Glossary

An optical audio protocol designed for the transmission of digital audio. It is typically used to expand input channels.

Active Noise Cancelling can effectively isolate ambient noise in wireless headphones.

A very important parameter for cymbals, for example. It determines the sound and how they feel to play.

We come across this term in instruments such as digital pianos that have pre-recorded accompaniments that you can jam along to.

Some lighting heads or LED effects allow you to set an automatic program to care of your light show, so you can focus on other things.

Registers in the bass part of the accordion. Unlike the melodic registers, these do not change the colour of the tone, but the volume.

A type of speaker specially adapted to produce bass frequencies. Its diameter is given in inches

Part of a bass drum pedal. Beaters vary in weight and the material used for the head (felt, plastic, rubber); models with multiple surfaces made from different materials and with varying hardness are also widespread.

A typical parameter for gear such as stage lights. By angle we mean the places where at least fifty percent of the power of the light falls.

The diameter of the bell on brass instruments. It is given in millimetres.

The technology used to wirelessly connect devices, commonly used in telephones, headphones or computers.

The instrument body, composed of the front panel, back panel and sides. More expensive instruments referred to as solid-body are made of selected solid woods; semi-hollow models have a front panel made of solid wood and a back panel and sides made of plywood; cheaper instruments often have a layered (plywood) body.

The distance between the individual strings of the instrument. It is measured at the bridge and given in millimetres.

The part of a stringed instrument through which the strings pass and help transmit their vibrations to other parts of the instrument.

Short for recordable compact disc (CD-R) and rewritable compact disc (CD-RW).

A parameter used with LED effects or intelligent lighting heads. Some offer various types of effects that can be combined.

A type of sound processor that equalises different volume levels in a recording so that all parts sound about the same volume.

The material from which the core of the string is made. This is generally steel or nylon.

Indicates the diameter of the mouthpiece cup on wind instruments. The cup width affects the response of the instrument and the volume of the sound, and also requires different skill in the fit of the lips - generally, the wider the cup, the harder it is to play.

Indicates the power of the adapter. When the device has more milliamps than the adapter, the adapter doesn’t have enough power to operate the appliance. It doesn't matter the other way around - a more powerful adapter can easily power a small appliance.

Indicates whether the instrument (traditionally a guitar, for example) has a cutout in the body that makes it easier to play in higher positions.

An output that allows you to send the signal from an amp via an XLR cable directly to a mixing console or PA system. It is used to reduce noise and interference when the signal is transmitted over longer distances. The DI output also allows you to connect a signal from an instrument or other source with a low output signal that might otherwise be too weak to connect directly to the input of another device.

An output that duplicates the input signal for another device. It is used to record a clean signal that can be worked with later, or to separate two sounds, e.g. the stage sound and the PA sound.

Expresses the microphone’s dependence on the direction from which it can receive sound.

DMX is a digital communication protocol used to control things such as lighting effects. It lets you adjust settings such as the individual colours to exactly suit a specific scene on the stage.

Pedals for percussion instruments use various types of drive. The most common is the chain drive, which is highly durable, but belt or direct drive pedals are also available. Each has their own specific advantages.

The effects loop is used for effects and effects processors that sound better after the distortion/preamp than before the amp, i.e. delay, reverb and modulation effects in general. Effects loops are either serial or parallel, depending on the connection.

As the name suggests, an effects processor adds an effect to the input signal. It is most often found in guitar and bass amps and combos.

This term is most often used with guitars and basses. Don't forget that active electronics require power; you can easily tell this from the battery compartment on the back of the instrument.

One end of the string wraps around the tuning peg, but the other end often differs. One popular version is with a ball at the end, meaning you just need to push the string through the bridge and it holds when the string is tightened, without needing a more complex way of fastening it. The end type must always be chosen to suit each particular type of instrument.

Abbreviation for equaliser. It enables us to control the sound output, such as by adjusting the treble, mids, bass and much more.

The RTP-MIDI system enables some MIDI instruments to be connected via a classic Ethernet cable.

A fingerboard can be found on stringed instruments. It typically consists of tuning pegs and a tailpiece, and also differs according to its purpose – with a violin, for example, the set also includes a chin rest.

Type of tone holes/ finger positions on recorders, the most being English (Baroque); the German finger position system is less common.

Firmware is the brain of electrical devices. In everyday life, we see this term used with mobile phones; in music we find it in digital pianos, synthesizers and many other devices.

Refers to the design of the spotlight, i.e. whether it is flat on the back.

Indicates which audio formats the instrument or device can read and then work with.

The frequency at which gear such as wireless systems and other devices operates.

The width of the frequency band in which the device is able to reproduce the signal (from the lowest to the highest frequencies).

The material or colour of the instrument's hardware, i.e. the bridge, tuning pegs and other parts.

A typical parameter for drum kits. Hardware refers to stands for drums, stands for cymbals or gear such as pedals for a bass drum.

Among other things, harmonicas differ in their tuning, which is very important when choosing one. There are chromatic harmonicas that move up in semitones, or octave harmonicas, where each blow plays two notes exactly one octave apart.

The vertical distance between the tension hoop of the banjo head and the upper surface of the head.

Headphones are classified not only by their sound properties and connectivity, but also by basic type. They include the classic ear buds or earplugs, as well as closed or open headphones that cover the entire ear.

Bongos are an instrument with two drums - the hembra is the larger one, with its diameter given in inches.

Type of electric guitar pickup. It consists of two coils. This "humbucker" is wired so that the coils cancel out the annoying hum you can get with single-coil pickups. The two coils give a rounder sound and a stronger output signal, resulting in greater volume. A humbucker is ideal for distorted sounds, where the hum has a greater tendency to adversely affect the resulting guitar sound.

An interface designed to transfer data between laser projectors and external controllers (DMX controllers, computers).

Impedance refers to the electrical resistance of circuits. It’s listed for gear such as speakers or headphones. In practice, the lower the resistance, the louder the headphones sound, but the sound distortion can be higher. It is given in ohms.

A big bonus with some instruments. Can be found on gear such as electro-acoustic guitars or guitar combos, so there’s no need to buy a separate tuner.

Some devices have a built-in sound card, so you don't need an external one.

The inputs of mixing desks enabling the connection of other external processors in series.

The IP rating indicates the resistance of electrical devices to damage caused by dust and foreign bodies (the first number) and against the intrusion of water (the second number). IP67, for example, means complete protection against dust, damage by any instrument and against the ingress of water for thirty minutes at a depth of up to one metre.

They can be open or closed. In the closed ones, the holes are stopped by keys, while fingers are used for the open flutes, which is more complicated but also enables better control of the sound. We see this parameter in instruments such as Western concert flutes.

The brand and, in some cases, the specific model of the keyboard, which can be found in the description of the instrument. This parameter is most often used with digital pianos.

A local network used to connect devices in a smaller space, such as a room or recording studio.

Some lighting heads or LED spotlights have a laser, yet another effect you can use in your light show.

The parameter indicates the colour spectrum of the laser. The names and abbreviations are based on the initial letters of the primary colours.

Some electric musical instruments, such as digital pianos or keyboards, have learning systems to get you started nice and easily or help you improve your playing.

A quantity given in units called lumens. It expresses the amount of light energy emitted by the source per second.

The light source is absolutely essential for gear such as spotlights or light heads. LEDs are most common nowadays.

It keeps the volume and gain at the level you want.

Indicates whether the package also contains oil, which is used to lubricate the screws of the tuners on drums and other percussion instruments such as congas.

Indicates the intensity of the luminous flux in a given direction.

Bongos are an instrument with two drums - the macho is the smaller one, with its diameter given in inches.

Maximum sound pressure level (SPL), given in decibels.

The system of transverse flute mechanics. Flutes use either the "Inline" system with the keys located in a single row, or the "Offset" system with the offset G key.

Indicates whether the instrument (such as drums) has the option to turn on a metronome, which is very useful when recording as well as for practicing.

Some mixing consoles have a separate equaliser for microphone inputs, enabling us to control their output.

Microphones differ in how they pick up and transmit sound. They are generally dynamic or capacitor models.

A Musical Instrument Digital Interface that enables musical instruments to connect up and communicate with one another.

An auxiliary expansion input used to connect external multimedia devices.

Multi-effect is the term used for several effects in one device - it can be either a separate unit (such as with guitar multi-effects) or a multi-effects unit built into a mixing console, for example.

The material from which the neck of a guitar, bass or other stringed instrument is made.

The curvature of the back of the guitar neck; there are many different profiles, often indicated by letters (C, D, U, V) that illustrate the type of curvature.

A vertical weight that bears on the tip of the turntable arm.

There is a hole on the bottom of the speakers or studio monitors for attaching them to a stand. It is known as a nest, with 36 millimetres being considered the standard dimension.

While a digital signal only distinguishes between 0 and 1, an analogue value is first measured and then converted into digital form. This parameter indicates the number of inputs that can handle this.

While a digital signal only distinguishes between 0 and 1, an analogue value is first measured and then converted into digital form. This parameter indicates the number of outputs that can handle this.

The AUX input is for connecting external audio devices, i.e. telephones or MP3 players.

Indicates the number of speaker bands. The number of bands is not necessarily the same as the number of speakers.

The number of accordion bass buttons varies depending on the size of the instrument (from 32 to 120 basses).

The number of channels determines the number of notes the harmonica can play. Diatonic harmonicas usually have 10 channels, while the number of channels in a chromatic harmonica can vary (10, 12, 14, 16).

Transducers, typically in headphones, are directly connected to an electrical resistor. A larger diameter and number means greater resistance, thus better sound quality, but at the same time increases the need for a sufficiently powerful signal source.

The number of channels of the DMX digital communication protocol, used to control gear such as lights.

The number of inputs used to connect microphones via a line in port, traditionally a 6.3 mm jack. They can be found on mixing consoles, sound cards or keyboard instruments.

The number of inputs used to connect microphones. They can be found on mixing consoles, sound cards or keyboard instruments.

Number of parts that make up a recorder.

Number of tubes/pipes of a pan flute.

The number of ready-made preset sounds (simulations of amps and speakers combined with effects) that are stored in the device and can be used immediately.

The number of built-in simulations of well-known brands of amp.

Mixing consoles often allow you to create a subgroup or subgroups, making it easier to control the individual inputs.

Dividing the individual electronic drum pads into zones allows the pads to reproduce the authentic sound of drums or cymbals played in a particular spot, i.e. closer to or further from the drum rim, on the edge, in the centre, or on the navel of the cymbal, and so on.

A small piece of plastic, bone, or metal with small cutouts that separates the neck from the head of a stringed instrument and over which the strings run to the bridge.

The nut separates the neck and head of a stringed instrument, such as a guitar. The nut separates the neck and head of a stringed instrument, such as a guitar. It is usually made of plastic, or bone or metal in better instruments, and its width is given in millimetres. For some players, this is also an essential factor in how comfortably their instrument plays.

Adds distortion to the clean signal from the instrument. Common with electric guitars and basses.

Essential for connecting products that require a +48 V power supply. These include condenser microphones that don’t work without phantom power.

The type of pickups the instrument is fitted with. "S" is short for a single-coil pickup (or single coil); a double-coil pickup (humbucker) is marked with the letter "H". HSS, for example, indicates a humbucker - single coil - single coil configuration, always ranked from the bridge towards the neck.

A pickup is needed to connect an acoustic instrument with an amp or computer - this indicates whether the pickup is part of the instrument.

The polarity of the power adapter. The polarity can be: DC - centre negative (minus in the middle), DC - centre positive (plus in the middle) and AC (alternating current).

The number of notes the instrument can play at the same time.

Power consumption indicates the amount of energy used by the device and expresses the amount of energy consumed within a certain time. It is given in watts.

The radius of the curvature of the fingerboard of a stringed instrument across the neck. This is an important parameter for more advanced players, who choose the one that best suits their playing style. It is given in inches; the lower the number, the more rounded the fingerboard.

Registers of the melodic part of the accordion. They are used to change the colour and pitch of treble tones.

The arched wooden cover that encloses the bottom edge of the banjo body. It gives the instrument a fuller and louder sound.

Reverb is an effect that gives the impression of the sound playing in space, giving you a more natural sound. It lets you easily simulate the sound of playing in a large hall or church with that typical rich reverberation.

Peak music power output. This is the output that the amplifier is able to safely handle without impairing the sound quality or damaging the speakers.

When recording sound, one of the most important parameters is the sampling frequency. It indicates the number of signal samples recorded per second. In general, the higher the number, the higher the quality. It is given in hertz.

In stringed instruments, we mean the scale length of the vibrating string, i.e. the part of the string between the bridge and the nut. It is given in millimetres, or occasionally in inches (25.4 mm).

Indicates whether the product has a memory card slot.

Acoustic output, often seen in gear such as headphones or speakers. It is given in decibels.

An instrument or part of an instrument capable of creating and transmitting sequences of commands, enabling us to create melodic, harmonic or rhythmic loops.

The material from which the sides of the instrument body are made.

It is used to fasten the bulb in the light socket. The most common socket is the E27.

Some instruments or products are supplied with software by the manufacturer to support or extend their functionality.

Some software is supplied on a CD in an old-school paper sleeve, while other types are only available as a code that you use to activate the product after downloading it from the manufacturer's website.

Built-in speakers provide quality sound for keyboard instruments.

Changes the colour and direction of the LED based on the sounds picked up by the internal microphone.

The material from which the instrument's front soundboard is made.

An interface used to transmit digital audio.

Number and size of speakers. Size is given in inches.

Gives you a guitar sound without the need for a microphone to pick up the speaker; the signal can be sent directly to the mix.

Spotlights differ in how they illuminate the stage. This means there are spotlights that have a clear boundary, such as those we see at hockey matches and stand-up shows, or wash types, which "flood" the entire stage.

The shape of the cross-section of the bow stick. The most common types include circular, hexagonal and octagonal; the specific choice depends on the player's preferences.

Some instruments or devices allow data to be read from a medium such as an SD card or a USB flash drive.

The bands/frequencies that specific wireless systems operate on.

Every screw is different and this also goes for the thread. This parameter is very important to ensure compatibility with your equipment. It is listed either in inches or with an international code – one common type is M20.

The distance between the reed and the upper edge of the mouthpiece is indicated in units of 1/100 mm. Combined with the hardness of the reed, it has a major impact on the quality of the tone.

The inner part of the mouthpiece. The diameter and shape of the hole greatly affect the sound.

The tone ring is a metal ring placed at the top of the banjo body, which has a major impact on the sound and quality of the instrument.

The top part of the electric guitar body (may not be included). The top is glued to the body; it can be made of a thin veneer (approx. 2 mm thick) or a thicker "cap" (approx. 5 mm) made of solid wood. Some guitars may have a top (cap) with a thin veneer glued onto it.

In keyboard instruments, touch-sensitive means a keyboard that responds to how hard you press the keys.

The distance from the tip of the mouthpiece to the last point where the reed meets the mouthpiece. Track length is given in millimetres, and combined with the hardness of the reed has a major impact on tonal quality.

Switch that completely removes the pedal effect from the signal path when turned off.

Tuners differ according to how they are attached or how they pick up sound. You can get clip-on tuners, for example, which use vibrations and are just attached to the head of the instrument, or pedal tuners, which are connected to the guitar via an instrument cable.

A type of tuning peg used on a stringed instrument. Many instrument manufacturers have their own brand or type, while others use products from companies that specialise in this type of accessory.

Every turntable needs a drive to spin the platter. There are two types: belt drive and direct drive.

A type of speaker specially adapted to produce treble frequencies. Its diameter is given in inches

The various types of ukulele differ in size and shape, which affects not only the resulting sound, but also how comfortable they are to play. Ranked from smallest to largest, there are soprano, concert, tenor and baritone models. However, there are also some other special types – such as guitar or bass.

Lets you connect a MIDI instrument directly to a computer without needing another interface.

Lets you connect the instrument via USB to another device, such as a computer.

Lets you connect a USB disk or other external USB devices to the instrument.

If the entire musical instrument is made by a single person, we call it a master instrument. These instruments are mostly made by hand.

Devices such as fog machines need some time to warm up in order to work properly.

Refers to the cymbal weight, such as thin, medium, heavy, etc. The weight category affects both the sound of the cymbal and how it feels to play.

Indicates whether the product can be connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Some strings have an additional layer of material wrapped around the core to give them a specific sound. There are several types of winding and besides the resulting sound, they also differ in how they feel to play: round ones give a cleaner and punchier sound, while flat strings, for example, have a darker and authentically vintage ring to them.

Some electrical devices, such as lighting heads, can also be remotely controlled, using an infrared controller or Bluetooth.

100V speakers are mainly used to provide sound in large rooms, such as gymnasiums, halls, shopping centres and other large spaces. These speakers are often placed on the ceiling or on the wall.

Indicates that the product can be mounted in a rack cabinet with a standardised width of 19".