robot_pelican_chin Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Ever read an article about music equipment and understand only a couple of words? When I read something about equipment it sounds like "something something blah blah EQ DI blah blah preamp post gain yada yada" - does anyone know of any good jargonbusting sites or articles for us music simpletons? Seems everyone has there own explanation of what means what and I was looking for something a bit more concrete to help understand the world of music equipment language . Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Good evening, Robot Pelican Chin (or may I call you Robot..?)... No-one is born with the innate knowledge of all this. Mostly it is acquired over time, often by asking the simplest of questions right on the spot where the subject lies. Some are afraid of passing for a fool by admitting their ignorance; the rest of us get ourselves educated by asking exactly these foolish questions, and becoming wiser (or, at least, better informed...). I know of no 'one-stop shop' for any of the jargon, the depth of which will differ from person to person. My recommendation..? Take a deep breath, take the plunge and ask what 'xxxxx' or 'yyyyy' means when you come across the terms. Soon it'll be you explaining these same terms to others. Hope this helps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Use this thread! Anything you don't understand, post it here and you can bet you'll have an explanation in a jiffy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnm93 Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Can I roll this particular ball into motion, then? What are:- DI? and EQ? Ta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Johnm93' timestamp='1390514474' post='2346400'] Can I roll this particular ball into motion, then? What are:- DI? and EQ? Ta. [/quote] DI: Acronym for Direct Injection or Direct Input - The practice or means of sending an instrument's output signal 'directly' to a PA mixing desk, recording input, etc., rather than sending the signal to one's amp and mic-ing the amp's output. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DI_unit"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DI_unit[/url] Conversational example: 'The f***ing soundman shot 48v back up the DI line and borked my rig' EQ: Abbreviation for Equalisation - the practice or means of adjusting the frequency components of an audio signal. Examples of equalisation equipment: a graphic equaliser; 'bass' and 'treble' controls on a hi-fi; the 'tone' control on a radio. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equalization_(audio"]http://en.wikipedia....lization_(audio[/url]) Conversational example: 'The bass guitar sounds too high and zingy in the mix. Can we EQ it back a bit?' [color=#ffffff].[/color] Edited January 23, 2014 by skankdelvar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 DI = Direct Injection, Used for send a balanced line level signal (usually) to mixing desks. EQ = Equalisation (i.e. the tone controls). I've an idea this could become a useful sticky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Oh, and a quick google reveals http://www.behringer.com/news/index.php/beginner-tips-the-language-of-guitar-amplifiers/ Not exactly comprehensive, but doubtless useful for some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 [quote name='Johnm93' timestamp='1390514474' post='2346400'] Can I roll this particular ball into motion, then? What are:- DI? and EQ? Ta. [/quote] Certainly, and well done for putting your hand up. DI = Direct Injection. It's a box which takes a signal from an instrument and renders it compatible with mixing consoles. The signal level, impedance and isolation are all adapted, as well as the physical connectors. There are several types, with different degrees of sophistication. EQ = Equalisation. It can be roughly translated as 'tone control', as in the bass/treble controls of an amp. Can be very much more complex, such as graphic equalisers, but that's it for EQ. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 [quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1390515608' post='2346431']Conversational example: 'The f***ing soundman shot 48v back up the DI line and borked my rig'[/quote] LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 [quote name='Musky' timestamp='1390515766' post='2346436'] Oh, and a quick google reveals http://www.behringer.com/news/index.php/beginner-tips-the-language-of-guitar-amplifiers/ Not exactly comprehensive, but doubtless useful for some. [/quote] So Behringer do know what those things mean, interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 [quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1390516827' post='2346452'] So Behringer do know what those things mean, interesting. [/quote] No, they just reverse engineered them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seashell Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 The trouble is, I read this thread and the words just swim before my eyes. I know you are all being very helpful , but I didn't understand any of it. Like the OP, I wish there was some kind of book. I'm not knocking the great help you get on BC, but it's difficult to read and understand things off a screen when you find it hard to get your head round it at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robot_pelican_chin Posted January 24, 2014 Author Share Posted January 24, 2014 [quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1390515608' post='2346431'] DI: Acronym for Direct Injection or Direct Input - The practice or means of sending an instrument's output signal 'directly' to a PA mixing desk, recording input, etc., rather than sending the signal to one's amp and mic-ing the amp's output. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DI_unit"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DI_unit[/url] Conversational example: 'The f***ing soundman shot 48v back up the DI line and borked my rig' EQ: Abbreviation for Equalisation - the practice or means of adjusting the frequency components of an audio signal. Examples of equalisation equipment: a graphic equaliser; 'bass' and 'treble' controls on a hi-fi; the 'tone' control on a radio. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equalization_(audio"]http://en.wikipedia....lization_(audio[/url]) Conversational example: 'The bass guitar sounds too high and zingy in the mix. Can we EQ it back a bit?' [color=#ffffff].[/color] [/quote] That's really helpful, thanks! What do you mean by 'rig' though? As the above post says, it would be great if there was some sort of book - who know's maybe there is? It would probably save me a few gormless blank looks! Nice to know i'm not the only one! [url="http://www.soundonsound.com/information/Glossary.php"]http://www.soundonsound.com/information/Glossary.php [/url]- found this earlier it's fairly useful, dosn't have all the jargon though. Been spending around 2-3 hours researching graphic EQ and trying to understand my own EQ on my amp... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 (edited) [quote name='seashell' timestamp='1390518328' post='2346476'] The trouble is, I read this thread and the words just swim before my eyes. I know you are all being very helpful , but I didn't understand any of it. Like the OP, I wish there was some kind of book. I'm not knocking the great help you get on BC, but it's difficult to read and understand things off a screen when you find it hard to get your head round it at all. [/quote] Threads = Series of posts (see "Posts"...) that compose a subject or theme for forum discussion Words = Black (usually...) alignments of symbols (aka "letters"...) supposed to comport meaning. Swim = Floating (sometimes...) in a liquid, occasionally used euphemistically Helpful= Full of "help" Knocking = Slang substitute for kyboshing Screen = Means of elimination for unwanted effects or persons. Head = Something to get all this around. Seashell = ... No, I think that's enough for now. Wouldn't want the poor old darlings to get too tired out. ... (No malice intended...) ... Malice = Wicked, evil intentions, willingness to hurt... Edited January 24, 2014 by Dad3353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 [quote name='robot_pelican_chin' timestamp='1390524148' post='2346534'] That's really helpful, thanks! What do you mean by 'rig' though? [/quote] Rig == amp and associated gubbins. Rig generally implies (to me anyway) separate amp head and cab(s) (speaker cabinet(s)) rather than a combo (all in one amp and speaker(s)). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 DP...... [size=4] [/size] [size=4]Digital Performer...... [/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
namefail Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1390524363' post='2346535']Helpful= Full of "help" [/quote] New sig ftw! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Someone help then please Fast neck = A real Players bass = Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 (edited) [quote name='lojo' timestamp='1390555932' post='2346667'] Someone help then please Fast neck = A real Players bass = [/quote] Fast neck: could possibly mean the lacquer is not sticky/is satin/has been attacked with steel wool, but it's no guarantee that anyone will be able to use it fast A real player's bass: I think it's meant to describe one that, while not necessarily ratty has been used, has some evidence of being used and therefore is more suitable for someone who actually plays the thing rather than a collector. But it does smack of redundant hyperbole, for sure. Edited January 24, 2014 by neepheid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassy Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1390524678' post='2346536'] Rig == amp and associated gubbins. Rig generally implies (to me anyway) separate amp head and cab(s) (speaker cabinet(s)) rather than a combo (all in one amp and speaker(s)). [/quote] [size=4]Now you see I've always taken rig to include everything except the bass itself, so would include a combo in that.[/size] [size=4]... but then again if someone asked what rig I was using I would probably include the bass as well![/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 just google the word you want to know, I found out what IBTL and other annoying acronyms mean by doing this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monckyman Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Borked.....(face palm) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I've just read the whole of this book, which is clear, exhaustive and well written. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Sound-Operators-Handbook-Guides/dp/1617805599"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Sound-Operators-Handbook-Guides/dp/1617805599[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyf Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 [quote name='lojo' timestamp='1390555932' post='2346667'] Someone help then please Fast neck = A real Players bass = [/quote] Also, what about? "Plays like butter" = Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zenitram Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Why is recording an instrument sometimes called tracking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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