ABSTRACT
Before one can truly understand the applications of a program like QLab, it is necessary to understand the basics of sound systems and how they function. For most designers or technicians in the entertainment industry, audio systems fall into three basic categories: recording systems, reinforcement systems, and playback systems. A dynamic microphone utilizes a small moveable induction coil attached to a diaphragm. The coil, positioned in the magnetic field of a stationary magnet, moves when sound waves strike the diaphragm. A device that increases the audio signals to a high enough electrical impulse to power a passive speaker. Amplifiers must be plugged in to an external power source in order to amplify the audio signal. The computer running QLab is the input source, supplying audio files for playback and allowing the designer to manipulate the file in a number of ways. In this configuration, the audio outputs through the computer's built-in sound card via the 1/8" stereo headphone jack.
