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PAD
A resistive circuit employed to reduce the level of an electrical signal.
PAL
Phase Alternate Line, the European 625-line, 25 frames per second colour-television broadcast standard.
PAN / PANNING
1.Audio changes in combinations of signal strength, usually between a stereo pair of speakers, which provides a representation of movement or position within the recorded space. 2.Video/film Movement of the camera across the field of vision.
PAN POT
Control usually used in audio panning. A fader may also be used.
PARALLEL
1.Musical Refers to consecutive harmonic intervals, in traditional harmony, courses parallel perfect fifths and octaves are to be avoided. 2.Electrical connection of all negative electrical parts on one conductor and all positive on another.
PARAMETER
A variable value that determines/affects one aspect of a device performance.
PARAMETRIC EQ
A specialized type of equalization control. Using a parametric EQ it is possible to control not only which frequencies fall into an isolated group by use of a moveable bandwidth, but also to change the size of the bandwidth. See also sweep EQ.
PARTIALS
See HARMONICS
PASSBAND
See BANDPASS FILTER
PASSIVE ABSORBER
A sound absorber that dissipates sound energy as heat.
PASSIVE
term describing electronic circuit that does not employ any active components.
PASSIVE DI BOX
A Direct Injection box that employs no active components.
PATCH
A flexible connection. A patch can be disconnected or moved easily.
PATCHBAY
An input field for different configurations of patches.
PA SYSTEM
Stands for Public Address system, term used to describe a powerful sound system, consisting of amplifier and speaker(s).
P-BLASTING
PCB
Printed Circuit Board
PCM
Pulse Code Modulation. A method for digital encoding of analogue signals.
PCI
Type of peripheral card interface on a PC.
PCX
Bitmapped graphic image format. Used for storing images on PCs by various graphic packages.
PD
(ProDigi) digital recording format
PDF
Adobe's proprietary Portable Document Format.
PEAK
The maximum instantaneous level of a signal.
PEAK RECORDING LEVEL
Maximum permissible signal level for a recording device.
PERCUSSION
Group of musical instruments, which create sound through an object being struck.
PERIPHERAL
A general term describing the various devices connected externally to a computer for example printers, scanners, modems etc.
PERMALLOY HEADS
PFC
Phase Frequency Curve
PFL
Pre Fade Listen. In a mixer, it allows an engineer to monitor a signal level prior to any boost or attenuation applied by the channel fader.
PHANTOM POWER
A DC voltage supply provided by a mixing desk or other device to power a capacitor microphone. It travels down the signal path of a balanced microphone lead. It is commonly 48V.
PHASE
Term used to describe the time relationship between two different waveforms. It is expressed in degrees, with 360 degrees representing a full cycle.
PHASE DISTORTION
PHASE LINEAR
It describes a circuit, which has a constant delay at all frequencies. It does not introduce any phase distortion
PHASE SHIFT
PHASER
A device that combines a signal with a phase shifted version of itself to create an effect.
PHON
The unit of loudness level of a tone.
PHONOGRAM
PHONO CONNECTOR
Audio connector developed by RCA, used extensively in unbalanced connections. It is also employed for certain digital interfaces.
PHRASE
Section of a melody, ending with some form of musical punctuation.
PILOT TONE
PINNA
PINK NOISE
PITCH
Subjective experience of audio frequency.
PIXEL
Smallest portion of a visual display unit. Each pixel is divided into three colour dots. The number of pixels employed in a display determine the screen size.
PLACE EFFECT
The theory that pitch perception is related to the pattern of excitation on the basilar membrane of the cochlea.
PLENUM
An absorbent-lined cavity through which conditioned air is routed to reduce noise.
POLAR DIAGRAM
POLAR PATTERN
POLARITY
POLYPHONY
More than one note sounding at the same time.
PORT
A computer socket that allows the user to connect external devices
PORTAMENTO
A continuous slide between pitches.
PORTAMENTO TIME
refers to the time taken to slide from one pitch to another.
POST PRODUCTION
POWER
POWER AMPLIFIER
PPM
Peak Program Meter. This level display unit is designed to register peaks in an electrical signal.
PPQN
Pulses Per Quarter Note
PQ
Sub codes used in CD production
PRE-AMPLIFIER
PRECEDENCE EFFECT
PRE-DELAY
PRE-EMPHASIS
The process of boosting high frequencies before processing a sound in order to reduce the effect of noise. The processed sound needs to be de-emphasised, i.e. the high frequencies need to be cut by an equal amount.
PRESSURE
See AFTERTOUCH
PRESSURE SENSITIVE
PRESSURE ZONE
See PZM
PRD
Primitive Root Diffuser
PRINT THROUGH
When storing magnetic tape, magnetic information can 'print through' to adjacent layers. Depending on whether the tape is stored 'tail in' or 'tail out' (i.e. whether the end or the start of the tape is on the inner part of the tape spool) post or pre echoes will be present.
PROCESSOR
1. An electronic device capable of performing a large number of calculations at very high speeds. 2. A device employed to alter the dynamics or frequency content of an audio signal.
PROXIMITY EFFECT
POP & POP SHIELDS
PRO LOGIC DECODER
PSU
Power Supply Unit
PSYCHOACOUSTICS
PULSE WAVE
Unlike the square wave it is a non-symmetrical wave. Its timbre is determined by the waveform ratio of Mark and Space. Because of their brighter tonal characteristics pulse waves are often employed in the synthesis of reed instruments.
PULSE WIDTH MODULATION
The process of modulating the width of a pulse wave, according to the parameters of another signal. LFO modulation of pulse width creates a sort of chorus effect.
PUNCH (IN/OUT)
The process of turning a tape machine record mode on (punch in) and off (punch out)during playback to allow the engineer to record a small portion of sound (executing a punch in).
PURE TONE
PZM
Pressure Zone Microphone. It is a boundary microphone designed to reject sounds that are out of phase due to reflections. |
