Balanced Audio Signals
Signals that are carried on three-conductor cables, with two of the conductors
carrying the same signal 180° out of phase and the third as ground. Balanced
connections usually cost more than unbalanced connections, but are less
susceptible to picking up hum and interference with low-level signals.
DAT
Digital Audio Tape. This term has come to mean specific digital audio tape recorders
that use cartridges smaller than those of a standard cassette, and which record two
tracks of digital audio (and sometimes time code).
Digital I/O
Input and output connections where signals passed from one stage to another remain
in the digital domain. ADAT has a digital I/O connector that carries digital data for all
eight tracks.
Digital-to-Analog Converter
The device responsible for converting digital signals back into an analog format so
that humans can hear them.
Fiber Optic Connector
A device that transmits signals through light instead of conventional wires.
Advantages include higher speed and the ability to carry multiple channels of
information over a single, thin cable.
Hard Disk Recording
A method of recording audio onto a hard disk. The advantages include fast access to
any point on the disk, and the option to use a computer’s graphic capabilities for very
detailed editing. Disadvantages include the difficulty of doing multitrack recording,
relatively high cost, and the need to back up data to a separate, non-volatile storage
medium. Since one minute of CD-quality stereo sound requires approximately 10
megabytes of memory, high-capacity hard disks are necessary for digital recording
applications.
MADI
Multi-Channel Audio Digital Interface. This digital data transfer specification allows for
transfer of up to 56 channels’ worth of digitized audio between professional digital
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