Operating instructions

Glossary of Terms

avoid signal degradation or undesirable audible artifacts, it is absolutely critical that all digital

devices that are interconnected in a system be locked to the same clock.

Clock Distribution – Refers to the process of routing a master clock signal (either from an internal

clock or an external source) to multiple devices by means of multiple outputs, thus removing the need

to cascade the clock through external devices, which can degrade the signal.

D/A - An acronym for “Digital to Analog,” which refers to the conversion of a digital signal to analog.

The 4-710d does not perform D/A conversion.

DAW - An acronym for “Digital Audio Workstation” – that is, any device that can record, play back,

edit, and process digital audio.

dB - Short for “decibel,” a logarithmic unit of measure used to determine, among other things,

power ratios, voltage gain, and sound pressure levels.

dBm - Short for “decibels as referenced to milliwatt,” dissipated in a standard load of 600 ohms.

1 dBm into 600 ohms results in 0.775 volts RMS.

dBV - Short for “decibels as referenced to voltage,” without regard for impedance; thus, one volt

equals one dBV.

DI - Short for “Direct Inject,” a recording technique whereby the signal from a high-impedance

instrument such as electric guitar or bass is routed to a mixer or tape recorder input by means of a

“DI box,” which raises the signal to the correct voltage level at the right impedance.

Digital - Information or data that is stored or communicated as a series of bits (binary digits, with

values of 0 or 1). Digital audio refers to the representation of varying sound pressure levels by means

of a series of numbers. (See “Analog” and “Bit”)

Dither - Minute amounts of shaped noise added intentionally to a digital recording in order to reduce a

form of distortion known as “quantization noise” and aid in low level sound resolution. The 4-710d

performs dithering when set to 16-bit mode.

DSP - Short for “digital signal processing.”

Dual Wire - (sometimes referred to as “Double Wide”) A revised format of AES/EBU data transfer that

accommodates sample rates of 176.4 kHz or 192 kHz. The Dual Wire standard breaks the digital audio

up into two different data streams and transmits them over separate connectors and cables. Dual Wire

mode requires two AES “channels” to transmit a stereo pair of audio channels. Most modern high

resolution digital audio equipment utilizes the newer Single Wire mode, but some legacy devices (such

as some Pro Tools systems) use Dual Wire mode. (See “AES,” “High resolution,” “kHz,” and “Single

Wire”)

Dynamic Microphone - A type of microphone that generates signal with the use of a very thin, light

diaphragm which moves in response to sound pressure. That motion in turn causes a voice coil which

is suspended in a magnetic field to move, generating a small electric current. Dynamic mics are

generally less expensive than condenser or ribbon mics and do not require external power to operate.

Dynamic Range - The difference between the loudest sections of a piece of music and the softest

ones. The dynamic range of human hearing (that is, the difference between the very softest passages

we can discern and the very loudest ones we can tolerate) is considered to be approximately 120 dB.

Modern digital audio devices such as the 4-710d are able to match (or even exceed) that range. (See

“Bit resolution”)

EQ - Short for “Equalization,” a circuit that allows selected frequency areas in an audio signal to be

cut or boosted.