Jargon

[Rick DeGraeve]

Hi Steve! I though I'd run this by...

I'v seen a few threads lately asking what some of the jargon means that is used in threads. I know it took me a while to understand what some of the terms used meant. Some are pretty basic but I wondered if it might be worthwhile to collect them in one spot. I did a search on jargon and didn't come up with much.

Things like:

SDC - small diameter cardoid
LDC - large
FOH - front of house
outriggers - mics wide or flanking your main pair/setup

There's probably a lot more out there. The Remote Possibilities threads are usually the only ones I frequent so if I've missed a thread somewhere else you can just trash this one.

Rick

[naturalstudio]

Originally Posted by Rick DeGraeve

Hi Steve! I though I'd run this by...

I'v seen a few threads lately asking what some of the jargon means that is used in threads. I know it took me a while to understand what some of the terms used meant. Some are pretty basic but I wondered if it might be worthwhile to collect them in one spot. I did a search on jargon and didn't come up with much.

Things like:

SDC - small diameter cardoid
LDC - large
FOH - front of house
outriggers - mics wide or flanking your main pair/setup

There's probably a lot more out there. The Remote Possibilities threads are usually the only ones I frequent so if I've missed a thread somewhere else you can just trash this one.

Rick

I thought SDC was small diaphragm condenser, but I've been wrong about these things before...!

[Rick DeGraeve]

YEP!! ... a brain cramp... too cold & snowy here

Already it seems like it might be a good idea.

[Remoteness]

Yes, it is a very good idea.

I also added a tag to this thread...

Please feel free to add to this thread as you see fit.

[Remoteness]

Audio / Video Jargon: Acronyms and Abbreviations

A-B
a technique of comparing one audio source (e.g. through the speakers) to another - usually done by matching and judging how they sound switching from one sound source to the other. The technique could be used to reference your mix against a commercial recording.

AFM
audio frequency modulation
The analog soundtrack of the 8mm and Hi8 video formats. [See PCM]

AGC
automatic gain control
A circuit on most camcorders that automatically adjusts a microphone's gain (volume) to match environmental sound levels.

Balance
making sure that the volume levels of each instrument sound ‘level’ together without any one of them dominating.

Buss
a connector or channel for many different electronic signals to travel through the mixing desk to the different outputs for many different uses. For example, an effects buss takes the sound to where it can be manipulated with effects, or the sound could go via a buss to the tape recorder, speakers or amplifier.

CCD
charge coupled device
Light-sensitive computer chip in video cameras that converts light into electrical flows.

CODEC
compressor/decompressor
A piece of software that converts a raw stream of uncompressed video to a compressed form. The same piece of software can also play the compressed video on-screen.

DAT
Digital Audio Tape – a format specifically for use in DAT recorders – like the VHS is for VCR machines. Used for digital audio, the DAT recorder makes a scan of the desk’s output and encodes it into the digital format.

DAW
Digital Audio Workstation

Desk (AKA console, board)
the British word for ‘console’.

Dry
no reverb, echo or room (ambience) tone.

DV
Digital Video
With a capital "D" and a capital "V," DV is a specific video format; both a tape format (like Hi8) and a data format specification.

DVD
digital versatile disc
An optical data storage format that resembles CD but holds much more data. There are a number of DVD application formats, including video, audio and DVD-ROM.

EDL
edit decision list
Handwritten or computer-generated compilation of all edits (marked by their time codes in points and out points) planned for execution in a video production.

EIS
electronic image stabilization
A process that limits shaky camera shots with digital processing found within a camcorder. [See OIS]

Feed
the process of sending a signal to a device, buss or channel input. For example, a signal will ‘feed’ from the remote truck through cable or fiber to the satelite truck.

FPS
frames per second
Measures the rate or speed of video or film. Film is typically shot and played back at 24fps. Video is recorded and played back at 30fps.

Gain (AKA amplification)
the measurement of the amount of input voltage and output voltage as a ratio (expressed in decibels). Setting the gain on any electronic instrument is very important to engineers who will not want the gain too low or too high avoid too much distortion or need little adjustment on the desk.

Hot
If something is recorded ‘hot’, it would have been done at a high level of gain that causes slight distortion or tape saturation – it is a technique sometimes used to make an effect.

Hot Circuit
means that it has a potentially dangerous voltage.

Hot Mic
open microphone

IEEE 1394
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Pronounced "eye-triple-E thirteen-ninety-four," the institute establishes standards and protocols for a wide range of computer and communications technologies, including IEEE 1394, which is a specification FireWire data transmission widely used in DV. Sony refers to the ports on its products with the proprietary term, "i.LINK.

LFO
Low Frequency Oscillator

MIDI
Musical Instrument Digital Interface, and is a means of communication between all digital equipment.

Monitor
audio: a speaker for the studio or on stage.
video: a video (picture) monitor.

NLE
nonlinear editor/editing
Hard-drive based editing system defined by its ability to randomly access and insert video in any order at any time. This is in contrast to linear tape-to-tape editing, which requires rewinding and fast forwarding in order to access material.

NTSC
National Television Standards Committee
U.S. television broadcasting specifications. NTSC refers to all video systems conforming to this 525-line 59.94-field-per-second signal standard. [See PAL, SECAM]

OIS
optical image stabilization
A process of limiting shaky camera shots with mechanical movement of the optical system within a camcorder. [See EIS]

PAL
phase alternate line
625-line 50-field-per-second television signal standard used in Europe and South America. Incompatible with NTSC. [See NTSC, SECAM]

PCM
pulse code modulation
A popular method of encoding digital audio. [See AFM]

POV
point of view
The apparent position of the observer in a shoot that defines the camera's position.

PZM
pressure zone microphone
Small, sensitive condenser mike, usually attached to a 5-inch-square metal backing plate. Senses air pressure changes in tiny gap between the mike element and the plate.

RCA
Recording Corporation of America
A popular cable connector used for home audio as well as video components. The standard connection for direct audio/video inputs and outputs. RCA connectors are also known as phono plugs and jacks.

RGB
red, green, blue
Video signal transmission system that differentiates and processes all color information in separate red, green and blue components the primary colors of light for optimum image quality. Also defines type of color monitor.

SECAM
sequential color and memory
625-line 25-frame-per-second television signal standard used in France and the Soviet Republic. Incompatible with NTSC; PAL and SECAM are partially compatible. [See NTSC, PAL]

SEG
special effects generator
Permits video signal mixing from two or more sources cameras, time-base correctors and character generators for dissolves, wipes and other transition effects.

SMPTE
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
Time-code standard that addresses every frame on a videotape with a unique number (in hours, minutes, seconds, frames) to aid logging and editing. Format used for film, video and audio. The SMPTE sanctions standards for recording systems in North America.

VCR
videocassette recorder
Multifunction machine intended primarily for recording and playback of videotape that is stored in cassettes.

VHS
video home system
Predominant half-inch videotape format developed by Matsushita and licensed by JVC.

VTR
video tape recorder
Multifunction machine intended primarily for recording and playback of videotape that is stored in cassettes.

Wet
reverb, echo and/or room (ambience) tone.

XLR
ground-left-right
Three-pin plug for three-conductor "balanced" audio cable, employed with high-quality microphones, mixers and other audio equipment.

[Remoteness]

I added an insane list of engineering acronyms and abbreviations to the Beginner's guild...

If you want to check it out click on this sucker > (The Beginners Guide)

[ClickTrackAudio]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

XLR
ground-left-right
Three-pin plug for three-conductor "balanced" audio cable, employed with high-quality microphones, mixers and other audio equipment.

Funny...you can use a term verbatim and never think about it.

I never knew how XLR got its name or what it stood for. One of those things that I assumed it had something to do with telephony but never bothered to look up!

Ya learn sumpthing new each day, huh?

Thanks :)

[Brownsound]

The XLR name comes from a particular X connector from Cannon.
Originally the "Cannon X" series, subsequent versions added a Latch ("Cannon XL") and then a Rubber compound surrounding the contacts, which led to the acronym XLR.
The initials "XLR" have nothing to do with the pinout of the connector. XLR connectors can have other numbers of pins besides three.

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by Brownsound

The XLR name comes from a particular X connector from Cannon.
Originally the "Cannon X" series, subsequent versions added a Latch ("Cannon XL") and then a Rubber compound surrounding the contacts, which led to the acronym XLR.
The initials "XLR" have nothing to do with the pinout of the connector. XLR connectors can have other numbers of pins besides three.

This is true, I'm sure a fair amount of us used 4, 5 or 6 pin XLRs for com or stereo mics and such...

Some folks say, XLR stands for X = Ground; L = Live; R = Return...

But who knows?

[Jim vanBergen]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

This is true, I'm sure a fair amount of us used 4, 5 or 6 pin XLRs for com or stereo mics and such...

Some folks say, XLR stands for X = Ground; L = Live; R = Return...

But who knows?

Several years ago at AES, I spoke at length with the founder of Switchcraft, who told me the development of the term 'XLR' was explained thusly:
The job was to develop & create a "model X" Locking Receptacle that created the terminology for XLR. He said the "x" was just a scientific was of referring to the connector that was being developed (Project X, create an inter-locking audio connector that would always keep the three balanced signals (3 pins w/ ground, +/-) isolated from one another.

But who knows if this is truth or a story he was spinning... but it's what I use now as the terminaology for XLR, aka Model X Locking Receptacle.

[Remoteness]

Didn't Canon develop and use the "XLR" connector first? Maybe it was called something else at the time.

[foldback]

I'm pretty sure that Cannon developed the term XLR.

Switchcraft followed with the "QG" series of 3-pin connectors, their acronym for "Quick Ground". The ground pin (pin one) was extended forward slightly on the female plugs to make-up the connection before the other two conductors, this would supposedly minimize the occurence of "pops" when plugging in.

I've never liked those Cannon XLR female plugs with the rubber fronts, they might be more liquid proof but they're hard to mate all the way, you've really got to listen for the click or else they pop apart when you least want them to.

[Remoteness]

There was the big mix up with pin two and three with Canon and Switchcraft.

From what I recall (we should varify) originally Canon numbered the center pin "pin 2" and Switchcraft to get around the patent issues named the center pin "pin 3."

Well, the AES came up with their standards when Canon was the biggie at the time calling pin one ground, pin two High or hot (+) and pin three low or cold (-).

Switchcraft eventually became to bigger connector company and their numbered pin layout became the standard. Canon then changed their numbering to match Switchcraft to prevent any confusion.

I'm not sure how true this story is, but I heard it from someone I trust so there you go.

I always felt the Hot pin should be by its self. If you swap pins one and two it will still work. With pin two being hot if you swap them it will not work.
Also, it's a no brainer when wiring.