Glossary

A-D Converter A-D Resolution ADC Bit-Depth ADC Dynamic Range ADC Sampling-Rate Analog Input Range Analog Inputs Audio Input Impedance Automixer Bandwidth (Audio) Channel Separation Clipping Level Clock Accuracy Control Surface D-A Converter D-A Resolution DAC Bit-Depth DAC Dynamic Range DAC Sampling Rate Digital Dropout Protection Digital Modulation Digital Spread Spectrum Distortion Dual Disk Recording Dynamic Range Effects Emission Designator Encrypted Audio File Format Fixed Point DSP Floating Point DSP Frequency Block Frequency Response Headroom High Pass Filter Hirose Impedance Input Range Input Voltage Intermodulation Intermodulation Resistance Internal Recording MARF Media Mic Impedance Mic Level Input Range Micro LEMO Miniature Recorder Mirror Card Format Mixer Mixer Cross Point NeverClip™ Notch Filter Output Voltage Power Consumption PowerRoll™ PreRecord Primary Card Format Radio Frequency (RF) RF Amp IP3 RF Amp Noise Figure RF Filter Band Pass RF Frequency Range RF Gain Input/Output RF Impedance RF Input Connector RF Modulation RF Output Connectors RF Tuning Range Sample Rate Sample Rate Converter Sample Rate Range Slate Mic Input System Group Delay TA5 THD + Noise Timecode Trimpot ZaxNet™ ZaxNet™ QC Audio ZaxNet™ Remote Control ZHD Modulation

A-D Converter

A device that converts a linear analog signal to a digital stream of 0s and 1s

A-D Resolution

The number of bits generated by a converter representing the level of an analog signal

ADC Bit-Depth

Same as A-D resolution

ADC Dynamic Range

The audio output range of an analog and digital converter from the noise floor of a device to its specified maximum output level

ADC Sampling-Rate

The number of samples generated per second

Analog Input Range

The highest audio level that a device can withstand before clipping

Analog Inputs

A connection to an analog device where audio is represented in a continuous linear analog format

Audio Input Impedance

The impedance or resistance that is presented to a device that’s connected to an audio input

Automixer

A software based algorithm that determines the fader level of an input based on the audio on that input as well as other associated inputs

Bandwidth (Audio)

The difference between the minimum and maximum frequencies that an audio device can reproduce.

Channel Separation

The minimum frequency spacing required between channels of wireless microphones.

Clipping Level

The maximum level an input obtain without distortion

Clock Accuracy

The amount of drift over time or temperature of a clock source to a known standard

Control Surface

A mixing panel that allows for external control of the mixer inside the host recorder

D-A Converter

A device that converts a digital bit stream to a linear analog wave form

D-A Resolution

The smallest output voltage change a digitizer can generate.

DAC Bit-Depth

The number of bits in a digital to analog conversion.

DAC Dynamic Range

The audio output range of a digital to analog converter from the noise floor of a device to its specified maximum output level.

DAC Sampling Rate

The number of samples generated per second by a D to A converter.

Digital Dropout Protection

A system for replacing lost audio due to a temporary loss of data.

Digital Modulation

The transmission of audio data as a stream of 1's and 0's at a specific bit rate

Digital Spread Spectrum

A system that utilizes more than the required radio Frequency (RF) bandwidth to realize an improvement in transmission reliability.

Distortion

The difference between an intended signal and the resulting signal after being processed as measured in percentage or dB.

Dual Disk Recording

Recording to two media at the same time.

Dynamic Range

The ratio between the noise floor to the clipping level (can also be written DR or DNR)

Effects

Audio processing that alters the character of a signal for artistic enhancement or noise reduction.

Emission Designator

An FCC required label that helps to describe the characteristics of a radio frequency (RF) transmission.

Encrypted Audio

Audio that has been specially encoded to eliminate the possibility of unintended listeners from monitoring.

File Format

A common method of storing data that allows the interchange of files between computers

Fixed Point DSP

A DSP that natively computes math in integer format, which has a limited dynamic range.

Floating Point DSP

A DSP that natively computes math in a floating-point format that has a virtually infinite dynamic range.

Frequency Block

The range of frequencies from minimum to maximum that a transmitter or receiver can operate in.

Frequency Response

The minimum to maximum frequency range that an audio device can reporduce.

Headroom

The amount of audio range above zero dB before clipping or other distortion.

High Pass Filter

A circuit or algorithm that eliminates audio response below the cutoff frequency.

Hirose

A brand of connector

Impedance

The measurement of the opposition that a circuit presents to a current when a voltage is applied.

Input Range

The audio input range from noise floor to clipping

Input Voltage

In the context of powering on gear, the recommended voltage needed to operate a device

Intermodulation

The unintended mixing of two or more signals, usually caused by radio frequency (RF) overload

Intermodulation Resistance

The ability of a receiver to receive high level radio signals without unintentional mixing

Internal Recording

The ability to record audio within a device where the function is a feature

MARF

Mobile Audio Recording Format - a Zaxcom proprietary file format that incorporates embedded directories eliminating data loss, preventing file corruption

Media

The physical receptacle that stores data

Mic Impedance

The output drive capability of a microphone measured in ohms

Mic Level Input Range

The level at which audio can be detected to the audio level that would cause clipping or limiting

Micro LEMO

Connector made by the LEMO corporation

Miniature Recorder

Body-pack sized recorder with timecode

Mirror Card Format

The format the recorder will output audio data in on the mirror card or secondary drive

Mixer

A device that can combine multiple audio signals to make a mix track

Mixer Cross Point

A connection from input to output or recording track

NeverClip™

A patented method of utilizing two A-D converters to extend the dynamic range so there's no limiter distortion

Notch Filter

A very narrow frequency band filter that attenuates unwanted sound within an audio system

Output Voltage

The level of power in volts that a device can source

Power Consumption

The amount of energy used by a device measured in watts

PowerRoll™

The ability to remotely control a transmitters output power tied to the record and stop function of a recorder as a way to increase battery life

PreRecord

The ability to record audio for an amount of time before the record function is activated on a recorder

Primary Card Format

The file system used to record audio on the Primary memory card

Radio Frequency (RF)

A radio frequency (RF) channel utilized by a transmitter or receiver for RF communication
Also, a frequency which a transmitter or receiver is operating

RF Amp IP3

A measurement of intermodulation resistance

RF Amp Noise Figure

A measure of induced radio frequency (RF) noise caused by the amplification of a radio signal (the lower the better)

RF Filter Band Pass

The size of the window that frequencies will pass through, typically measured in MHz

RF Frequency Range

A group of frequencies from a minimum to a maximum

RF Gain Input/Output

The amount of amplification or attenuation from an input to an output – Gain can be both positive and negative (negative is attenuation)

RF Impedance

The ratio of voltage to currant of any system for transmission

RF Input Connector

A connection to receive radio frequency (RF) energy from an external device

RF Modulation

A method of encoding information on an radio frequency (RF) carrier for transmission

RF Output Connectors

A connection to output radio frequency (RF) energy to an external device

RF Tuning Range

The minimum to maximum frequencies a device can be operated in

Sample Rate

The number of samples per second that digital audio can be processed or converted

Sample Rate Converter

A device which can translate audio from one sample rate to a different sample rate. It can also be used to lock together two devices operating at the same sample rate with a different clock source

Sample Rate Range

Minimum to the maximum range of sample rates used by any device

Slate Mic Input

An input that will accept audio from an external microphone

System Group Delay

The amount of time required for audio to pass from an input to an output

TA5

5-Pin Switchcraft connector, typically used for audio

THD + Noise

A measure of audio quality, THD stands for Total Harmonic Distortion

Timecode

A standard that allows for different devices to synchronize their clocks via a hard-wired connection or RF transmission

Trimpot

An adjustment used to calibrate an audio device

ZaxNet™

An RF transmission system to broadcast timecode, remote control, and IFB audio on a single 2.4 GHz transmission

ZaxNet™ QC Audio

A ZaxNet™ transmission from a transmitter or ZFR recorder for the purpose of checking audio quality via an ERX receiver

ZaxNet™ Remote Control

The ability to remotely control transmitter functions like microphone gain over 100s of feet with no need to touch the talent

ZHD Modulation

Zaxcom High Density modulation mode is used to fit a large number of wireless signals into a relatively small frequency spectrum, ideal for reflective environments