100 volts |
A clever system that sends sound over long distances without losing power, ideal for providing sound in a large room or at an outdoor event. |
AES/EBU |
A professional way to transmit crystal-clear digital sound between devices without any loss of quality, for awesome setups! |
Power |
The “power outlet” for your devices, giving them the energy they need to rock your parties, whether with a classic transformer or a modern system. |
Alternating (voltage, current, signal) |
A current that changes direction all the time, like the electricity in your home or the sound coming out of your speakers. |
Amplifier, amp |
The star that boosts sound or energy so your speakers can deliver heavy bass without distorting the music. |
Ampere |
A unit that measures the strength of the electric current, much like the fuel that makes your amps and speakers roar. |
Analog |
A signal that varies smoothly, like a wave, used in classic equipment for a natural, warm sound. |
Slave |
A smart speaker with a built-in amp and electronics that adjust the sound to be perfect for your party. |
Asymmetrical |
A simple connection where a wire is connected to the ground, often used with coaxial cables for easy setups. |
Attenuator |
A small tool that lowers the volume when the sound is too loud, to prevent your party from turning into a noisy mess! |
Auxiliary |
A bonus output on your console to send sound to stage monitors or effects without affecting the main mix. |
Balance |
The setting that balances the sound between left and right or between different instruments, so that everyone can enjoy the atmosphere. |
Balanced |
A professional (balanced) connection that reduces noise for clear sound, even with long cables. |
Frequency band |
The sound ranges (bass, midrange, treble) that a device can handle, like a palette for painting the atmosphere of your party. |
Bandwidth |
The range of frequencies that your gear can reproduce without faltering, for clear sound from low to high. |
Coupling bar |
A handy clip for attaching two microphones together, perfect for capturing stereo sound at your events. |
Bass EQ |
A magic button on your amp to boost the bass and make the floor shake with every beat! |
Bass reflex |
A speaker design with a hole (vent) that enhances the bass for a deeper, punchier sound. |
Low frequency (LF) |
Low frequencies that make your body vibrate, like the bass in an electronic track. |
Bi-amplification |
A technique that uses two amplifiers in one speaker for even more precise and powerful bass and treble. |
Shielding |
Invisible armor that protects your devices from interference, for sound and lighting without glitches. |
Windscreen |
A small foam clip that attaches to a microphone to block wind or pops when you talk or sing. |
Boomer (loudspeaker) |
The star bass speaker that rocks your parties with thumping bass. |
DI box |
A box that makes the sound of your instrument or microphone clearer and compatible with your console for a professional mix. |
Bridge |
A mode where your amp combines its two channels to send maximum power to a single speaker. |
BT connection |
Bluetooth connectivity to stream your music wirelessly, quickly and easily for your parties. |
Bus: group, subgroup |
A way to group multiple sounds on a console and send them together, like a conductor for your party. |
Bypass |
A button that disables an effect or device to leave the sound raw and unadulterated. |
Subwoofer |
A large speaker dedicated to deep bass, perfect for shaking the dance floor. |
Sensor |
A gadget (such as a microphone) that transforms sound or light into an electrical signal for your equipment. |
Cardioid |
A microphone that picks up sound mainly from one direction, shaped like a heart, ideal for isolating a voice or instrument. |
Channel |
A channel on your console where you plug in a microphone or instrument to mix it. |
Cinch - RCA |
A standard connector for plugging in your audio devices, often used at home or for simple setups. |
Class, amplification class |
The operating mode of your amp, which determines how it boosts the sound (A, B, D, etc.) for maximum efficiency. |
Cluster |
A group of speakers or lights hung together to cover a large area with sound or effects. |
Compact Disc - CD |
A disc that contains your music in high quality, up to 80 minutes for your retro parties! |
Compression |
An effect that reduces the differences between loud and soft sounds for a more balanced and professional mix. |
Capacitor |
A component that stores energy and lets audio signals pass through for smooth sound. |
Control room |
The room where you mix and listen to sound in the studio, with special speakers for accurate sound. |
Physiological equalizer – Loudness |
A setting that boosts bass and treble at low volumes so the sound stays rich and vibrant. |
Response curve |
The way your gear handles frequencies, so you know if it's reproducing bass, midrange, and treble well. |
Coverage |
The area where your speaker sends sound or light in the best way to cover the whole party. |
Lapel |
A tiny microphone that clips onto your clothes, perfect for talking or singing discreetly. |
Crossover |
A filter that separates bass, midrange, and treble to send the right sound to the right speaker. |
Peak meter |
A tool that shows the peak volume of your sound to prevent clipping. |
Cue-PFL |
A feature to listen to a track on your console without playing it for everyone else. |
Cut |
A button to mute sound cleanly, perfect for smooth DJ transitions. |
Coaxial cable |
A cable with a central wire and shielding for clear sound, even over long distances. |
dB |
A unit that measures the volume or intensity of the sound, so you know if it's loud or not! |
dBspl |
A sound level meter, so you can see if your gear is rocking the room or staying discreet. |
Crosstalk |
When sound “leaks” from one track to another, creating a slight background noise. |
Digital |
A digitized sound (in 0s and 1s) for modern, precise quality. |
Light-emitting diode (LED) |
A small light that turns on when plugged in, used in projectors for colorful, eco-friendly effects. |
Directivity |
The direction in which a microphone or speaker best sends or picks up sound. |
Display |
Your device's screen, which shows you settings or information to manage your event. |
Distortion |
When sound is distorted, sometimes intentionally (like on an electric guitar) or to be avoided for a clear sound. |
Diversity |
A system for picking up wireless signals without interruption, choosing the best reception. |
DMX |
The conductor of your lights! Control colors, movements, and intensity for shows that rock. |
Dolby |
Pro technology that reduces noise for cleaner sound. |
Dynamic |
The difference between the loudest and softest sounds, for a mix that breathes. |
De-esser |
A tool that softens overly aggressive “s” and “ch” sounds in a microphone, for a more pleasant voice. |
Delay |
An effect that repeats the sound with a slight delay, for a richer atmosphere. |
Echo |
An effect where the sound bounces around, like in a cave, to add depth to your music. |
Graphic equalizer |
A tool for adjusting the volume of bass, midrange, or treble to sculpt the perfect sound. |
Electret |
A type of condenser microphone that maintains a magnetic field to capture sound accurately. |
Active speaker |
A speaker with its own built-in amp, ready to rock your party. |
Bass reflex speaker |
A speaker with a hole that boosts the bass for a deeper, more powerful sound. |
Monitor speaker |
A speaker that allows musicians to hear their sound on stage, also known as a “monitor.” |
Passive speaker |
A speaker that requires an external amplifier to produce sound, offering greater flexibility for professionals. |
Satellite speaker |
A small speaker for midrange and treble frequencies, often paired with a subwoofer for bass. |
AUX input |
A jack for connecting your phone or other device directly to your audio system. |
USB input |
A jack for connecting a USB stick or computer to play your music easily. |
USB-C input |
A modern jack for connecting devices, charging, or streaming audio and video. |
Flight case |
A sturdy case for transporting your gear safely, with or without wheels. |
Gain |
A control that boosts the volume of a signal, so your microphone or music sounds loud. |
Gate |
A tool that cuts out low noise for a clean sound without interference. |
Ground |
The zero reference point for your circuit, to avoid annoying buzzing. |
HF, High Frequency |
Frequencies used for microphones or wireless systems, so you can move around freely. |
Hi-Fi |
High-quality sound that reproduces music as it was recorded, without distortion. |
HP |
Abbreviation for loudspeaker or speaker, the heart of your sound system. |
Harmonic |
The small vibrations that give a sound its “character,” such as the tone of a guitar. |
Hertz - Hz |
The measurement of frequencies, which tells you how many times per second a sound vibrates. |
High-pass filter |
A filter that lets high frequencies pass and cuts low frequencies for clear, crisp sound. |
Hypercardioid |
A super-precise microphone that picks up sound from one direction and ignores almost everything else. |
Impedance |
The resistance of a device to current, measured in ohms, to ensure your equipment is properly matched. |
Infrabass |
Ultra-deep bass (20-50 Hz) that makes your body vibrate, especially with electronic music! |
Input – IN |
The input where you plug in your microphone, turntable, or instrument. |
Insert |
A point to add an effect (such as a compressor) in the sound path. |
Intelligibility (index) |
The clarity with which speech can be understood in a room, for clear announcements or singing. |
Intercom |
A system for the technical team to communicate during an event, like walkie-talkies. |
Jack (6.35 / 3.5) |
A standard jack for connecting instruments, headphones, or microphones, in mono or stereo. |
Larsen, Larsen effect - feedback |
That annoying hissing sound when a microphone picks up the sound from the speaker, to be avoided for a clean evening! |
Level |
The volume level of a track in your mix, to balance the atmosphere. |
Line check |
A check before the show to make sure all microphones and cables are working properly. |
Limiter |
A safeguard that prevents the sound from becoming too loud and saturating. |
Linear |
An amplifier or circuit that reproduces sound without distorting it, for perfect fidelity. |
Loudness |
A setting that boosts bass and treble at low volumes for a richer sound at home. |
Loudspeaker |
Another name for a speaker, which plays your music in the room. |
Low-pass filter |
A filter that lets bass through and cuts treble for heavy bass. |
Magnetophone |
An old device for recording on magnetic tape, like the cassettes of yesteryear. |
Mains |
The main power supply that powers all your equipment. |
Master-slave |
A system where one device (master) controls another (slave), like a console that controls lights. |
Mass |
The zero point of your circuit, to avoid interference and keep the sound clear. |
MIDI |
A language for connecting instruments or devices to a computer to control sounds or lights. |
Phasing |
The art of aligning your speakers or microphones so that the sound comes out at the same time, without any delay. |
Mixing |
The art of mixing multiple sounds to create the perfect atmosphere for your party. |
Monitor |
A special speaker for studios, calibrated for hyper-precise sound. |
Monitor (wedge) |
A speaker placed on the floor so that musicians can hear each other on stage. |
Mono, monophony |
Sound that comes out of a single channel, without stereo effects, simple but effective. |
MP3 |
A format that compresses music to save space, with decent sound for parties. |
Multi-effect |
A device that adds cool effects (reverb, echo, distortion) to pimp your sound. |
Multi-amplification |
Use multiple amps for each part of a speaker for ultra-detailed sound. |
Multipair - snake |
A large cable that combines several lines, so you can connect lots of equipment without clutter. |
Mute, muting |
A button to mute a track, ideal for DJ transitions. |
Noise gate |
A tool that blocks low noise for clean, interference-free sound. |
Ohm (O) |
The unit that measures electrical resistance, important for connecting speakers and amplifiers. |
Optical |
A fiber optic connection for super clear, interference-free digital sound. |
Output - Out |
The output where the sound comes out of your device, ready to rock the crowd. |
PA |
A system for broadcasting announcements or music in large spaces, such as a stadium. |
PZM |
A special microphone that picks up sound using a surface (such as a table) for a natural effect. |
Pad |
A control to lower the volume of a signal that is too loud on a console. |
Panoramic |
A control to place the sound on the left, right, or center for a lively stereo soundstage. |
Parametric (equalizer) |
An equalizer where you can adjust everything (frequencies, volume, width) to sculpt your sound. |
Bandpass |
A filter that lets a range of frequencies through and cuts the rest for a targeted sound. |
Low-pass |
A filter that keeps the low frequencies and cuts the high frequencies for heavy bass. |
High-pass |
A filter that keeps the treble and cuts the bass for a clear, precise sound. |
Patch |
A box for easily connecting multiple devices, like a hub for your gear. |
Peak |
The moment when the sound reaches its maximum volume, to watch out for to avoid clipping. |
PFL – CUE |
A function for listening to a track solo, without playing it to the audience. |
Phase (setting) |
The action of aligning sounds so that they come out at the same time for a clean effect. |
Phono |
A turntable input with a special setting for the best vintage sound. |
Pitch |
A setting to speed up or slow down the music, perfect for DJs who play with tempo. |
Frequency plan |
Frequency organization to avoid interference, like a battle plan for your event. |
Weighting, weighted (measurement) |
A way to filter the sound before measuring it, for more accurate results. |
Potentiometer |
A button or slider to adjust the volume or an effect, like the boss of your mix. |
Sound projector |
A speaker that sends the sound exactly where you want it, for a targeted atmosphere. |
Preamp, preamplifier |
A booster for weak signals, such as those from a microphone, before sending them to the amp. |
Microphone priority |
A function that lowers the music when you speak into the microphone, for clear announcements. |
Public address |
A system for broadcasting messages or music in large spaces, such as a festival. |
Musical power |
A slightly exaggerated measurement of an amp's power, to impress the crowds! |
Power handling capacity |
The maximum power your speaker can handle without burning out. |
Peak power |
The maximum energy your gear can deliver for those moments when you really want to rock. |
RMS power |
The average power your gear can sustain over time for a party without any glitches. |
Peripheral |
An external device (such as an effect or compressor) to enhance your sound. |
Rack |
A piece of furniture to store your electronic devices, well organized for professionals. |
Random |
A random mode, such as playing your playlist in a surprise order. |
Signal-to-noise ratio |
A measure of how clear your sound is compared to background noise. |
Ratio |
The level of compression applied to a sound to balance volumes. |
Release |
The time it takes for an effect (such as compression) to return to normal after a peak. |
Sound reinforcement |
A slight amplification to make a sound clearer without overdoing it. |
HF receiver |
A box that picks up wireless signals, for cable-free microphones or lights. |
Return |
A speaker so musicians can hear each other on stage, essential for a professional show. |
Reverb |
An effect that makes the sound bounce around, like in a large room, for more atmosphere. |
RCA |
A simple connector for plugging in audio devices, often used at home. |
Balanced (connection) |
A professional three-wire connection for clear sound, even with long cables. |
TRS |
A three-pin jack for high-quality stereo or balanced sound. |
TRRS |
A four-pin jack, often used for headphones with a built-in microphone. |
TS |
A single jack for mono sound, used for instruments such as guitars. |
TWS |
A wireless connection between two audio devices for cable-free stereo sound. |
Volt (V) |
The unit that measures electrical voltage, the power that feeds your equipment. |
VU meter |
An indicator that shows the level of your sound, to prevent it from clipping. |
Watt (W) |
The unit that measures the power of your amplifier or speaker, so you know if it's going to deliver! |
XLR |
A professional connector for high-quality sound or signals, without interference. |
XY |
A technique for capturing sound in stereo with two microphones, for an immersive atmosphere. |