P

Pad

  1. An attenuator usually used to prevent overload of an amplifier.
  2. A device with a surface that can be hit by a drum stick; hitting the pad produces an output signal pulse (or MIDI command) that causes a drum machine or synthesiser to sound a drum sound.

Pan (Balance)

A knob on the mixer that adjusts the relative volume between left and right (or A and B) in a stereo setup. Just like the stereo in the living room.

Panpot (Pan Pot)

An electrical device that distributes one audio signal to two (or more) channels or speakers.

Parallel

  1. A circuit interconnection in that the source feeds several branch circuit components and interruption of current flow in one component does not stop current flow in another.
  2. A method of sending data where each digit of a digital word is sent at the same time over separate wires/connections.

Parallel Jacks

Several jacks that are wired so that each connection is wired to the corresponding connection of other jacks.

Parallel Port

A jack that sends out or receives digital data where several bits are being sent/received at the same time through different pins.

Parameter

Each adjustment that is possible to change in a device.

Parametric EQ

An equaliser in which all of the parameters of equalisation can be adjusted to any amount including: a) centre frequency; b) the amount of boost or cut in gain; and c) the bandwidth.

Partial

  1. In acoustical instruments, a term with the same meaning as overtone.
  2. In synthesisers literally “part of a sound patch;” circuitry in the synthesiser that generates and/or modifies elements of the sound to give timbre to the particular tone.
  3. The sound element generated by #2.

Pass Band

The frequency range of signals that will be passed, not reduced, by a filter.

Passive Device

A piece of signal processing gear or other device that does not use an amplifier as part of its design.

Patch

  1. To route or reroute the signal in an audio system (such as a console) by using short cables with plugs inserted into jacks.
  2. The routing or rerouting of the signal accomplished by #1.

Patch Bay

A series of jacks with connections for most of the inputs and outputs of the console, console sections, tape machines and other pieces of equipment.

Patch Cord

  1. A cable with two plugs on it to interconnect two patch jacks in the patch bay.
  2. A very short high Z instrument cable.

Patch Editor

A computer programme allowing the creation or the changing of parameters of sound patches thereby creating or modifying a specific synthesised sound outside of a synthesiser.

Patch Field

A series of jacks which has connections for most of the inputs and outputs of the console, console sections, tape machines and other pieces of equipment.

Patch Librarian

A computer programme allowing the storing of sound patches outside of a synthesiser.

Patch Panel

  1. A series of jacks which has connections for most of the inputs and outputs of the console, console sections, tape machines and other pieces of equipment.
  2. A board consisting of rows of sockets into which plugs can be connected to route sound signals or power for lighting circuits.

Patch Point

One jack in a patch bay.

Path

Short for Signal Path, the way in which current does or may travel in a circuit or through a device.

Pause

The button or control mode where the tape machine is paused but with the drive mechanism ready for an instant start.

Passive Crossover

Uses no active components (transistors, IC’s, tubes) and needs no power supply (AC, DC, battery) to operate. The crossover in a typical loudspeaker is of the passive variety. Passive crossovers consist of capacitors, inductors and resistors.

PCM

An abbreviation for the term Pulse Code Modulation (the use of amplitude pulses in magnetic tape to record the digital information bits of digital audio).

Peak

  1. The highest point in the audio waveform.Short for Peak Detecting (responding to the peak) or Peak Indicating (showing the peak).
  2. Having a frequency response that would draw something similar to a mountain peak on a frequency response graph.

Peak Detecting

Recognising and responding to peak values of a waveform rather than average values.

Peak Indicating Meter

A meter which reads the absolute peak level of the waveform.

Peak Level

A term with the same meaning as Peak Value (the maximum positive or negative instantaneous value of a waveform).

Peak Responding

Recognising and responding to (or indicating) the peak value rather than the average or effective value.

Peak Response

  1. A term with the same meaning as Peak.
  2. Raising or lowering of the amplitude of signals at the centre frequency more than signals at any other frequency.

Peak Value

The maximum positive or negative instantaneous value of a waveform.

Peaking Filter

An EQ circuit which has a peak response (raising or lowering of the amplitude of signals at the centre frequency more than signals at any other frequency).

Peak-to-Peak Value

The difference in amplitude between positive and negative peaks. Equal to twice the peak value for a sine wave.

Pedal Board

A board with several guitar pedals attached and inter-connected so that a guitar player can conveniently use several effects at the same time or one after another.

PFL

These buttons allow you to boost or isolate individual channels in the headphones.

Phantom Power

  1. When this is turned on in the soundboard it will power the active microphones in the system. It should be turned off when no active mics are hooked up.
  2. Some condenser microphones require a power supply in order to operate. If this supply is not from a battery within the microphone body, it is known as a phantom power supply. It is usually 48 Volts DC (can be 9 – 52 volts from most mics) and is supplied either by a separate battery pack, or by the sound desk. The supply is termed “phantom” because it is “invisibly” carried down the same microphone cable as the sound signals.

Phantom Powering

A system used to supply condenser microphones with power; to eliminate the need for external power supplies.

Phase

  1. The amount by which one sine wave leads or lags a second wave of the same frequency. The difference is described by the term phase angle. Sine waves in phase reinforce each other; those out of phase cancel.
  2. A measurement (expressed in degrees) of the time difference between two similar waveforms.

Phase Addition

The energy of one waveform increasing the energy of another waveform because the two waveforms have similar phase relationships.

Phase Cancellation

The energy of one waveform decreasing the energy of another waveform because of phase relationships at or close to 180 degrees.

Phase Distortion

A change in the sound because of a phase shift in the signal.

Phase Distortion Synthesis

A method of altering a wave shape to add harmonics by a phase shift while a cycle is being formed.

Phase Linear

The quality of not having phase shift.

Phase Lock

  1. In the control of tape machines, a method of keeping machines synced together by sensing phase differences in the playback of pilot tunes by the two machines and adjusting of speed to eliminate the phase difference.
  2. In synthesisers, the control of one tone generator so that it begins its waveform in phase with the signal from another tone generator.

Phase Reversal

A change in a circuit to get the waveform to shift by 180 degrees.

Phase Shift

A delay introduced into an audio signal measured in degrees delayed.

Phase Sync

  1. A term with the same meaning as the term Phase Lock.
  2. A method of keeping machines synced together by sensing phase differences in the playback of pilot tones by the two machines and adjustment of speed to eliminate the phase difference.

Phasing

An effects sound created by variable phase shift of an audio signal mixed with the direct signal.

Phon

  1. A unit of equal loudness for all audio frequencies.
  2. The phon is numerically equal to dBspl at 1000 Hz but varies at other frequencies according to ear sensitivity to frequency.

Phone Plug (Jack)

A plug (or its mating jack) with a diameter of 1/4 inch and a length of I 1/4 inches used for interconnecting audio.

Phono Cartridge

  1. The device that changes the mechanical vibrations stored on records into electrical signals.
  2. A transducer changing sound stored as mechanical vibrations to sound in the form of electricity.

Phono Plug

  1. A term with the same meaning as RCA Plug.
  2. The common audio connector round on most stereo systems with a centre pin as one connection and an outer shell as the second connection.
  3. An unbalanced audio connector used for connecting line-level equipment together (e.g. CD player, tape recorder). Unsuitable for professional use due to lack of durability.

Photoelectric Cell

A device that generates a small current when it receives light.

Pick

A small piece of plastic, which is held usually within the thumb and index finger to strike a string or strings on the guitar to produce a sound.

Pick Guard

Usually a piece of plastic that sits on the face of the guitar to protect the face of the guitar from scratches caused by playing and/or picking the guitar.

Pick Up Pattern

The shape of the area that a microphone will evenly pick up from, giving similar but less detailed information than a polar pattern.

Pickup (Pick-up)

  1. A device which, when attached to an acoustic musical instrument, converts sound vibrations into an electrical signal.
  2. A device on an electric guitar (or other instrument) that puts out an audio signal according to the string motion on the instrument.A Pickup is a magnet wrapped in wires which sits on the face of an electric guitar, underneath the strings. When the strings move, it interferes with the magnetic field of the pickup and that impulse is sent to the amplifier. The impulse is then modified at the amplifier.
  3. A way of describing the directional sensitivity of a microphone. An Omni directional microphone has equal pick-up from all around, a Cardioid microphone is more sensitive from the front, a Hypercardioid has very strong directionality from the front. A figure-of-eight microphone picks up front and rear but rejects sound from the sides.
  4. A device that puts out an audio signal according to the vibration of something; this term means the same thing as a contact microphone.

Pilot Tone

  1. Same as Neo-Pilot Tone.
  2. A system of recording a 60 Hz tone, used for syncing on a 1/4 inch tape, developed by Nagra.

Pin Plug

  1. A term with the same meaning as RCA Plug.
  2. The common audio connector found on most stereo systems with a centre pin as one connection and an outer shell as the second connection.

Pinch Roller

A rubber (or plastic) wheel which pinches the tape between it and the capstan, allowing the capstan to pull the tape.

Ping-Ponging

Playing several recorded tracks with sync playback through a console to mix them together and record them on an open track.

Pink Noise

Noise which has equal energy per octave or portion of an octave.

Pitch

  1. The perception of frequency by the ear.
  2. A control on a tape transport which adjusts the speed slightly up or down, changing the pitch and time of the music.
  3. The spacing of the grooves in a phonograph record.

Pitch Bend

  1. Making, in a synthesiser, the pitch smoothly glide up slightly.
  2. Also the wheel controller or MIDI command that will allow this.

Pitch Change

  1. A characteristic of human hearing where bass frequencies sound lower in pitch at high sound pressure levels; an error of as much as 10%.
  2. A function of a delay effects device where the output signal’s pitch is different than the input signal’s pitch.

Pitch Ratio

The percentage change in pitch in a pitch change program of a delay line.

Pitch to MIDI Converter

A device that will change an audio signal into MIDI information.

Pitch to Voltage Converter

A device that will convert the frequency changes of an audio signal into proportional control voltage changes.

Pink Noise

A random noise used in measurements, as it has the same amount of energy in each octave.

Plate

  1. A type of reverb device where a large metal sheet is suspended on spring clips and driven like a speaker cone.
  2. An electrode in a tube that receives the electrons.

Plate Programme

A setting in a digital delay/reverb effects device that simulates the plate reverberation sound.

Playback

  1. The reproduction of recorded audio.
  2. In motion picture or video production, the reproduction of the music over loudspeakers so that the performers/musicians can perform in time to the music for the camera.

Playback Equalisation

A reduction of the amplitude of signals with high frequencies during playback of a tape to compensate for the Record Equalisation.

Playback Engineer

The audio technician who plays back music over loudspeakers for motion picture/video production so that performers can perform in time with the music for the camera.

Playback Head

A transducer (energy converter) which converts magnetic flux recorded on tape into an audio signal.

Playback Level

  1. A term with the same meaning as Reproduce Level.
  2. A control that determines the output level of signals played back from the tape by the reproduce head.

Playback Mode

A connection of the console’s monitor mixer inputs to the tape machine outputs for a quick playback of the multitrack master.

Playback Monitor

A position of the switch on a tape machine which allows the VU meter and sound output of the tape machine electronics to monitor the playback of what is actually recorded on the tape.

Playlist

A series of computer commands to a disk recording of digital audio where the playback of the digital audio is to play certain portions and not others.

Plug

A connector, usually on a cable, that mates with a jack/socket.

Pitch Control

Facility on some sound playback devices for changing the speed of playback, and thus the pitch or frequency of the sound, to match an existing sound, or to fit a particular time-slot. Some Professional CD players have tempo controls which speed up the playback, and then compensate for the resulting increase in frequency using a pitch change. This results in the ability to match the beat of a CD in a disco situation, without the “Pinky and Perky” effect.

Polarity

  1. The condition of being positive or negative with respect to some reference point or object.
  2. The direction of flow of electricity either negative to positive or positive to negative. Matching polarity between different amplifiers can greatly reduce hum and the risk of electrical shock. Most amps come equipped with a “polarity switch”.

Potentiometer (Pot)

See “attenuator”. For our purposes, they are the same.

Power Strip (six-way/4-way)

Allows you to plug a lot of things into one power outlet.

Power Supply

Basically, a rack mountable power strip that costs a whole lot more, but hey, some of them have cute little lamps that light up the face of your rack.

Power Amplifier

Converts sound signals of line level (approx. 1 volt) into tens of volts, with currents of around 1 Amp to drive speakers.

Pre-Fade Listen

Often shortened to PFL. Control on a sound mixing desk which allows the user to check the presence of a signal, and its quality before bringing up the fader. Also vital for fault-finding, where the route of a signal can be PFL’ed around the desk until the point where the fault occurs. Also known as Check and Cue.

Prefade/Postfade

An output from a sound desk is said to be prefade if it is independent of the channel fader. If it is postfade, the level of the output is relative to the channel fader.

Point Source

A design in speaker systems, where separate speakers (reproducing different frequency ranges) are made so that the sound appears to come from one place.

Polar Pattern

  1. For microphones, a graphic display of the audio output levels caused by sound waves arriving at the mic from different directions.
  2. In speakers, a graphic display of the speaker’s dispersion.

Polarity

The direction of current flow or magnetising force.

Polarising Voltage

The voltage applied to the plates of the variable capacitor in the condenser microphone capsule.

Pole Pieces

Iron or other magnetic material that conducts magnetic force to where it can be used in transducers like record heads, playback heads, microphones, etc.

Pole Mode

In MIDI, a mode which allows the voices of the controlled synthesiser to be assigned polyphonically by incoming keynote numbers.

Polyphonic

Able to play more than one pitch at the same time, in synthesisers.

Ponging

Playing several recorded tracks with sync playback through a console to mix them together and record them on an open track.

Pop Filter

A device that is placed over a microphone or between the microphone and singer to prevent loud “pop” sounds by the singer. >>> Things to consider when buying a pop filter.

Port

  1. An opening in a speaker case or in a microphone case, just behind the diaphragm.
  2. A jack accepting or sending digital data.

Portamento

  1. A pitch change that smoothly glides from one pitch to another.
  2. The synthesiser mode or MIDI command that allows or causes this to happen.

Ported-Case Microphone

A microphone with at least one port (opening behind the diaphragm) in its case.

Post

  1. A position of a send control (or other control) after the main channel fader.
  2. Short for the term Post-Production.

Post Echo

A position of an echo send control after the main channel fader.

Post Production

Production done after a film or video is shot including the recording of replacement dialogue, adding sound effects and the mixing of dialogue, effects and music for the production.

Post Roll

The amount that the tape machine will play past the desired end point.

Pot

  1. Short for the term Potentiometer.
  2. A device that outputs part of the input voltage according to the position of the control’s knob.

Potentiometer

A device that outputs pan of the input voltage according to the position of the control’s knob.

Power

  1. The measurement of the ability of an electrical current to produce light, produce heat or do other work.
  2. A similar measurement of another energy form to do work.
  3. The name of the switch which turns on a device.

Power Amplifier

A device that takes a line-level signal and amplifies it to be able to drive a speaker.

Power Supply

An electrical circuit which supplies voltage and current for devices to operate.

Pre-Amp

A low-noise amplifier designed to take a low-level signal and bring it up to normal line level

Pre/Post Switch

A switch on the input module which determines whether the echo send control comes before or after the main channel fader.

Pre Delay

Delay circuits at the input of a reverberation device causing a delay before the reverberation is heard.

Pre Echo

  1. A repeating of the sound before the reverberation is heard used to simulate reflections caused by a stage.
  2. In Tape Recording, a low-level leakage of sound coming later caused by print through.
  3. In Disc Recording, a similar sound caused by a previous groove deforming a later groove.
  4. A placement of an echo send control before the main channel fader.

Pre Emphasis

A boosting of high frequencies during the recording process to keep the signal above the noise at high frequencies.

Pre Fader

A placement of a send control (or other control) before the main channel fader.

Pre Fader Listen

A solo circuit that allows a channel signal to be heard (and often metered) before the channel fader.

Pre-Mix

  1. Another term for ponging (playing several recorded tracks with sync playback through a console to mix them together and record them on an open track).
  2. To mix together the audio of several devices before sending the composite mix to the main console.
  3. The composite mix of #1 or #2.

Precedence Effect

A factor in human hearing where delay has a much bigger effect on the human perception of the location of the sound source than level does.

Presence

The quality in sound of the instrument (or sound source) being right there next to you.

Presence Frequencies

The range of audio frequencies between 4 kHz and 6 kHz that often, when boosted, increases the sense of presence, especially on voices.

Preset

  1. A programme of a sound done at the factory by the manufacturer.
  2. A set of factory set parameters to give one effect on a signal processing device.

Pressure Gradient Microphone

A microphone whose diaphragm is exposed front and back and diaphragm movement is caused by the pressure difference between its front and back.

Pressure Microphone

A microphone where the diaphragm moves because of the pressure of the sound wave having one side of the diaphragm working against the normal or controlled air pressure inside the microphone case.

Pressure Operated Microphone

A term meaning the same thing as the term Pressure Microphone. See the preceding entry.

Pressure Sensitivity

The feature in a synthesiser or Keyboard Controller of After Touch (a control or operational function of a synthesiser where pressing a key after it has been pressed, and before it is released, will activate a control command that can be set by the player).

Pressure Zone Microphone

The full name for PZM (trademark), Crown’s barrier microphone (a microphone with the head attached closely to a plate, designed to be attached to a larger surface, and which has a half-Omni pickup pattern).

Preview

  1. To play the edit in a digital audio editing system before committing to save it.
  2. In a computer assisted punch in, to have the computer play over the area while switching the monitoring so that the effect of the punch in can be heard before it is performed.Short for preview signal (a signal in disc recording that matches and is earlier than the signal being recorded).

Preview Head

An extra reproduce head on a tape transport used in disc recording that the tape reaches before the regular playback head

Preview Signal

A signal in disc recording that matches and is earlier than the signal being recorded.

Print

  1. The action of a Print Through (unwanted transfer of magnetic flux from one layer of tape to another).
  2. To record (slang definition).

Print Through

The unwanted transfer of magnetic flux from one layer of tape to another.

Processing

  1. A computer performing tasks as programmed.
  2. Short for Signal Processing (changing the sound of the instrument or other sound source with equalisers, limiters, compressors and other devices thereby “processing” them to be recorded onto a master).

Processor

The part of a computer which actually performs task/calculations.

Producer

The ‘director’ of an audio recording project responsible to get a final product of desired quality within a budget.

Production

  1. A recording of a tune, collection of tunes, video or film performance.
  2. The action of directing an audio recording project to get a final product of desired quality within a budget.

Production Studio

A recording studio that specialises in the assembly and mixing of commercials and radio programs from pre-recorded music and effects with newly recorded dialogue.

Program/Programme

  1. The instructions, the action of instructing, or the action of recording instructions for a computer or computer-controlled device to perform certain functions.
  2. A Sound Patch, the sequence of tone generators and modifiers in a synthesiser to obtain a particular sound.
  3. The settings (especially those set at the factory) that will obtain a certain effect in an effects processor.
  4. One selection of recorded music on a CD or DAT.
  5. The audio that is recorded in general.

Programme Number

The number of the pre-recorded selection in a CD or DAT.

Programme Change

A MIDI message for the receiving device to change presets.

Programme Disc

In a computer, the floppy disc that holds the program (to tell the computer how to process and store digital information).

Programme Equalisation

Changing the level of any signal in a certain range of frequencies to accent (or de-emphasise) certain frequency elements of an instrument or sound source and change its tone.

Programme Mode/Programme Switch

A switch which activates the Program Mode (Record Mode) of the monitor section connecting the monitor inputs to the console outputs feeding the multitrack tape recorder (used during the recording session).

Programme Time

In DAT recording, the time indication from the top of one selection.

Programmable

Able to have the parameters changed by the user, especially in a computer controlled device.

Prompt

A set of instructions for the user to follow, which appears on a computer screen.

Proprietary

Describing a function, feature or characteristic owned by one company and available only in units manufactured by that company.

Protocol

A system of digital data where the positioning of the data, and what each bit in the data stream signifies, is according to a standardised format so all devices can properly interpret the data.

Pro Tools

A trade name of Digidesign for a hard disk digital audio recording system

Proximity Effect

In directional microphones, the boost in the microphone’s output for bass frequencies as the mic is moved closer to the sound source. >>> Further information about proximity effect.

Psychoacoustics

The study of how things sound to individuals because of mental or emotional factors.

Puck

Any circular piece of metal, fibre, rubber, etc., which drives something from a rotating power source.

Pulse

A rise and then fall in amplitude, similar to a square wave but staying up for less time than staying down.

Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)

The use of amplitude pulses in magnetic tape to record the digital information bits of digital audio.

Pulse Wave Modulation

Moving smoothly from a square wave to pulse wave according to a control voltage input (usually from a LFO).

Pulse Width

The amount of time that a pulse is at maximum voltage.

Pumping Breathing

The sound of the noise changing volume as the limiter or compressor works.

Punching In and Out

Putting the recorder in record on a previously-recorded track while the tape is playing in sync playback and the singer or musician is singing or playing along is called Punching In.

Pure Tone

A tone without harmonic frequencies except for the fundamental frequency and with a sine wave shape.

PZM

A trademark belonging to Crown for their barrier microphones (a microphone with its head attached closely to a plate, designed to be attached to a larger surface, and which has a half-Omni pickup pattern).