returnshelving
A return is a mixer line input dedicated toA term used to describe the shape of an
the task of returning processed or addedequalizerOs frequency response. A shelving
sound from reverb, echo and other effectsequalizerOs response begins to rise (or fall) at
devices. Depending on the internal routing ofsome frequency and continues to fall (or rise)
your mixer and your own inclination, you coulduntil it reaches the shelf frequency, at which
use returns as additional line inputs, or youpoint the response curve flattens out and re-
could route your reverb outputs to ordinarymains flat to the limits of audibility. If you were
line inputs rather than the returns.to graph the response, it would look like a shelf.
reverberation, reverbOr more like a shelf than a hiking boot. The EQ
The sound remaining in a room after thecontrols on your stereo are usually shelving
source of sound is stopped. ItOs what you hear inequalizers. See also peaking and dipping.
a large tiled room immediately after youOveslap, slapback
clapped your hands. Reverberation and echo areA single-delay echo without any repeats.
terms that can be used interchangeably, but inAlso see echo.
audio parlance a distinction is usually made:solo
reverberation is considered to be a diffuse,Italian for alone. In audio mixers, a solo
continuously smooth decay of sound, whereascircuit allows the engineer to listen to indi-
echo is a distinct, recognizable repetition of avidual channels, buses or other circuits singly
word, note, phrase or sound. Reverberation andor in combination with other soloed signals.
echo can be added in sound mixing by sendingSR
the original sound to an electronic (or elec-An acronym for Sound Reinforcement,
tronic/acoustic) system that mimics naturalwhich refers to a system of amplifying acoustic
reverberation, or worse. The added reverb isand electronic sounds from a performance or
returned to the blend through additional mixerspeech so that a large audience can hear
inputs. Highly reverberant rooms are called live;clearly. Or, in popular music, so that a large
rooms with very little reverberation are calledaudience can be excited, stunned or even
dead. A sound source without added reverb ispartially deafened by the tremendous amplifi-
dry; one with reverb or echo added is wet.cation. Means essentially the same thing as PA
RMS(Public Address).
An acronym for root mean square, a con-stereo
ventional way to measure AC voltage andBelieve it or not, stereo comes from a
audio signal voltage. Most AC voltmeters areGreek word that means solid. We use stereo
calibrated to read RMS volts. Other conven-or stereophony to describe the illusion of a
tions include average volts, peak volts andcontinuous, spacious soundfield that is seem-
peak-to-peak volts.ingly spread around the listener by two or
sendmore related audio signals. In practice, stereo
A term used to describe a secondary mixoften is taken to simply mean two channels.
and output of the input signals, typicallysweep EQ
used for foldback monitors, headphoneAn equalizer that allows you to Osweep� or
monitors, or effects devices. Mackie mixerscontinuously vary the frequency of one or
call it an Aux Send.more sections.
symmetrically balanced
See balanced.
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