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CADENCE
Point of resolution within, or at the end of a musical phrase.
CALL AND RESPONSE
Jazz term applied to a shared solo. One player provides the first part of a phrase (usually open cadenced) and another player responds with a second answering part, which reaches a closed cadence point.
CAPACITOR
An electrical component that allows alternating current (AC) to pass through it while blocking direct current (DC). It is a device that can store electrical energy. It is sometimes called a condenser.
CAPACITOR MICROPHONE
A type of microphone. It employs a capacitor as a diaphragm. One of the plates of the capacitor is allowed to move and as the distance between the two plates varies, the capacitance of the capacitor will vary. If a 48V phantom power signal is applied to the capacitor, changes in capacitance will generate an analogue signal. Also called Condenser Microphone.
CARDIOID MICROPHONE
The term cardioid describes the polar pattern of the microphone. It has a polar response that is, 'heart shaped'.
CARRIER
A high frequency wave that is modulated by the audio signal in AM and FM systems. It 'carries' the audio signal.
CASSETTE TAPE
Also called Compact Cassette. Domestic format for stereo tape recording and playback. It has two sides available for stereo playback. Different formats are commercially available, such as C45, C90 etc (the C indicates cassette, while the number indicates the total length of both sides, in minutes at normal playback speed).
CCITT
(now ITU-T) From the French for the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee. An International Telecommunications Union (United Nations) body that sets international standards for telecommunications.
CD
Compact Disk.
CD-E FORMAT
CD-I FORMAT
CD-R FORMAT
Write (once only) Compact disks
CENT
Unit of pitch equal to 1/100 of a semitone.
CHANNEL
On an audio mixer, each individual input signal pathway.
CHANNEL FADER
The fader that controls the amount of signal leaving a channel.
CHANNEL STATUS
Additional Information sent with AES/EBU audio signals.
CHASE SYNCHRONISERS
It reads time code and direction information from a Master machine sync output and compares it to a Slave machine position. If necessary, it will then send adjustments to the Slave machine.
CHOIR
A body of singers who rehearse and perform as an ensemble. A choir is commonly divided into four voice ranges bass, tenor, alto and soprano.
CHORD
Two or more notes played together, and referred to as a vertical grouping.
CHORD EXTENSION
Notes added to a basic triad.
CHORUS
1.An audio effect achieved by doubling a signal and applying delay and pitch modulation. It is a naturally occurring effect whenever two instruments are playing the same tone, due to the slight imperfections in tuning and players timing. 2.Musical a.chorus within a verse - chorus song structure. The chorus is repeated between each verse, usually having the same words and musical structure. b.a singing ensemble see choir.
CHROMIUM DIOXIDE TAPE COATING
A type of coating used for magnetic tape. Introduced by the German company BASF in the 1970s. It has a good high-frequency performance and large signal to noise ratio.
CLIPPING
An electrical signal is clipping if the signal level exceeds the capabilities of the amplifier. It is a distortion of the signal.
CLOCK
A pulse that is used as a synchronising signal in electronic devices.
CLV
Constant Linear Velocity rotation. In disks, the rotational speed is controlled by the radius to keep track speed constant.
CMR
Common Mode Rejection.
CMRR
Common Mode Rejection Ratio
COBALT ENRICHED FERRIC OXIDE
A type of coating used for magnetic tape. It was formulated by various manufacturers as a response to BASF's Chromium Dioxide tape coating, and consisted of two layers, one of ferric oxide and one of chromium dioxide. The design tried to exploit the fact that higher frequencies are 'printed' closer to surface of the coating, while lower frequencies are 'printed' deeper in the coating. It was phased out due to its poor mid range performance.
COCHLEA
The portion of the inner ear that changes the mechanical vibrations of the cochlear fluid into electrical signals. It is the frequency analysing portion of the auditory system.
CODA
A section at the end of a piece of music or movement from a piece. A coda is is distinguishable from the movement as a whole, and provides a closure to the form.
CODETTA
A codetta differs from a coda in that it summarizes a section of music, such as the exposition of a sonata, and is often less distinguishable from the section as a whole.
CODEC
Coder - Decoder. A digital device for the coding and decoding of video and/or audio signals usually to permit them to be transmitted in compressed form.
COERCIVITY
In magnetic recording it's a measure of erasure difficulty.
COLORATION
The distortion of a signal, detectable by the ear.
COMB FILTER
The distortion produced by combining an electrical or acoustical signal with a delayed version of itself. This process results in constructive and destructive interference that results in peaks and troughs in the frequency response. When plotted to a linear frequency scale, the response resembles a comb hence the name.
COMPACT DISK
CD.
COMPANDER
Compressor expander. The process of companding/compansion increases the dynamic range of a system.
COMPRESSION
A device that alters the dynamic range of a signal. Its main variable parameters are the attack, release and threshold.
COMPUTER
A machine that allows us to carry out complex manipulation of numerical or other type of stored and/or inputted data. Computers are also used for controlling and coordinating other devices.
CONDENSER
See CAPACITOR.
CONSOLE
See mixer.
CONTROLLER
MIDI event that 'controls' a parameter such as Modulation, Portamento time, Volume etc. Here is a list.
CORRELOGRAM
A graph showing the correlation of one signal with another.
CORTEX
See AUDITORY CORTEX.
COUNTERPOINT
Two or more linear lines of music played simultaneously. Contrapuntal thinking differs from harmonic thinking primarily in that the linear or melodic perspective is the focus, as opposed to vertical (harmonic). See also harmony.
COUPLING
The process of joining together (two systems).
CPU
Central Processing Unit
CRESCENDO
Expression in notated music denotes a gradual increase in volume over a note or phrase.
CROTCHET
A fixed note length equal to one beat in a 4/4 time signature. In US notation, it is the equivalent of a 1/4 note.
See also time signature.
CRITICAL BAND (WIDTH)
Band of frequencies in which the ear analyses sound. Human hearing only those frequency components within a narrow band, called the critical band, will mask a given tone. Critical bandwidth varies with frequency but it is usually between 1/6 and 1/3 octave.
CROSSFADE
The process of fading the level of one signal down while fading the level of another signal up, usually at the same rate. DJ mixers have a special (usually horizontal) cross fader that fades between two channels. See also mixer.
CROSSOVER An electronic circuit, which divides the frequencies of an incoming signal in two or more bands. Crossovers are used to split an audio signal to feed different speaker units.
CROSSOVER FREQUENCY
In a loudspeaker with multiple radiators, it is the -3dB point of the network dividing the signal energy.
CROSSTALK
Unwanted signal 'leaking through' from adjacent wiring or track on an analogue tape recording.
CU
Compliance units
CUTOFF FREQUENCY
The frequency above which a low pass filter will start attenuating signals present at its input (or the frequency below which a high pass filter will start attenuating). Abbreviated Fc.
CURIE TEMPERATURE
Temperature at which magnetic materials demagnetise. Note that most materials that have a Curie Temperature that is low enough to be useful are also highly corrodible by air. For this reason they need to be sealed within a protective layer (see CDs)
CURRENT
The rate of flow of electrons in a conductor. It is measured in Amperes (one Ampere is equivalent to the flow of 6.28 * 1018 electrons per second or one Coulomb per second.
CVBS
Composite Video
CYCLE
1. A period of time that repeats itself. 2. A group of songs with a common subject, theme or narrative.
CYCLES PER SECOND
The frequency of an electrical signal or sound wave, measured in Hertz (Hz).
CYLINDER
1.3-dimensional geometric shape. 2.Information Technology; used as a reference in magnetic disks to theset of tracks having the same radius.
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