User Manual
DL16S • DL32S Owner’s Manual
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dBu — A unit of measurement of audio signal voltage in an electrical circuit, expressed in decibels referenced to 0.775 VRMS
into any impedance. Commonly used to describe signal levels within a modern audio system.
Decibel (dB) — The dB is a ratio of quantities measured in similar terms using a logarithmic scale. Many audio system
parameters measure over such a large range of values that the dB is used to simplify the numbers. A ratio of 1000:1 = 60 dB.
Since dB is a unitless quantity, it doesn’t matter if it’s volts or dollars. (Just try asking the chief engineer for a 3 dB raise).
When one of the terms in the ratio is an agreed upon standard value, such as 1.23 V, 1 V or 1 mw, the ratio becomes an absolute
value. For example, +4 dBu, –10 dBV or 0 dBm.
Delay — Delay “delays” the audio signal for a short period of time. Delay can refer to one short repeat, a series of repeats
or the complex interactions of delay used in chorusing or reverb.
Dipping — The opposite of peaking, of course, used in audio to describe the shape of a frequency response curve.
A dip in an EQ curve looks like a valley, or a dip. Dipping with an equalizer reduces a range of frequencies. (See guacamole).
Doubling — A delay eect where the original signal is mixed with a medium (20 to 50 ms) delayed copy of itself.
When used carefully, this eect can simulate double-tracking [recording a voice or instrument twice].
Dry — Dry means without eects. It is just the signal alone; no reverb, no delay, etc.
DSP — Digital Signal Processing accomplishes the same functions found in analog signal processors, but performs them
mathematically in the digital domain, with more precision and accuracy than its analog counterpart. Since DSP is a sofware-
based process, parameters and processing functions are easily changed and updated be revising the Master Fader app.
Dynamic Microphone — The class of microphones that generate electrical signals by the movement of a coil in a magnetic field.
Dynamic microphones are rugged, relatively inexpensive, capable of very good performance and do not require external power.
Dynamics Processor — A type of processor that only aects the overall amplitude level of the signal (sometimes as a function
of its frequency content), such as a gate, compressor, or limiter.
Dynamic Range — The range between the maximum and minimum sound levels that a sound system can handle.
It is usually expressed in decibels as the dierence between the level at peak clipping and the level of the noise floor.
Echo — The reflection of sound from a surface such as a wall or floor. Reverberation and echo are terms that are ofen used
interchangeably, but in audio parlance a distinction is usually made: echo is considered to be a distinct, recognizable repetition
(or series of repetitions) of a word, note, phrase or sound, whereas reverberation is a diuse, continuously smooth decay
of sound.
EIN — Equivalent Input Noise. A specification that helps measure the “quietness” of a gain stage by deriving the equivalent input
noise voltage necessary to obtain a given preamp’s output noise. Numerically, it’s the output noise at a given gain setting minus
the gain. EIN is usually measured at a maximum gain and typically ranges from -125 to -130 dBu.
EQ — Short for equalization.
EQ Curve — A graph of the response of an equalizer, with frequency on the x (horizontal) axis and amplitude (level)
on the y (vertical) axis. Equalizer types and eects are ofen named afer the shape of the graphed response curve,
such as peak, dip, bell and shelf.
Equalization — Long for EQ. Equalization refers to purposefully changing the frequency response of a circuit, sometimes
to correct for previous unequal response (hence the term, equalization), and more ofen to boost or cut the level at certain
frequencies for sound enhancement, to remove extraneous sounds, or to create completely new and dierent sounds.
A lot of how we refer to equalization has to do with what a graph of the frequency response looks like. A flat response (no EQ)
is a straight line; a peak looks like a hill, a dip is a valley, a notch is a really skinny valley, and a shelf looks like a plateau
(or shelf). The slope is the grade of the hill on the graph.
Fader — Another name for an audio level control.
Glossary Of Terms Continued...