mixernoise floor
An electronic device used to combine variousThe residual level of noise in any system. In
audio signals into a common output. Differenta well designed mixer, the noise floor will be a
from a blender, which combines various fruitsquiet hiss, which is the thermal noise gener-
into a common libation.ated by bouncing electrons in the transistor
monauraljunctions. The lower the noise floor and the
Literally, pertaining to or having the use ofhigher the headroom, the more usable
only one ear. In sound work, monaural has to dodynamic range a system has.
with a signal which, for purposes of communi-pan, pan pot
cating audio information, has been confined to aShort for panoramic potentiometer. A pan
single channel. One microphone is a monopot is used to position (or even move back and
pickup; many microphones mixed to one chan-forth) a monaural sound source in a stereo
nel is a mono mix; a mono signal played throughmixing field by adjusting the sourceOs volume
two speakers is still mono, since it only carriesbetween the left and right channels. Our
one channel of information. Several monauralbrains sense stereo position by hearing this dif-
sources, however, can be panned into a stereoference in loudness when the sound strikes
(or at least two-channel, if you are going to beeach ear, taking into account time delay, spec-
picky) mix. Monaural SR is common for envi-trum, ambient reverberation and other cues.
ronments where stereo SR would provide anparametric EQ
uneven reproduction to the listener.A Ofully� parametric EQ is an extremely
monitorpowerful equalizer that allows smooth, con-
In sound reinforcement, monitor speakers (ortinuous control of each of the three primary
monitor headphones or in-the-ear monitors) areEQ parameters (frequency, gain, and band-
those speakers used by the performers to hearwidth) in each section independently. OSemi�
themselves. Monitor speakers are also calledparametric EQs allow control of fewer param-
foldback speakers. In recording, the monitoreters, usually frequency and gain (i.e., they
speakers are those used by the production staff tohave a fixed bandwidth, but variable center
listen to the recording as it progresses. In zoology,frequency and gain).
the monitor lizard is the lizard that observes thepeaking
production staff as the recording progresses.The opposite of dipping, of course. A peak
Keep the lizard out of the mixer.is an EQ curve that looks like a hill, or a
monopeak. Peaking with an equalizer amplifies a
Short for monaural.band of frequencies.
multPFL
Probably short for multiple. In audio work,An acronym for Pre Fade Listen. Broadcast-
a mult is a parallel connection in a patch bayers would call it cueing. Sound folks call it being
or a connection made with patch cords toable to solo a channel with the fader down.
feed an output to more than one input. A OY�phantom power
cable is a type of mult connection. Also aA system of providing electrical power for
verb, as in OWhy did you mult the flanger intocondenser microphones (and some electronic
every input in the board?�pickup devices) from the sound mixer. The
noisesystem is called phantom because the power
Whatever you donOt want to hear. Could beis carried on standard microphone audio
hum, buzz or hiss; could be crosstalk or digitalwiring in a way that is Oinvisible� to ordinary
hash or your neighborOs stereo; could be whitedynamic microphones. Mackie mixers use
noise or pink noise or brown noise; or it couldstandard +48 volt DC power, switchable on or
be your mother-in-law reliving the day she hadoff. Most quality condenser microphones are
her gallstone removed.designed to use +48 VDC phantom power.
Check the manufacturerOs recommendations.
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