consoledelay
A term for a sound mixer, usually a large In sound work, delay usually refers to an
desk-like mixer.electronic circuit or effects unit whose purpose
cueingit is to delay the audio signal for some short pe-
In broadcast, stage and post-productionriod of time. Delay can refer to one short repeat,
work, to Ocue up� a sound source (a record, aa series of repeats or the complex interactions
sound effect on a CD, a song on a tape) meansof delay used in chorusing or reverb. When de-
to get it ready for playback by making sure youlayed signals are mixed back with the original
are in the right position on the Ocue,� makingsound, a great number of audio effects can be
sure the level and EQ are all set properly. Thisgenerated, including phasing and flanging, dou-
requires a special monitoring circuit that onlybling, Haas-effect positioning, slap or slapback,
the mixing engineer hears. It does not go outecho, regenerative echo, chorusing and hall-like
on the air or to the main mixing buses. Thisreverberation. Signal time delay is central to
Ocueing� circuit is the same as pre-fader (PFL)many audio effects units.
solo on a Mackie mixer, and often the termsdetent
are interchangeable.A point of slight physical resistance (a
dBclick-stop) in the travel of a knob or slide con-
See decibel.trol, used in Mackie mixers to indicate unity
dBmgain.
A unit of measurement of audio signal leveldipping
in an electrical circuit, expressed in decibelsThe opposite of peaking, of course. A dip is
referenced to 1 milliwatt. The Om� in dBman EQ curve that looks like a valley, or a dip.
stands for Omilliwatt.� In a circuit with an im-Dipping with an equalizer reduces a band of
pedance of 600 ohms, this reference (0dBm)frequencies. (See guacamole.)
corresponds to a signal voltage of 0.775 VRMSdoubling
(because 0.775 V across 600 ohms equals 1mw).A delay effect, where the original signal is
dBumixed with a medium (20 to 50 msec) delay.
A unit of measurement of audio signal levelWhen used carefully, this effect can simulate
in an electrical circuit, expressed in decibelsdouble-tracking (recording a voice or instru-
referenced to 0.775 VRMS into any impedance.ment twice).
Commonly used to describe signal levelsdry
within a modern audio system.Usually means without reverberation, or
dBvwithout some other applied effect like delay or
A unit of measurement equal to the dBu butchorusing. Dry is not wet, i.e. totally
no longer in use. It was too easy to confuse aunaffected.
dBv with a dBV, to which it is not equivalent.dynamic
dBVIn sound work, dynamic refers to the class
A unit of measurement of audio signalof microphones that generate electrical signals
level in an electrical circuit, expressed inby the movement of a coil in a magnetic field.
decibels referenced to 1 VRMS across any im-Dynamic microphones are rugged, relatively
pedance. Commonly used to describe signalinexpensive, capable of very good performance
levels in consumer equipment. To convertand do not require external power.
dBV to dBu, add 2.2dB.dynamic range
decibel (dB)The range between the maximum and mini-
The dB is a ratio of quantities measured inmum sound levels that a sound system can
similar terms using a logarithmic scale. Manyhandle. It is usually expressed in decibels as
audio system parameters measure over such athe difference between the level at peak
large range of values that the dB is used toclipping and the level of the noise floor.
simplify the numbers. A ratio of 1000V:1V=60dB.
When one of the terms in the ratio is an
agreed upon standard value such as 0.775V, 1V
or 1mw, the ratio becomes an absolute value,
i.e., +4dBu, �10dBV or 0dBm.
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ACEC
