Glossary: MD4 MINIDISK RECORDER


ATRAC - An acronym for Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding. This is the compression technique used to fit the same amount of data as that of a 120 mm CD on a 64 mm MiniDisc. Using the ATRAC system, the MD4 provides a four-track recording time of 37 minutes. ATRAC uses established psychoacoustic principles to compress audio data to approximately one-fifth of its original size, with virtually no loss in sound quality. The threshold of hearing principle states that the sensitivity of the human ear is frequency dependent. Two tones of the same level but at different frequencies will not be heard at the same loudness. Another principle used is the masking effect. That is, softer sounds become inaudible when louder sounds at similar frequencies are present.

Blank Top - This is the start point of the blank area on a disc. To record a new song on a disc that already contains some songs, you much first locate the Blank Top. See Searching for the Blank Top on page 19 for more information.

Bouncing - See Ping-Pong.

Bus - A common conductor used to collect and distribute audio signals. MD4 has four Group buses that feed the tracks, a Stereo bus consisting of left and right channels, an AUX bus for the AUX SEND, and a CUE bus for the cue monitor.

Clipping - The unwanted distortion effect of overloading an audio circuit with a signal that is too large. Care must be taken when setting MD4 GAIN controls so as not to overload the recording circuits. See Recording the First Track on page 13 for more information.

Cue - There are three kinds of cue on MD4. 1) Monitor CUE. 2) Cue List cue. 3) FF CUE See Monitor CUE, Cue List, and FF CUE.

Cue List - The Cue List function allows you to compile a cue list (i.e., a sequence of cues for playback) using markers. Cues are loaded into memory for continuous, uninterrupted playback. A new song can be created from the Cue List using the Cue List Copy function. See Cue List Playback & Copy on page 42 for more information.

DAT - An acronym for Digital Audio Tape. DAT recorders are especially popular in recording studios for recording the final stereo mix.

DI (Direct Inject) - A technique for connecting an electric guitar or bass guitar directly to a mixer. The high output impedance of the guitar is matched with the low impedance of the mixer input using a DI Box. Some instrument amplifier's feature a DI connection.

EQ - An acronym for an audio equalizer. MD4 input channels feature three-band EQ.

EXE - An abbreviation for Execute. This appears on the MD4 display when you are prompted to confirm a function.

FF CUE - This is the name of the disc transport button that allows you to preview at X2 or X4 normal playback speed.

Footswitch - A foot operated switch. Several MD4 transport functions and the punch in/out function can be controlled using an optional footswitch.

Frame - An integral unit of the MD DATA disc format. One frame can hold 11.6 ms of data (i.e., 512 samples of ATRAC sound data at 44.1 kHz). There are approximately 86 frames in a second.

Group - A group is essentially the same as a track on MD4. That is, when an input channel is assigned to Group 3, the signal is sent to Track 3 for recording.

Line-Level Signal - A signal in the range from -20 dB to +20 dB. These are essentially high-level signals. Most audio equipment outputs signals at line level. All MD4 inputs and outputs support line-level signals. Contrast with Low-Level Signal.

Low-Level Signal - A signal in the range from -100 dB to -20 dB. Microphone and electric guitar signals are in this range. MD4 MIC/LINE inputs support low-level signals. Contrast with Line-Level Signal.

MiniDisc - A compact data storage medium designed to store music. MiniDiscs come in two varieties: playback only and recordable. MiniDiscs can be recorded and played by MD4. See also Random Access, ATRAC, and MD DATA Disc.

MD DATA Disc - A compact data storage medium designed to store computer-type data. Although similar to MiniDiscs, they are not interchangeable. MD DATA discs come in two varieties: playback only and rewritable. MD4 uses the rewritable type for recording.

MIDI - An acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. An internationally agreed standard that allows electronic musical instruments and audio equipment to communicate.

MIDI Timecode - See MTC.

Mixdown - The process of mixing the individual track signals into a well-balanced stereo mix. Mixdown is the final stage of the multitrack recording process.

Monitor CUE - The cue monitor allows you to monitor individual tracks as they are being recorded or played back. In Record Pause mode and during recording, the CUE monitor source is the signal being recorded (i.e., the input signal). For playback the CUE monitor source is from disc (i.e., the signal that was recorded to disc). This is useful with the punch in/out functions, because you can monitor the recorded signal up to the specified IN point, and then the new signal that's being recorded up to the OUT point.

MTC (MIDI Timecode) - An addition to the MIDI Standard that allows audio equipment to be synchronized. MD4 can supply MTC to a MIDI sequencer for synchronized operation.

Multitracker - An all-in-one recording and mixing device usually with four or eight tracks. MD4 is the first multitracker to use the MD DATA disc format.

Nominal Level - See Operating Level.

One-Take Recording - A recording technique in which all sounds are recorded in one go (i.e., no overdubs). This is used for live recording.

Operating Level - This is the signal level at which a piece of audio equipment is designed to operate. The two most common operating levels are -10 dBV (316 mV), which is used for semiprofessional equipment, and +4 dBu (1.23 V), which is used for professional equipment.

Overdub Recording - The process of recording additional sounds while listening to previously recorded sounds. It allows songs to built up track-by-track.

Panning - A technique used to position sounds in a stereo mix.

PB - An abbreviation for Playback. This abbreviation appears next to the input selector switch on each input channel and is used to select the disc signal as the source for the input channel.

Phone Jack - A 1/4-inch socket commonly used on audio equipment.

Phono Jack - Also know as an RCA jack, this type of connector is often used on semiprofessional audio and video equipment.

Ping-Pong - A recording technique used to transfer (i.e., mix and rerecord) one or more tracks to other tracks to free up those tracks for further recording. MD4 allows you to record on all four tracks and then ping-pong (i.e., four-track playback with ping-pong). A feature unique to MD4.

Pre-Roll Time - For Auto Punch In/Out, this is the time before the IN point at which playback starts. See Setting the Pre-Roll / Post-Roll Times on page 28 for more information.

Post Fader - A point in the signal path after a fader. The signals for the MD4 AUX controls are sourced post-fader. So as well as turn up the AUX control, you must also raise the fader. This has the advantage that the level of the processed signal from the external effects processor is controlled in unison with the unprocessed signal that is controlled by the fader.

Post-Roll Time - For Auto Punch In/Out, this is the time after the OUT point at which playback stops.

Program - A compilation of songs for custom playback.

Punch In/Out - A recording technique that allows you to rerecord specific sections of an existing track. MD4 provides both manual and automatic punch in/out operations.

Random Access - The ability to access data instantly. The MD4 quick locate functions allow you to locate any point instantly. Tape-based recorders do not have random access capabilities because they have to wind a tape, which takes time.

Signal - Sounds travel through audio equipment as electrical signals.

Signal to Noise Ratio (S/N) - In an audio system, the difference between the nominal signal level and the residual noise floor, usually expressed as a ratio in decibels. It's used as a measure of an audio system-s noise performance.

TOC - An acronym for Table Of Contents. An area of the MD DATA disc used to store information about what is recorded on the disc, the disc title, song titles, and so on.

Tracking - The process of recording sounds to tracks on a audio recorder. Also know as laying down tracks and just plain simple recording. Tracking is the first stage of the multitrack recording process.

Unity Gain - A gain of one. That is, the signal is output from a circuit at the same level at which it entered. Once passed the MIC/LINE amplifier, a unity gain system minimizes signal noise and distortion. The unity gain position for MD4 faders is at the 7-8 mark.

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