Glossary E

Glossary:

The industry is constantly changing, and so is the lingo. To help you stay on top of what’s what, we’ve compiled this comprehensive resource, so you have a place to return to whenever you come across a term that you’re not familiar with.

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All "E" Terms

Ear Buds
Small earphones that fit in the ear. See also: IEM (In-Ear Monitor).
Ear Fatigue
A negative effect of long-term listening that includes loss of hearing sensitivity; often caused by excessive monitoring levels.
Early Reflection
Reflected sound close to the source. In acoustical spaces, these are the first reflections the listener hears when a sound bounces of walls,...
Earth
See: Ground.
Echo
A repeat of an audio signal.
Echo Chamber
A room with a speaker and microphone for creating reverberation effects.
ECIA
ECIA (Electronic Components Industry Association): A trade organization consisting of component manufacturers, representatives, and distribu...
ECM
ECM (Electret Condenser Microphone): See: Electret Condenser Microphone.
ECU
ECU (Extreme Close Up): Cinema term.
Edge Blending
When more than one projector is used edge to edge, creates a seamless transition.
Edge Computing
IoT devices with enough internal intelligence to carry out functions without cloud control.
Edge Enhancement
Method of increasing apparent contrast on the edges of objects.
EDID
EDID (Extended Display Identification Data): Data about a display or monitor sent back to the source including ID, model, max display size.
Edison Connector
A common American electrical plug and socket with two flat blades and optional semi-round ground plug.
Edit Buffer
A place where data is stored temporarily so that it may be edited without disturbing the original data. See: Buffer.
EDL
EDL (Edit Decision List): A computer generated list of locations and parameters for a series of edits.
EDM
EDM (Electronic Dance Music): A form of music, highly dependent on electronics and synthesis, and played mostly at clubs and dance parties.
Effect
A device or software program that modifies some aspect of audio or video. With audio, the term is used interchangeably with signal processor...
Effects Chain
A combination of effects (signal processors) designed to create a specific sound.
Effects Loop
Connections in a piece of equipment, particularly but not limited to guitar amplifiers, that allow for the insertion of an external signal p...
Effects Return
Simple mixer inputs without EQ, etc. used for external effects returns or playback inputs. See also: Aux Return.
EFP
EFP (Electronic Field Production): Video production out of the studio.
EIA
EIA (Electronic Industries Alliance): An American standards and trade organization that dissolved into its constituent divisions (such as th...
EIN
(Equivalent Input Noise): Noise in dB present at the output of an amplifier divided by the amplifiers gain.
Electret
Material with a permanent static charge.
Electret Condenser Microphone
A condenser microphone with a permanently charged diaphragm or back plate, which allows simpler circuitry and lower operating voltages.
Electric Screen
A projection screen that retracts into a housing, either on the wall or in the ceiling.
Electrode
A metallic conductor or terminal which conducts electrical current to a non-metallic medium such as solid state devices, batteries, and vacu...
Electrodynamic
A dynamic microphone or loudspeaker with electromagnetic magnets; now obsolete.
Electrolytic Capacitor
A capacitor containing an electrolyte. This substance, when dissolved, produces an ionically conductive solution.
Electron Current
Flow of electrons from negative to positive, since electrons have a negative charge. Opposite of conventional current.
Electronic Signage
Use of video displays to replace static painted signage and billboards for information, advertising, and programming.
Electronic Whiteboard
A whiteboard that captures the image written on it for storage or transmission. See: Whiteboard or Digital Whiteboard.
Electrostatic Microphone
See: Condenser Microphone.
Electrostatic Speaker
A speaker using a thin charged membrane. Similar in operation to a condenser microphone, but designed to produce instead of receive sound.
Ellipsoidal
A spotlight that uses an ellipsoidal reflector and two lenses. Also known by the brand name Leko.
Elliptical Stylus
An oval-shaped phonograph stylus for better high-frequency response than a round-shaped stylus.
Embedded Audio
Audio stream included in the video stream. Embedding the stream eliminates audio/video timing errors.
Embedded System
An intelligent controller within a larger system.
EMF
EMF (Electro Motive Force): An increase in electric current caused by a voltage difference. Often simply referred to as Voltage.
EMI
(ElectroMagnetic Interference): Byproducts of electronic devices that generate magnetic fields, and which can disrupt audio, digital, or RF ...
Emulation
To imitate the characteristics of something else. Example: Running a Windows emulation on a non-Windows computer would allow it to run Windo...
Enable
To turn on a particular function.
Encoder
A device that converts an ordinary signal into a specifically modified signal in order to accomplish a specific purpose. Example: A rotary e...
Encryption
Scrambling a signal, which requires decoding to decipher.
End Address
A microphone with the pickup axis at the end, versus side address, which picks up sound from the side.
Endless Loop
A recording tape with the beginning and end spliced together to allow for continuous playback. This technique can be applied to a cassette, ...
ENG
ENG (Electronic News Gathering): The transition from film to videotape for television news.
Enhancer
An audio processor that brightens sound using a combination of equalization and harmonic generation. See also: Exciter.
Envelope
The boundary of contour of a signal over time. Example: A percussive signal has an envelope that reaches a peak instantaneously, then decays...
Envelope Generator
A synthesizer circuit or software routine that generates a control voltage (or set of digital data) of a predictable nature, most commonly u...
EP
EP (Extended Play): A vinyl disc with more tracks than a single, and fewer than an album (typically 4 to 6 tracks).
EQ (Audio)
EQ (Equalization): 1. (Audio) Use an equalizer to change a sound's tonality, or compensate for frequency loss in transmission. 2. (Video)...
Equalizer
A device that changes the tonal characteristic of sound to either compensate transmission losses or to change a sound's character or timbre....
ERP
ERP (Effective Radiated Power): The amount of power actually radiated from an antenna.
Establishing Shot
Usually a long shot to establish context at the start of a scene.
Ethernet
A local area network (LAN) using cables classified according to certain categories (CAT5, CAT6, CAT5e, etc.). These relate to the speed a ca...
Euroblock Connector
Also Phoenix Connector. The connector is detachable, and uses screw terminals.
Even-Tempered
A system of tuning where there is an identical mathematical ratio between each of a scale's note. In Western music, this is typically the 12...
Exciter
1. An audio processor that brightens sound, or makes it more present, using EQ and harmonic generation. 2. A modulator portion of a transm...
Exclusive Solo
A function in a mixer or DAW that allows one channel to be auditioned while muting other channels, including ones that may have been soloed ...
Executive Producer
An investor in a production.
Expander
The inverse of a compressor in that it increases dynamic range. It can be used as effect, or in tandem with a compressor to reduce noise in ...
Exponential Horn
A horn transducer with a flare rate that increases with the square of the distance from the entry to the horn throat for highest efficiency....