An automatic electronic device that senses the onset of feedback, and cancels it before it gets out of hand. This is achieved by using a specialized equalizer with multiple, very narrow filter bands, positioned between the audio source and the speakers. The unit "searches" for the beginnings of feedback, analyzes the problem frequency and cuts that band.

A microphone polar pattern whereby the capsule is most sensitive to sound sources from the front and back equally, but sounds from the sides of the microphone are rejected. Sometime referred to as bi-directional. Also describes certain antenna patterns, such as that of a dipole.

Flanging is an audio process where two copies of the same signal are played together, with one variably delayed against the other. Originally created using two tape machines and "leaning" gently on the flange of one of the tape reels, today the effect is produced using digital effect processors.

A data encoding process that allows the representation of very large numbers with fewer bits. Used in computers that have floating point registers, and where complex graphics, scientific or audio processes need to be executed rapidly.

An emphasized frequency component of an instrumental or vocal sound that does not change with pitch, and which helps to distinguishes one instrument from another, and gives voices their unique characteristic.

The process by which data written to a hard drive is stored in small packets that may or may not be next to each other. The result of continual erasing and saving from/to the hard drive, severe fragmentation can cause a slowdown in drive performance with drive intensive applications like digital audio, since the head mechanism has to constantly jump around to read all the data.

A measurement of the frequency range that can be handled by a specific piece of electrical equipment or loudspeaker when referenced to amplitude. A graph of all the frequencies plotted versus level is the Frequency Response Curve of a particular piece of equipment.

In wireless applications, the accuracy to which the operating frequency is maintained over time and in the presence of environmental changes.

An extension to the General MIDI protocol developed by Roland for use in its own synthesizers.

The amount of total gain that can be achieved in an audio system, from microphone to speakers, before the onset of acoustic feedback.