1. Desks:
Routing – Routing is how and where you send the signal from the desk, some desks will have more routing options avalible than others. Some desks will have routing options for groups or busses etc.
Channels – A strip on the mixing desk that controls audio levels and panning for a single input, audio levels can be controlled with the fader
Busses – A group of 4 channels, busses allow you to move faders for multiple channels at once, useful for things such as drums (1 channel for each drum) so you can adjust the drum levels all at once.
Auxiliaries – An additional input/output on the desk that allows you to sends signals to effects machines (e.g a signal will go out of the desk through the aux to a reverb machine and then back into the desk having been altered)
Groups – Groups are similar to busses but they may not always have a physical ouput from the desk
Inputs – Inputs are a port to plug in cables that allow signals to travel into the desk
Outputs – Outputs are ports to plug cables into that allow signals to travel out of the desk
Additional effects – Additional effects are extra effects that you may or may not use during recording, certain desks may not have as many effect options as others
2. Microphones:
Polar patterns – Polar patterns are the way in which a microphones picks up the sound around it E.g shotgun or omnidirectional. different polar patterns are used in different situations
Frequency response – Frequency response is how a microphone responds to certain frequencies, certain microphones may have a lower bass roll off point etc.
Sensitivity – A microphone sensitivity specification tells how much electrical output a microphone produces, for example running a 20 volt current through two mics will result in a different electrical output for each mic, the one with the higher sensitivity will have a higher output.
Type – There are different types of microphones and each have their pros and cons. Dynamics are good for live performances due to their robust nature & resistance to moisture. they are also fairly cheap compared to other mics. Compared to dynamics, condenser mics are much more fragile and sensitive to sound, this makes them good for picking up subtle differences and sounds but bad for high volumes as they are sensitive and are prone to distortion.
3. Monitoring:
Nearfeild and Midfeild – Nearfeild monitors are designed to be played near you and are made to play clearly so the quality is good. a dj doing a set in a club would have nearfeild speakers close by facing themselves so they can hear the mix with good quality, midfeild speakers are made to be used at longer range and sacrifice clarity for volume, midfeild speakers would be used by the dj to play the music to the crowd.
Frequency response – The frequency response for monitors is, like the microphones, how well they respond to certain frequencies, this determines the range of sounds the speaker can produce. e.g a bass boosting monitor will have a larger frequency response within the low lying frequencies
Two-way – two way monitors are monitors tat have two cones, one bass driver and on tweeter (for low and high frequencies respectively)
Three-way – three-way monitors are the same as two way monitors, the only difference is that they also have a midrange driver for frequencies in between the range of bass drivers and tweeters
Passive – passive monitors are speakers that do not have a built in amplifier and have to be connected to one via a normal speaker wire
Active – Active speakers are monitors with a built in amplifiers, in most monitors the only active speaker will be the sub-woofer
Power rating – Power ratings are a guideline set by the manufacturer as a maximum amount of power to use with the monitor, normally set below the limit where the device will be damaged to allow a margin for safety.
4. Recording devices:
Tracks – Tracks on a recording device allow a set up for each instrument (track 1 for a guitar track 2 for piano etc.) and can also be used for external midi devices such as a synthesiser. Tracks allow the use of multiple track recordings to be done at once and join them together to create the whole song, this is called multi tracking.
Inputs/outputs – Inputs and outputs are ports in which cables are plugged that allow signals to travel in and out of the recording device, these signals can be wired up to go through an effects machine to add reverb etc. or can be sent to the mixing desk.
Format – Recording devices come in all shapes and sizes, and many different formats. Even an iPhone can be used as a recording device, (although not recommended) An iPhone would fall under the standalone category as it doesn’t need to be used in conjunction with any other device, once purchased it can be used on it’s own to record audio. Although stand alone devices tend to be easier to learn and much more portable, a computer based device would be a much more professional approach. Computer based recorders have alot more to offer in terms of effects and quality, there are also many more software programs that can be used alongside and the extra price tends to be worth it.
Specification – Sample rates define the number of samples taken from a signal in any given unit of time (normally seconds) naturally the more samples taken the higher the sample rate will be. Different recording devices will have different specifications of sample rates. Bit rate is the same as sample rate in the sense that it is the amount of bits taken in any given unit of time, again, the higher the amount of bits used the higher the bit rate will be
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