Hi All,
There seem to be a lot of terms and gadgets talked about on this forum that aren't defined, like everyone knows what they mean except me. I'm not seeing this as a conspiracy, but as my general ignorance. I've tried Googling, but with only limited results.
For instance, SSL, from what I've found, means Solid State Logic, but is that how it's meant when talking about an 'SSL board?' And why is the 'SSL' part significant? Aren't all boards 'SSL?' I would think a tube-based board would be far too bulky to bother with, unless that's just something so outdated no one even talks about them any more.
Or am I really getting the wrong end of the stick here and SSL is NOT the opposite of tube? Not only that, but am I misinterpreting what is meant by 'board' as well? Is an SSL board not actually a mixer of some kind, but something else entirely?
Here are some other things I don't really get:
1) PC4K: is this a brand name, a third-party company that builds Sonar plugins, a device/gadget type (sort of equivalent to convertible, sedan, or sports coupe in the car world) or just a sort-of sub-brand of Sonar plugin?
2) Is "Concrete Limiter" a generic term or a name specific to a Sonar plugin? What's the significance of the 'concrete' part of this term? Is it equating the actions of this limiter to hitting a brick wall, like "nothing gets past this point," that kind of thing?
3) What exactly is a transient? I read several definitions, but frankly, I'm still leaning toward thinking it's a homeless person. Is it some part of a signal that needs to be controlled? If so, what part of the signal is it? How do I recognize it? Are transients to be feared? Why are they called 'transients?' Exactly how do they mess things up? Are they the initial attack? If so, why aren't they just called initial attacks? Or are they some other part of the signal that happens at a random place, not necessarily at the beginning?
And finally, is there a site, forum, book or PDF file that explains what various things are used for? Gates? Limiters (concrete or otherwise)? Exciter? Compander? Leveler? Trackbox? Shaper (isn't this just another name for an EQ)? Modulator? I'm working my way through "Audio Engineering 101," and it talks a bit about these things, but still seems to be leaving out some really basic stuff.
For now, I won't even ask about things like: A Generated Mess, BIG SWEEPY, Boomerang Hangover and Duck Duck Goose, but sometime soon, I think I'll have to.
Any information will be welcomed.