Glossary

Above-the-line   cost Expenditure under the producer's control in addition to fixed overheads (below the line).

Access broadcasting   Programme in which editorial decisions are made by the contributor, not by professional staff.

Acoustic   Characteristic sound of any enclosed space due to the amount of sound reflected from its wall surfaces and the way in which this amount alters at different frequencies. See also Reverberation time, Coloration.

Acoustic screen   Free-standing movable screen designed to create special acoustic effects or prevent unwanted sound reaching a particular microphone. One side is soft and absorbent, the other is hard and reflective.

Actuality   ‘Live’ recording of a real event, sounds recorded on location.

Ad   Advertisement or commercial.

Ad lib   Unscripted announcement, ‘off-the-cuff’ remark.

A/D converter   Analogue-to-digital converter. Creates a digital output from an analogue input, e.g. a conventional microphone recording on MiniDisc.

Adobe Audition   Computer software system for recording, editing and playout of broadcast audio. Formerly Cool Edit Pro.

ADSL   Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A digital system providing faster data transfer, and therefore greater bandwidth, than ISDN. Also known as Broadband.

Aerial   Device for transmitting or receiving radio waves at the point of transition from their electrical/electromagnetic form.

AGC   Automatic Gain Control. Amplifier circuit which compensates for variations in signal level, dynamic compression.

AM   Amplitude Modulation. System of applying the sound signal to the transmitter frequency, associated with medium-wave broadcasting.

Analogue signal   An electrical signal that exactly represents the original shape of the acoustic or mechanical vibrations which caused it.

Anchor   Person acting as the main presenter in a programme involving several components.

AP   Associated Press. Syndicated news service.

Apple and biscuit   Microphone resembling a black ball with a circular plate fixed on one side. Omnidirectional polar diagram.

ASCAP   American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers – copyright control organization protecting musical performance rights.

Atmosphere   Impression of environment created by use of actuality, sound effects or acoustic.

Attenuation   Expressed in decibels (dB), the extent to which a piece of equipment decreases the signal strength. Opposite of amplification.

Attenuator   Device of known attenuation deliberately inserted in a circuit to reduce the signal level.

Audience figures   Expressed as a percentage of the potential audience or, in absolute terms, the number of listeners to a single programme or sequence, daily or weekly patronage, or total usage of the station. See Patronage, Ratings, Reach.

Audience measurement   Research into numbers and attitudes of listeners. Methods used include: ‘Aided-Recall’ – person-to-person interview; ‘Diary’ – the keeping of a log of programmes heard; ‘Panel’ – permanent representative group reporting on programmes heard. Personal meter to monitor stations heard.

Audio frequency   Audible sound wave. Accepted range 20 Hz–20 kHz.

Automatic Gain Control   See AGC.

Auxiliary output (‘Aux’)   A secondary output from a mixing desk providing a different mix independent of the main programme output, in order to send to echo, public address, foldback, etc.

Azimuth   The extent to which the gap in the recording or playback heads of a tape machine is truly vertical, i.e. at right angles to the direction of tape travel.

Back-announcement   Where the names and details of an interview or record are given immediately after the item.

Backing track   Recording of musical accompaniment heard by a soloist while adding his own performance.

Back-timing   The process of timing a live programme backwards from its intended closing time to ensure it ends on time.

Balance   Relative proportion of ‘direct’ to ‘reflected’ sound apparent in a microphone output. Also the relative volume of separate components in a total mix, e.g. voices in a discussion, musical instruments in an orchestra.

Balance control   Control for adjusting the relative volume of two stereo loudspeakers.

Bass cut   Device in microphone or other sound source which electrically removes the lower frequencies.

Bay   Standard 2145 mm X 526 mm frame housing power supplies and other technical equipment used in studios or control areas.

Bed   Instrumental backing to which words or singing are added to make a commercial or station ident.

Bias   High-frequency signal applied to the recording head of a tape machine to ensure distortion-free recording.

Bidirectional   Microphone sensitive in two directions, front and back, but completely insensitive on either side, e.g. ribbon microphone.

Bi-media   Operations involving both radio and television.

Board   American term for studio control desk or panel.

Boom   Wheeled microphone support having a long arm to facilitate microphone placing over performers, e.g. orchestra.

Boomy   Room acoustic unduly reverberant in the lower frequencies.

Boundary effect mic   Small microphone mounted on a plate with a gap between it and the plate to give a directional polar diagram. Used on-stage for opera and theatre work. Also called Pressure Zone (PZ) effect.

Break-out box   A simple input/output unit to give easy pluggable access to a recording device, e.g. a computer.

Breakthrough   Unwanted electrical interference or acoustic sound from one source or channel affecting another.

Broadband   See ADSL.

Bulk eraser   Equipment capable of demagnetizing, ‘wiping’ or ‘cleaning’ a spool of tape, or other magnetic recording, perhaps several at a time.

Burner   Colloquial term for a CD recorder, used because of its laser process.

Byte   A string of eight, 16, 32 or more binary electrical pulses or ‘bits’, representing a specific piece of data.

Cans   Colloquial term for headphones.

Capacitor microphone   Microphone type based on the principle of conducting surfaces in proximity holding an electrical charge. Requires a power supply.

Capstan   The drive spindle of a tape recorder.

Cardioid   Heart-shaped area of pick-up around a microphone.

Cartridge or cart   Enclosed endless loop of tape on a single spindle, which having finished is ready to start again. Also refers to digital cart or floppy disk. Used especially for signature tunes, jingles, idents and commercials.

Cassette   Enclosed reel-to-reel device of 3 mm wide tape particularly used in domestic or miniature recording machines.

Catchline   Brief identifying title for an audio insert, e.g. news item. See also Slug.

CD   Compact Disc. Digital recording and playback medium.

Channel   The complete circuit from a sound source to the point in the control panel where it is mixed with others.

Check calls   A newsroom's routine phone calls to the emergency services.

Chinagraph   Soft pencil used to mark tape cutting points during editing. Generally yellow.

Clean feed   A supply of cue programme in which a remote contributor hears all the programme elements other than his own. Essential to prevent howl-round in certain two-way working conditions.

Clip   A short piece of audio extracted from a longer item and illustrative of it. See also Soundbite.

CODEC   A coder/decoder for converting analogue audio to a digital signal and vice versa. Used at the end of an ISDN communications line.

Coloration   Effect obtained in a room when one range of frequencies tends to predominate in its acoustic.

Compression   (1) Dynamic – decreasing the maximum difference between the loud and soft parts of an audio signal. (2) Digital –— removing parts of the total signal in order to use less data in its transmission.

Compressor   Device for narrowing the dynamic range of a signal passing through it.

Condenser microphone   See Capacitor microphone.

Control line   A circuit used to communicate engineering or production information between a studio and an outside source. Often also used as cue line. Not necessarily high quality –— see Music line.

Copy   Written material offered for broadcast, e.g. news copy, advertising copy.

Copyright   The legal right of ownership in a creative work invested in its author, composer, publisher or designer.

Copytaster   The first reader of copy sent to a newsroom who decides whether it should be rejected or retained for possible use.

Cough key   Switch, under the speaker's control, which cuts his or her microphone circuit.

Crossfade   The fading in of a new source while fading out the old.

Crossplug   The temporary transposition of two circuits, normally on a jackfield. See also Overplugging.

Crosstalk   Audible interference of one circuit upon another.

Cue   The prearranged signal to begin –— visual light or gesture, verbal, musical or scripted words.

Cue, in and out   The first and last words (effects or music) of a programme or item.

Cue light   A small electric light, often green, used as a cueing signal.

Cue line   A circuit used to send cue programme to a distant contributor.

Cue programme   The programme which contains a contributor's cue to start.

Cue sheet   Documentation giving technical information and introductory script for programme or insert, i.e. cue material.

Cume   Cumulating audience measurement. See Reach.

DAB   Digital Audio Broadcasting. Interference-free digital radio system with accompanying text, broadcast from terrestrial or satellite transmitters.

DAT   Digital Audio Tape. Sound recording and playback system in digital mode using small tape cassette and rotating heads – as in a video recorder.

D/A converter   Digital-to-analogue converter. Creates an analogue output from a digital input, e.g. CD playback signal is converted in order to feed conventional loudspeakers.

dB   Decibel.Logarithmic measurement of sound intensity or electrical signal. The smallest change in level perceptible by the human ear.

Dead side of microphone   Least sensitive area.

Deferred relay   The broadcasting of a recorded programme previously heard ‘live’ by an audience.

Digital audio workstation   A set of digital equipment complete in itself for editing and manipulating audio material, mixing, dubbing, adding voice, making packages, etc.

Digital effects unit   Electronic equipment capable of affecting sound quality in a variety of ways, e.g. by changing frequency response, adding coloration or reverberation. Capable of creating synthetic or ‘unreal’ sounds.

Digital mode   The encoding of a signal as on/off electrical pulses which represent its amplitude and frequency.

Digital signal   An electrical signal that represents its original acoustic or mechanical vibrations as a series of pulses in binary code.

Din   Plug or socket manufactured to standard of Deutsche Industrie Norm.

Directional   Property of microphone causing it to be more sensitive in one direction than in others. Also applied to transmitters, receiving aerials, loudspeakers, etc. See also Polar diagram.

Disc jockey   Personality presenter of record programme, generally pop music show. Dolby system Trade name for electronic circuitry designed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of a programme chain.

Double-ender   Short length of audio cable with a jack plug on each end used to connect pieces of equipment or jacks on a jackfield or break-out box.

Double-headed   Style of presentation using two presenters.

Drive-time   Periods of morning and later afternoon which coincide with commuter travel and the greatest in-car listening.

Drop out   Momentary drop in level or loss of quality in tape reproduction due to lack of contact between tape and repro. head.

Dry run   Programme rehearsal, especially drama, not necessarily in the studio, and without music, effects or movements to mic. See Run through.

Dub   To copy material already recorded. To make a dubbing.

Ducking unit   Automatic device providing ‘voice-over’ facility. See Voice-over.

Dynamic range   Measured in dB, the difference between the loudest and the quietest sounds.

Echo   Strictly a single or multiple repeat of an original sound. Generally refers to reverberation.

Echo plate or spring   Device for artificially adding reverberation.

Edit   The rearrangement of recorded material to form a preferred order.

Editing block   Specially shaped metal guide that holds tape in position during the cutting and splicing process.

Editorial judgement   The professional philosophy that leads to decisions on programme content and treatment.

e-mail   Electronic mail. International means of conveying computer-generated correspondence, text or pictures between similarly equipped terminals – a ‘store and forward’ system.

ENPS   Electronic News Production System. System initiated by Associated Press for the syndication of news material.

EQ   Equalization or frequency control, especially as applied to individual channels on a mixing desk.

Equity   The British Actors Equity Association. Actors’ union.

Erase head   The first head of a tape recorder, which cleans the tape of any existing recording by exciting it with a high-frequency signal.

Fade   A decrease in sound volume (fade down or out).

Fade in   An increase in sound volume (fade up).

Fader   Volume control of a sound source used for setting its level, fading it up or down, or mixing it with other sources. Also ‘Pot’.

Fax   Facsimile machine, capable of sending/receiving documents, scripts and news copy via a telephone line.

Feed   A supply of programme, generally by circuit.

Feedback   See Howl-round.

Feedspool   Tape recorder spool which supplies the tape to the recording head (as opposed to ‘take-up’ spool).

Figure of eight   See Bidirectional.

Filter   Electrical circuitry for removing unwanted frequencies from a sound source, e.g. mains hum, or surface noise from an old or worn recording. Also in drama for simulating telephone or two-way radio quality, etc.

First-generation copy   A copy taken from the original recording. A copy of this copy would be a second-generation copy.

Flash card   Solid state recording medium.

Fletcher–Munson effect   The apparent decrease in the proportion of higher and lower frequencies, with respect to the middle range, as the loudspeaker listening level is decreased. Significant in correct setting of monitoring level, particularly in music balance.

Fluff   (1) Accumulation of dust on the stylus of gramophone pick-up. (2) Mistake in reading or other broadcast speech.

Flutter   Rapid variations of speed discernible in tape or disc reproduction.

FM   Frequency Modulation. System of applying the sound signal to the transmitter frequency, associated with VHF broadcasting.

Foldback   Means of allowing artists in the studio to hear programme elements via a loudspeaker, even while studio microphones are live.

Freelance   Self-employed broadcaster of any category – producer, contributor, operator, reporter, etc. Not on permanent full-time contract. Paid by the single contribution or over a period for a series of programmes. Non-exclusive, available to work for any employer. See also Stringer.

Frequency   Expressed in cycles per second or hertz, the rate at which a sound or radio wave is repeated. The note ‘middle A’ has a frequency of 440 Hz. A long-wave transmitter with a wavelength of 1500 metres has a frequency of 200 kHz (200 000 cycles per second). Frequency and wavelength are always associated in the formula F × W = speed. Speed is the speed of the wave, i.e. sound or radio, and in each case remains constant.

Frequency distortion   Distortion caused by inadequate frequency response.

Frequency response   The ability of a piece of equipment to treat all frequencies within a given range in the same way, e.g. an amplifier with a poor frequency response treats frequencies passing through it unequally and so its output does not faithfully reproduce its input.

Full track   Tape recording using the whole width of the tape.

Fx   Sound effects.

Gain   Expressed in decibels (dB), the amount of amplification at which an amplifier is set. Can also refer to a receiving aerial – the extent to which it can discriminate in a particular direction, thereby increasing its sensitivity.

Gain control   The control which affects the gain of an amplifier; also loosely applied to any fader or volume control affecting the output level.

Giga   A thousand million – a 40 gigabyte hard disk holds 40 000 000 000 bytes of data.

Gramophone, gramdeck or grams   Turntable and associated equipment for the reproduction of records.

GTS   Greenwich Time Signal – six pips ending at a precise time.

Gun mic   Microphone resembling a long-barrelled shotgun. Highly directional, used for nature recordings or where intelligibility is required at some distance from the sound source, e.g. OBs.

Half track   Tape recording erase and recording applied only to the ‘top’ half of the tape, as opposed to ‘full track’, which uses the whole width.

Hammocking   Scheduling term referring to the need to support a low audience or specialist programme by placing more popular material before and after it in order to maintain a strong average listening figure.

Handout   Press information or publicity sheet issued to draw attention to an event.

Hand signals   System of visual communication used through the glass window between a studio and its control area, or in a studio with a ‘live’ mic. See Wind-up.

Hard disk   The component inside a computer which stores audio data in digital form. Capacity measured in gigabytes.

Harmonic distortion   The generation of spurious upper frequencies.

Head amplifier   Small amplifier within a microphone, especially capacitor type.

Head gap   Narrow vertical slot at the front of tape recorder erase, record and replay heads.

Headline   Initial one-sentence summary of news event.

Hertz Hz.   Unit of frequency, one complete cycle per second.

Hiss   Unwanted background noise in the frequency range 5–10 kHz, e.g. tape hiss.

Howl-round   Acoustic or electrical positive feedback, generally apparent as a continuous sound of a single frequency. Often associated with public address systems. Avoided by decreasing the gain in the amplifying circuit, cutting the loudspeaker or in contribution working through the use of a clean feed circuit.

Hum   Low-frequency electrical interference derived from mains power supply.

Hypercardioid   A cardioid microphone having a particularly narrow angle of acceptance at its front that decreases rapidly towards the sides.

ID   Station identification or ident.

IFPI   International Federation of Phonographic Industries. International organization of record manufacturers to control performance and usage rights.

In cue   The first words of a programme insert, known in advance. Can also be music.

Insert   A short item used in a programme, e.g. a ‘live’ insert, a tape insert.

Intercom   Local voice communication system.

Internet   Worldwide digital communication system linking similarly equipped computers. See also e-mail, Website.

IPS   Inches per second. Tape recording term, refers to speed of tape travel past the recording and replay heads.

ISDN   Integrated Services Digital Network. A system of conveying high-quality digital audio signals over the public telephone system. See also CODEC.

Jack   Socket connected to an audio circuit. Can incorporate a switch activated by insertion of jack plugs – a ‘break’ jack.

Jackfield or patch panel   Rows of jacks connected to audio sources or destinations. Provides availability of all circuits for interconnection or testing.

Jack plug or post office jack   Plug type used for insertion in jack socket comprising three connections, a circuit pair plus earth, known as ‘ring tip and sleeve’. See also Double-ender.

Jingle   Short musical item used as station ID, or in advertisement.

Jingle package   The set of jingles used by a station to establish its audio logo.

Jock   See Disc jockey.

Jog   A control on CD and DAT recorders enabling the accurate location of any point in the recording.

Key   Switch.

Kilo   Thousand. Kilohertz – frequency in thousands of cycles per second. Kilowatt – electrical power, a thousand watts.

Landline   See Line.

Lavalier microphone   Small microphone hung round the neck (lanyard mic) or fastened to clothing.

Lazy arm   Small boom-type microphone stand suitable for suspending a microphone over a ‘talks’ table.

Lead sheet   Basic musical score indicating instrumentation of melody. Used for microphone control during music balance.

Lead story   The first, most important story in a news bulletin.

Leader   Inert coloured tape having the same dimensions as recording tape spliced into a recorded programme or insert to give visual indication of beginnings and endings. Before the beginning – white or yellow; intermediate spacers – yellow; after the end – red.

LED   Light Emitting Diode. Small signal light. Often arranged in a row to act as an indicator, e.g. of sound level.

Level   (1) A test prior to recording or broadcasting to check the volume of the speaker's voice – ‘take some level’. (2) Expressed in dB, plus or minus, the measurement of electrical intensity against an absolute standard, zero level (1 MW in 600 ohms).

Limiter   Device to prevent the signal level exceeding a pre-set value.

Line   Physical circuit between two points for programme or communication purposes.

Line equalization    The process that compensates for frequency distortion at the receiving end of a landline.

Line-up   Technical setting up of circuits to conform to engineering standards. Line-up tone of standard frequency and level used to check the gain of all component parts.

Lip mic   Noise-excluding ribbon microphone designed for close working, e.g. OB commentary.

Log   Written record of station output. Can also be recorded audio.

‘M’ signal   The combination of left and right stereo signals, i.e. the mono signal.

Marching box   Sound effects device comprising small box partially filled with gravel used to simulate marching feet.

MCPS   Mechanical Copyright Protection Society. Organization that controls the copying or dubbing of copyright material.

Mega   Million. Megahertz – frequency in millions of cycles per second. Megawatt – electrical power, a million watts.

Microphonic   Faulty piece of electronic equipment sensitive to mechanical vibration – acting like a microphone.

Middle of the road   Popular, mainstream music with general appeal. Non-extreme.

MiniDisc (MD)   Digital recording and playback system using a 64 mm disc in portable recorders and studio decks.

Mixer   Studio, OB, or PA control desk for mixing together sound sources to the appropriate level.

Modem   Modulator/demodulator. Converts an (acoustic) analogue signal to digital signal and vice versa. Used to send computer output to a telephone line.

Modulation   Variations in a transmission or recording medium caused by the presence of programme. Often abbreviated to Mod.

Module   Interchangeable equipment component.

Montage   Superimposition of sounds and/or voices to create a composite impression.

MOR   Middle of the road music.

MPEG   Moving Picture Experts Group. International group responsible for developing digital standards for film and audio.

MP3   International standard for the compression of an audio signal in digital form developed by MPEG.

MU   Musicians’ Union.

Multi-tracking   Two or more audio tracks are recorded separately and subsequently mixed for the final result.

Music line   High-quality landline or satellite circuit suitable for all types of programme, not only music. Compare with Control line.

NAB   National Association of Broadcasters. American trade organization which secures agreement on standards of procedure and equipment, e.g. NAB spool, a professional tape reel type.

Nagra   (Trade name) Manufacturer of high-quality portable recorders.

Noise   Extraneous sound, electrical interference or background to a signal.

Noise gate   Device that allows a signal to pass through it only when the input level exceeds a pre-set value.

OB   Outside Broadcast.

Ofcom   Office of Communications. UK broadcasting and communications industry regulator.

Off-mic   A speaker or other sound source working outside a microphone's most sensitive area of pick-up. Distant effect due to drop in level and greater proportion of reflected to direct sound.

Omnidirectional   A microphone sensitive in all directions. Also applied to transmitters and aerials.

One-legged   ‘Thin’, low-level quality resulting from a connection through only one wire of a circuit pair.

Open-ended   A programme without a predetermined finishing time.

Optimod   Audio compressor to maximize the modulation of a transmitter in order to obtain optimum signal strength.

Out cue   Final words of a contribution, known in advance, taken as a signal to initiate the following item in a sequence.

Out of phase   The decrease in level and effect on quality when two similar signals are combined in such a way as to cancel each other.

Outside source   Programme originating point remote from the studio, or the circuit connection from it.

Overload distortion   The distortion suffered by a programme signal when its electrical level is higher than the equipment can handle. When this happens non-continuously it is referred to as ‘peak distortion’. Also referred to as ‘squaring off’.

Overplugging   The substitution of one circuit for another by the insertion of jack plug in a break jack.

PA   (1) Press Association. News agency. (2) Public address system.

Package   Edited programme or insert offered complete with links ready for transmission.

Pan   To place a sound source to the left, or right, in a stereo sound image.

Panel   Studio mixing desk, control board or console.

Pan-pot   Panoramic potentiometer. Control on studio mixing desk which places a source to the left or right in a stereo image.

Par   Paragraph. Journalist's term often applied to news copy.

Parabolic reflector   Microphone attachment which focuses sound waves, thereby increasing directional sensitivity. Used for OBs, nature recordings, etc.

Parallel strip   An inert row of jacks mounted on a jackfield not connected to any other equipment but connected in parallel to each other. Used for joining programme sources together, connecting equipment or multiplying outputs from a single feed. Also available on its own in the form of a ‘junction box’.

P as B   Programme as broadcast. Documentation giving complete details of a programme in its final form – duration, inserts, copyright details, contributors, etc.

Patch panel   See Jackfield.

Patronage   See Reach.

Peak distortion   See Overload distortion.

Peak programme meter   Voltmeter with a slugged slow decay time, designed to indicate levels and peaks of electrical intensity for the purposes of programme control.

Phantom power   Method of providing a working voltage to a piece of equipment, e.g. a microphone, using the programme circuit and earth (ground).

Phase distortion   The effect on the sound quality caused by the imprecise combination of two similar signals not exactly in phase with each other.

Pick-up   Gramophone record reproducing components which convert the mechanical variations into electrical energy, pu-arm, pu-head, pu-shell, pu-stylus.

Pilot   Programme to test the feasibility of, or gain acceptance for, a new series or idea.

Pinch roller   Rubber wheel which holds tape against tape recorder drive capstan.

Plug   Free advertisement.

Polar diagram   Graph showing the area of a microphone's greatest sensitivity. Also applies to aerials, transmitters and loudspeakers. Directivity pattern.

Popping   Descriptive term applied to ‘mic blasting’, the effect of vocal breathiness close to microphone.

Post-echo   The immediate repeating at low level of sounds replayed from a tape recording. See Print-through.

Post office jack   See Jack plug.

Pot   Potentiometer. See Fader.

Pot cut   The cutting off of a recording during replay before it has finished by closing its fader – generally to save time. ‘Instant editing’.

PPL   Phonographic Performance Ltd. Organization of British record manufacturers to control performance and usage rights.

PPM   See Peak programme meter.

Prefade   The facility for hearing and measuring a source before opening its fader, generally on a studio mixing desk.

Prefade to time   The technique of beginning an item of known duration before it is required so that it finishes at a precise time, e.g. closing signature tune. Also known as back-timing.

Presence   A sense of ‘realistic closeness’, often on a singer's voice. Can be aided by boosting the frequencies in the range 2.8–5.6 kHz.

Prime time   The best, most commercial hours of station output, e.g. 6.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.

Print-through   The reproduction at low level of recorded programme through the magnetic interaction of layers of tape due to their close proximity while wound on a spool. The cause of post- and pre-echo. Often the result of tight winding through spooling at high speed, and storage of recorded tape at too high a temperature.

Producer   The person in charge of a programme and responsible for it.

Promo   On-air promotion of station or programme. Also Trail.

PRS   Performing Right Society. Organization of authors, composers and publishers for copyright protection.

PSA   Public Service Announcement. Made by the station in the public interest, or on behalf of a charity or other non-commercial body –— or at its own discretion for a private individual –— for which no charge is made.

Puff   See Plug.

PZ (Pressure Zone) mic   See Boundary effect mic.

Q & A   Question and answer basis of a discussion between a programme presenter and a specialist correspondent. Less formal than an interview.

Quad   Quadraphony or quadrasonic. Four-channel sound reproduction providing front and rear, left and right coverage.

Radioman   Trade name of computer software system for recording, editing and playout of broadcast audio.

Radio mic   Microphone containing or closely associated with its own portable transmitter. Requires no cable connection, useful for stage work, OBs, etc.

RAJAR   Radio Joint Audience Research. Body undertaking research for all BBC and commercial stations in the UK.

Ratings   Audience measurement relating to the number of listeners to a specific programme.

RDS   Radio Data System. A data signal added to FM and digital transmissions, used for carrying text, e.g. station ident and other messages, for display by the receiver. Also provides automatic switching of car radios for local traffic information, retuning for best signal, encoding of programmes for recording, etc.

Reach   Term used in audience measurement describing the total number of different listeners to a station or service within a specified period. Most often expressed as a percentage of the potential audience. Weekly reach. Also Patronage.

Record head   The part of a tape machine that converts the electrical signal into magnetic variations and transfers them to the tape.

Reduction   Playback of a multi-track music recording to arrive at a final mix. Also mix-down.

Rehearse-record   Procedure most used in music recording or drama for perfecting and recording one section before moving on to the next.

Relay   (1) Simultaneous transmission of a programme originating from another station. (2) Transmission of a programme performed ‘live’ in front of an audience. See also Deferred relay. (3) Electrically operated switch.

Repro head   The part of a tape machine that converts the magnetic pattern on the tape into electrical signal. Reproduction or playback device.

Residual   Artist's repeat fee.

Reverberation   The continuation of a sound after its source has stopped due to reflection of the sound waves.

Reverberation time   Expressed in seconds, the time taken for a sound to die away to one millionth of its original intensity.

Reverse talkback   Communications system from studio to control cubicle.

Ribbon microphone   A high-quality microphone using electromagnetic principle. Bidirectional polar diagram.

Rip ‘n’ read   News bulletin copy sent from a central newsroom designed to be read on the air without rewriting.

ROT   Recording Off Transmission. Recording made at the time of transmission, not necessarily off-air.

RSA   Response Selection Amplifier. Device for control of treble and bass frequencies, and ‘presence’. See EQ.

RSL   Restricted Service Licence. Limited licence to broadcast, e.g. for a short duration, or within a small area – university campus.

‘Rubber bands’   Colloquial term for the onscreen volume or panning envelopes used in digital mixing software.

Running order   List of programme items and timings in their chronological sequence.

Run through   Programme rehearsal.

‘S’ signal   The difference between left and right stereo signals, i.e. the stereo component.

SABLE   Studio Automatic Barcode Logging Equipment. Computer software system for scheduling and logging music.

SADiE   Studio Audio Digital Editor. Computer software system for recording, editing and playout of broadcast audio.

Satellite studio   Small outlying studio, perhaps without permanent staff but capable of being used as a contribution point via a link with the main studio/station centre.

SB   Simultaneous Broadcast. Relay of programme originating elsewhere. Conveyed from point to point by system of permanent SB lines, or taken ‘off-air’.

Script   Complete text of a programme or insert from which the broadcast is made.

Segue   The following of one item immediately on another without an intervening pause or link, especially two pieces of music.

Share   Audience measurement term describing the amount of listening to a specified station or service expressed as a percentage of the total listening to all services heard in that area.

Sibilance   An emphasis on the ‘s’ sounds in speech. May be accentuated or reduced by type and position of microphone.

Sig tune   Signature tune. Identifying music at the beginning and end of a programme or regular insert.

Simulcasting   Simultaneous broadcasting of one programme by two separate channels, e.g. AM and FM, or Radio and TV.

Slug   Short identifying title given to a short item, particularly a news insert. Also catchline.

Solid state   Transistorized or integrated circuitry as opposed to that containing valves.

Soundbite   A short piece of audio said to sum up a particular truth or point of view, able to stand alone.

Spin-doctor   Organization person hired to promote positive aspects of policy and events, and to suppress the negative.

Spot Fx   Practical sound effects created live in the studio.

Squelch   Means of suppressing unwanted noise in the reception of a radio signal. See Noise gate.

Sting   Single music chord, used for dramatic effect.

Stock music   In-house library of recorded music.

Stringer   Freelance contributor paid by the item. Generally a journalist at outlying place not covered by staff.

Stylus   Small diamond-tipped arm protruding from gramophone pick-up. In contact with the record surface, it conveys the mechanical vibrations to the cartridge for conversion into electrical energy.

Sustaining programme   Programme supplied by a syndicating source or elsewhere to maintain an output for a station making its own programmes for only part of the day.

Sweep   The process of audience survey for a particular station or service within a given time-scale.

Sync output   Programme replayed from the record heads of a multi-track recording machine, heard by performers while they record further tracks.

Talkback   Voice communication system from control cubicle to studio or other contributing point.

Talks table   Specially designed table for studio use, often circular with an acoustically transparent surface and a hole in the middle to take a microphone.

Tape   Magnetic recording material.

TBU   Telephone Balance Unit. Interface device used in conjunction with calls on a phone-in programme. Minimizes risk of howl-round while providing pre-set level of caller to studio presenter and vice versa. Isolates public telephone equipment from broadcaster's equipment.

Telex   Teleprinter system of written communication.

Tie line   Any circuit pair connecting two programme areas, especially within the same building.

TOC   Table of Contents. Non-audio data held on a MiniDisc governing the track order and labelling. Affected by editing.

Tone   A test or reference signal of standard frequency and level. For example, 1 kHz at 0 dB.

Top and tail   A shortened programme rehearsal where only the openings and closing of inserts are played. Also, adding the opening and closing to a package.

Tracking weight   The downward pressure of a gramophone pick-up transmitted through its stylus.

Traffic   Station department responsible for scheduling and billing commercial advertising. Trail Broadcast item advertising forthcoming programme. On-air promotion or ‘promo’.

Transcript   The text of a broadcast as transmitted, often produced from an off-air recording.

Transcription   A high-quality recording of a programme, often intended for reproduction by another broadcasting service.

Transducer   Any device that converts one form of energy into another, e.g mechanical to electrical, acoustic to electrical, electrical to magnetic, etc.

Transient response   The ability of a microphone or other equipment to respond rapidly to change of input or brief energy states.

Tri-media   Description of a newsroom or function involving all three television, radio and Internet media.

Two-way   Discussion or interview between two studios remote from each other. Also an interview of a specialist correspondent by a programme presenter. See also Q & A.

Uher   Trade name of portable tape recorder.

UHF   Ultra High Frequency. Radio or television transmission in the range of frequencies from 300 to 3000 MHz.

UPI   United Press International. Syndicated news service.

VCS DiRA   Video Computer Systems Digital Radio System. Station software system for recording, editing and playout.

VHF   Very High Frequency. Radio or television transmission in the range of frequencies from 30 to 300 MHz.

Voice-over   Voiced announcement superimposed on lower level material, generally music.

Voice report   Broadcast newspiece in the reporter's own voice.

Vox pop   ‘The voice of the people’. Composite recording of ‘street’ interviews.

VU meter   Volume Unit meter calibrated in decibels measuring signal level, especially as a recording level indicator.

WAP   Wireless Application Protocol. Category of mobile phone capable of accessing the Internet.

Warm-up   Initial introduction and chat, generally by a programme presenter or producer, designed to make an audience feel at home and create the appropriate atmosphere prior to a live broadcast or recording.

Wavelength   Expressed in metres, the distance between two precisely similar points in adjacent cycles in a sound or radio wave. The length of one cycle. Used as the tuning characteristic or ‘radio address’ of a station. See also Frequency.

Website   An organization's or individual's location on the Internet for promotional publicity, information, sales, etc. Not generally the address for correspondence.

Wild or wild track   Term borrowed from film to describe the recording of atmosphere, actuality or effects at random without a precise decision on how they are to be used in a programme.

Windshield   Protective cover of foam rubber, plastic or metal gauze, designed to eliminate wind noise from microphone. Essential for outdoor use or close vocal work.

Wind-up   Signal given to broadcaster to come to the end of his programme contribution. Often by means of index finger describing slow vertical circles, or by flashing cue light.

Wipe   To erase tape.

Wire Service   News agency supplying information by ‘wire’ – line feed to computer.

Wow   Slow speed variations discernible in tape or disc reproduction.

Wrap   A short piece of actuality audio ‘wrapped around’ by a vocal introduction and a back-announcement. Frequently used in news bulletins.

WWW   World Wide Web. The global network of information provided over the Internet.

Zero level tone   A standard reference level signal (0 dB or 1 mW in 600 ohms at a frequency of 1 kHz) used to line up broadcasting equipment.