Music Jargonbusting

[namefail]

Hmm sticky online tings.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1hL_9jiWWY[/media]

[PaulWarning]

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1390727788' post='2348569']
This thread ought to be a sticky but only if someone knows what that means.
[/quote]
sticky, isn't that something to do with internet porn?

[Johnm93]

[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]

Ta very much.

[Johnm93]

[quote name='Musky' timestamp='1390515637' post='2346433']
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]

Tar again...

[Johnm93]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1390515824' post='2346438']
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]

Helps a lot.
Is the lead for a DI coax?

[Johnm93]

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1390562436' post='2346811']


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...s/dp/1617805599[/url]
[/quote]

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about...!

Well, ordering a copy, more acurately...

[Dad3353]

[quote name='Johnm93' timestamp='1390856332' post='2350584']
Helps a lot.
Is the lead for a DI coax?
[/quote]

Yes, all leads (cables...) are coax (shielded...), except speaker and mains cables. The book will help enormously, and we're still all here for questions, of course.

Edited January 27, 2014 by Dad3353

[deepbass5]

Do you need the 1st edition to know where all the wires go Just imagined buying this and it starts at the sound check

[robot_pelican_chin]

Anyone know what it means to 'wind' neck or bridge pickups?

[Roland Rock]

[quote name='robot_pelican_chin' timestamp='1391007795' post='2352203']
Anyone know what it means to 'wind' neck or bridge pickups?
[/quote]
The pickup has two key elements; a magnet, and many turns of wound copper wire.
In order to make the pickup, the copper wire needs to be 'wound' around the pickup's core.
A 'Rewind' is where an old pickup gets the treatment again to rejeuvinate it.
An 'overwound' pickup (I assume) is where it has had more than the usual amount of winding, to obtain a desired tone.

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='robot_pelican_chin' timestamp='1391007795' post='2352203']
Anyone know what it means to 'wind' neck or bridge pickups?
[/quote]

If you think of, say, a jazz bass pickup, the metal parts you see are magnets, but if you take the cover off, you see that wrapped around all those magnets is a lot of copper wire. The process of wrapping the magnets in wire is called winding, and the finished product is often called a coil (hence Jazz bass pickups are known as single-coil pickups - they have one continuous coil of wire around the magnet).

This video might help you understand if my way of explaining wasn't very clear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2IFz9Qcwmk

[Roland Rock]

Tone stack?

[Musky]

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1391068394' post='2352791']
Tone stack?
[/quote]
The tone controls. The term is used pretty much exclusively for the simple Treble, Mid and Bass controls found on traditional amps like Fender and Marshall.

[Mykesbass]

[quote name='Musky' timestamp='1391071690' post='2352819']
The tone controls. The term is used pretty much exclusively for the simple Treble, Mid and Bass controls found on traditional amps like Fender and Marshall.
[/quote]

Don't some describe this more specifically as the way these controls behave - as in "for a Fender style tone stack you want to set the mid......etc" (sorry, not the clearest of comments but I'm sure someone will know what I'm getting at and put it far better)!

[Jonnyboy Rotten]

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1390555932' post='2346667']
A real Players bass =
[/quote]

A bit like 'a drivers car' - its a way that people use to describe something they have to make themselves sound discerning and informed.

[Jonnyboy Rotten]

Anyone know what 'YMMV' means?

I have seen it used in several posts and I don't know if it a musical thing or forum thing...

[Dave Vader]

Your Mileage May Vary

as in, you may think differently about this thing than I do, and have different results if you use it.

[Conan]

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1391072225' post='2352828']
Don't some describe this more specifically as the way these controls behave - as in "for a Fender style tone stack you want to set the mid......etc" (sorry, not the clearest of comments but I'm sure someone will know what I'm getting at and put it far better)!
[/quote]

I always assumed that there was some degree if interaction between the controls in the tone stack...

[url="http://pickroar.com/1003/the-tone-stack-explained-in-english-for-humans/"]http://pickroar.com/...ish-for-humans/[/url]

[url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/fender-alembic-bbe-tone-stack-explained-491699/"]http://www.talkbass....plained-491699/[/url]

[Dad3353]

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1391072225' post='2352828']
Don't some describe this more specifically as the way these controls behave - as in "for a Fender style tone stack you want to set the mid......etc" (sorry, not the clearest of comments but I'm sure someone will know what I'm getting at and put it far better)!
[/quote]

Almost. Each manufacturer has their own way of designing how the tone controls will work, with differing technologies. The classic 'Fender' tone stack (or 'set of tone controls'...) are passive, and will therefore only be able to cut frequencies, not augment them. More modern tone stacks could be active, and able therefore to amplify, not just cut.
The circuitry will determine the ergonomic use, as well. Some tone controls can be set to 'flat' at their mid position (sometimes referred to as '12 o'clock'...), others will be flat at zero, or full on (or even, not ever...).'Flat' in this context means having no effect on the signal, neither boosting nor cutting frequencies.
Hope this helps.

[MiltyG565]

Language is great, isn't it?

For each piece of jargon posted, there are a couple of slightly different responses. This is where things get confusing, because one person's "rig" isn't another person's "rig". Personally, I consider the bass part of the rig.

[Marvin]

What does balanced signal mean? Most often referred in respect of DI.

[Dad3353]

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1391110326' post='2353458']
What does balanced signal mean? Most often referred in respect of DI.
[/quote]

We often refer to electricity as being a 'positive' and 'negative'. We have two wires. Often the screening (or 'earth'...) is used as one of these wires. Ordinary guitar jack cables are like this; the signal goes through the centre wire, and flows back via the screening (also called 'ground'...).
All well and good, and inexpensive, but when we need to use longer cable runs, such a s a 'snake' multipair from stage to console at back of hall, these inexpensive cables pick up interferences (hum, transient spikes...). To reduce this pollution, the signals goes through two distinct wires, which have a common screening. Neither of the signal wires go to earth; they are seperate. Where two pins sufficed for 'unbalanced' jacks, three are required for 'balanced' signals. Microphone XLR cables are an example.
The material using balanced signals will typically be designed for receiving low-level signals, independant from the earth screening. The pins, impedance etc are designed to cater for this. That's the role of the DI.
Any clearer..?

[Marvin]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1391111810' post='2353490']
We often refer to electricity as being a 'positive' and 'negative'. We have two wires. Often the screening (or 'earth'...) is used as one of these wires. Ordinary guitar jack cables are like this; the signal goes through the centre wire, and flows back via the screening (also called 'ground'...).
All well and good, and inexpensive, but when we need to use longer cable runs, such a s a 'snake' multipair from stage to console at back of hall, these inexpensive cables pick up interferences (hum, transient spikes...). To reduce this pollution, the signals goes through two distinct wires, which have a common screening. Neither of the signal wires go to earth; they are seperate. Where two pins sufficed for 'unbalanced' jacks, three are required for 'balanced' signals. Microphone XLR cables are an example.
The material using balanced signals will typically be designed for receiving low-level signals, independant from the earth screening. The pins, impedance etc are designed to cater for this. That's the role of the DI.
Any clearer..?
[/quote]

Perfect explanation, thanks. I won't have a puzzled look on my face when someone mentions it next

[Johnm93]

Here's another.

Does "Scoop" in relation to tone / EQ settings mean something like "A bit of a flat spot"?

Cheers.

[Roland Rock]

[quote name='Johnm93' timestamp='1391367538' post='2356336']
Here's another.

Does "Scoop" in relation to tone / EQ settings mean something like "A bit of a flat spot"?

Cheers.
[/quote]

A "scoop" refers to the mids being at a significantly lower level than the bass and treble (usually bass and treble boosted, and mids flat or even cut) If you picture an EQ section which has sliders, the 'scooped' setting is the one where the sliders are in the shape of a smile.