie Mixer
Book by Rudy Trubitt and Sound Reinforcement
Handbook, by Gary Davis.

An acronym for After Fade Listen, which is

another way of saying post-fader solo function.

In sound mixers, 

assign means to switch or

route a signal to a particular signal path or
combination of signal paths.

To reduce or make quieter.

See next entry.

In sound mixers, supplemental equipment

or features that provide additional capabilities
to the basic system. Examples of auxiliary
equipment include: serial processors (equaliz-
ers, compressors, limiters, gates) and parallel
devices (reverberation and delay). Most mix-
ers have aux send buses and aux return inputs
to accommodate auxiliary equipment.

In a classic balanced audio circuit, the two

legs of the circuit (+ and –) are isolated from
the circuit ground by exactly the same imped-
ance. Additionally, each leg may carry the signal
at exactly the same level but with opposite po-
larity with respect to ground. In some balanced
circuits, only one leg actually carries the signal
but both legs exhibit the same impedance char-
acteristics with respect to ground. Balanced
input circuits can offer excellent rejection of
common-mode noise induced into the line and
also make proper (no ground loops) system
grounding easier. Usually terminated with 

1

⁄

4

"

TRS or XLR connectors.

The band of frequencies that pass through a

device with a loss of less than 3dB, expressed
in Hertz or in musical octaves. Also see Q.

An electrical connection common to three

or more circuits. In mixer design, a bus usually
carries signals from a number of inputs to a
mixing amplifier, just like a city bus carries
people from a number of neighborhoods to
their jobs.

A manufacturer of electrical connectors

who first popularized the three-pin connector
now used universally for balanced microphone
connections. In sound work, a Cannon connec-
tor is taken to mean a Cannon XLR-3 mic
connector or any compatible connector.

Means heart-shaped. In sound work, car-

dioid refers to the shape of the sensitivity
pattern of some directional microphones.

A functional path in an audio circuit: an

input channel, an output channel, a recording
channel, the left channel and so on.

The physical representation of an audio

channel on the front panel of a mixer; usually
a long, vertical strip of controls.

An effect available in some digital delay

effects units and reverbs. Chorusing involves a
number of moving delays and pitch shifting,
usually panned across a stereo field. Depend-
ing on how used, it can be lovely or grotesque.

A cause of severe audio distortion that is

the result of excessive gain requiring the peaks
of the audio signal to rise above the capabili-
ties of the amplifier circuit. Seen on an
oscilloscope, the audio peaks appear clipped
off. To avoid distortion, reduce the system gain
in or before the gain stage in which the clip-
ping occurs. See also headroom.