Above-the-line cost Expenditure under the producer’s control in addition to fixed overheads (below the line).
ACMA Australian Communications and Media Authority. Responsible for regulating broadcasting in Australia.
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.
A/D converter Analogue-to-digital converter. Creates a digital output from an analogue input, e.g. a conventional analogue microphone will be converted to a digital signal when recording to a digital recorder.
Ad-lib Unscripted announcement, ‘off-the-cuff’ remark.
Ad log The daily list of advertisements to be played, against which the presenter’s signature is verification.
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 fast data transfer. 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 modulation, associated with medium-wave broadcasting.
Analogue signal An electrical signal that exactly represents the original shape of the acoustic or mechanical vibrations that caused it.
Anchor Person acting as the main presenter in a programme involving several components.
AP Associated Press. Syndicated news service.
App or Application A program for information processing for a single purpose or activity, e.g. on a smartphone or tablet.
Apple and biscuit Microphone resembling a black ball with a circular plate fixed on one side. Omni-directional polar diagram.
ASCAP American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers – copyright control organisation protecting musical performance rights. Collects and distributes fees due for performance in any medium to its members.
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 or variable 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; and personal meters.
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.
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 an additional 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 Cabinet with a frame for housing power supplies and other technical equipment used in studios or control areas. Usually arranged to match standard 19-inch rack-mounted equipment.
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.
Bi-directional 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.
BMI Broadcast Music Incorporated.
Board American term for a mixing desk – control board.
Boom Wheeled microphone support having a long arm to facilitate placement of microphone 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.
BSA Broadcasting Standards Authority. Responsible for broadcast regulation in New Zealand.
Burner Colloquial term for a CD recorder, used because of its laser process.
Byte A string of 8, 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.
Card Solid state medium for recording digital signals in an audio recorder.
Cardioid Heart-shaped area of pick-up around a microphone.
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.
Clean feed A supply of cue programme in which a remote contributor hears all the programme elements except 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 Sound bite.
Cloud storage Remote centralised computer data storage with online access via a network or the Internet.
CMA Community Media Association
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 – a process for encoding digitised audio or video signals resulting in a smaller file size. May be ‘lossy’ or ‘lossless’. Lossy will result in a reduction in the fidelity of the signal.
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.
COOBE Contributor Operated Outside Broadcast Equipment. Small suitcase of OB equipment for reporters.
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 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 pre-arranged 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. Digital broadcast system for radio with accompanying text. DAB and DAB+ are two formats available mainly in Europe.
DAT Digital Audio Tape. Sound recording and playback system in digital mode using a small tape cassette and rotating heads – as in a video recorder. Now a largely obsolete format.
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.
DAW See Digital audio workstation.
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.
Demographics The division of the general population into precisely defined sections – by age, gender, education, job, income or ethnic origin in order to describe a ‘target audience’, especially for audience research.
DFID UK Department for International Development.
Digital audio workstation Digital equipment, usually a computer, capable of recording, editing, mixing and manipulating audio. Used for recording music and making packages as well as full programmes.
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 radio The transmission and reception of sound that has been processed using digital technology. In Europe, mainly known as DAB, but the United States has opted for a proprietary system called HD Radio technology.
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 (DJ) Personality presenter of music 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.
Drivetime Period of late afternoon which coincides with commuter travel and the greatest in-car listening.
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 Electro-mechanical device for artificially adding reverberation.
Edit The rearrangement of recorded material to form a preferred order or eliminate unwanted material.
Editorial judgement The professional philosophy that leads to decisions on programme content and treatment.
Email Electronic mail. International means of conveying computer-generated correspondence, text or pictures via the Internet.
Engagement The level of interest a reader shows in a website, described in terms of time spent, how many pages read and the frequency of return.
ENPS Electronic News Production System. System initiated by Associated Press for the syndication of news material.
EQ Equalisation or frequency control. May be applied to individual channels on a mixing desk, via an external unit or in software.
Equity The British Actors Equity Association. Actors’ union.
Facebook Internet-based social networking service open to registered users over 13 years of age.
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. See also Pot.
FCC Federal Communications Commission. Body responsible for regulating broadcast operations across the USA.
Feed A supply of programme, generally by circuit.
Feedback See Howl-round.
Figure of eight See Bi-directional.
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.
Focus group A small group of people asked to give feedback on programme opinion as part of audience research.
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’ is widely used as concert pitch in the United Kingdom and the United States with a frequency of 440 Hz. In continental Europe the frequency of A commonly varies between 440 Hz and 444 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 that 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.
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.
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, when working with a contributing studio, by using 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 organisation of record manufacturers to control performance and usage rights.
ILR Independent Local Radio in the UK.
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 Email, Website.
Intro Introduction – especially the non-vocal beginning of a song before the vocal. Timing needed for talk-overs.
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.
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; 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 dBs, 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 equalisation 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, especially for the payment of music rights. Can also refer to 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. Organisation 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.
Metadata Additional data about an item or file that is held digitally alongside or within the item.
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.
MIDI Musical Instrument Digital Interface – A technical standard that describes a protocol, digital interface and connectors, that allows a wide variety of electronic instruments, computers and other related devices to connect and communicate with each other. The data is converted to musical sounds within MIDI software or a MIDI processor.
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 See Middle of the road.
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 organisation 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.
Needle time The total time allowed for the playing of commercially recorded music – generally expressed as minutes per day.
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 – US term; remote.
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.
Omni-directional 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 pre-determined finishing time.
Optimod Audio compressor to maximise the modulation of a transmitter in order to obtain optimum signal strength.
Opt in/out Joining or leaving a programme stream from another broadcasting source.
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. Two similar signals 180° apart are said to be out of phase.
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 that 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.
PDF Portable Document Format. A file format with all the elements of a printed document – viewed, printed or emailed.
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 via a cable 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.
Plug Free advertisement.
Podcast (or Netcast) Individual programme or series, downloaded digitally through web syndication or streamed online to a computer or mobile device.
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.
Pop screen A circle covered in layers of fine gauze placed in front of a microphone to reduce explosive vocal sounds like ‘p’ and ‘f’.
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. Organisation 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 kHz to 5.6 kHz.
Prime time The best, most commercial hours of station output, e.g. 6.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.
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. Organisation 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.
QSL Postcard or email confirmation by a station of a reception report received from a listener. Especially on Short Wave.
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. See also Market penetration, Patronage.
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.
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. Bi-directional 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.
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 on-screen 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 after another without an intervening pause or link. Especially two pieces of music.
SEO Search Engine Optimisation – making web pages search friendly in order to attract new traffic.
SESAC Society of European Stage Authors and Composers.
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. See also Catchline.
Solid state Transistorised or integrated circuitry as opposed to that containing valves. Also refers to solid state storage in memory cards.
Soundbite A short piece of audio said to sum up a particular truth or point of view, able to stand alone.
Spin-doctor Organisation 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.
Streaming Sending a station’s live output to the Internet.
Stringer Freelance contributor paid by the item. Generally a journalist at outlying place not covered by staff.
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 timescale.
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.
TBU Telephone Balance Unit. Interface device used in conjunction with calls on a phone-in programme. 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 opening and closing of inserts are played. Also, adding the opening and closing to a package.
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.
Tweet Message posted on the Twitter website, limited to 140 characters.
Twitter Online social networking and micro-blogging service that enables users to send and read short messages – ‘tweets’.
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.
UHF Ultra High Frequency. Radio or television transmission in the range of frequencies from 300 MHz to 3000 MHz.
Uncapped Describing an Internet website to which access may be limited or reduced, but never severed.
UPI United Press International. Syndicated news service.
USB Universal Serial Bus. A type of computer connection.
USB stick A memory device with a USB connection.
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 MHz to 300 MHz.
ViLoR Virtualisation of Local Radio. The BBC system of centralising the availability of news and music for local stations.
Voice-over Voiced announcement superimposed on lower level material, generally music.
Voice report Broadcast news piece 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.
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 organisation’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 a 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.
Wire Service News agency supplying information by ‘wire’ – line feed to computer.
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.
Zoom (trade name) Japanese handheld digital audio recorder.