GLOSSARY
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Magnetic – Putting out magnetic energy. Also refers to the ability to be magnetized.
Magnetic Lines Of Force – A magnetic field existing between the poles of a magnet.
Magnetic Tape – Recording tape consisting of a plastic strip to which magnetic materials, usually in form of finely ground iron oxide (rust) particles, are adhered.
Magnetism – A natural attractive energy of iron based-materials for other iron-based materials.
Margin – The amount of dB between the highest peak level of the program and the overload point.
Masking – The characteristic of hearing by which loud sounds prevent the ear from hearing softer sounds of similar frequency.
Master– A control to set the level going out of the console, especially the stereo output to the two track machine in mixdown. Also refers to the original recording, used for making copies.
Master Fader – The fader which controls the main output(s) of the console during mixdown. In some consoles, faders which control the outputs to the multitrack tape recorder during recording.
MDM – Modular Digital Multitrack: A multitrack digital recorder with (usually) 8 tracks than can be run in synchronization with other machines (of the same type) to attain more tracks.
Measure – The grouping of a number of beats in music.
Meg/Mega – A prefix for 1,000,000. Also refers to a slang abbreviation for megahertz (1,000,000 Hertz) or megabytes (1,000,000 Bytes).
Meter – A device which measures or compares the electrical signal/signals; often used to read the voltage level of audio signals.
Mic – An abbreviation for microphone.
Mic Gain Control –A level control on a microphone preamplifier that sets gain and is used to prevent overload.
Mic/Line Switch – The selector switch on the input of a console channel that chooses what input jack will feed the console.
Mic Input –The input of a console or other device that a microphone can be plugged into.
Mic Level – The very low audio voltage level that comes out of a studio microphone.
Mic Pad – A device that reduces the level of the signal and is placed just before a microphone preamplifier to prevent overload of the preamplifier.
Mic Preamp –- An amplifier to boost the low-level audio signal out of a microphone up to line level.
Microphone – A transducer which converts sound pressure waves into electrical signals.
Mid-Range Frequencies – The audio frequencies from about 250 Hz through 6000 Hz.
MIDI – Musical Instrument Digital Interface, a digital signal system, or a system of number signals, used to communicate performance information to and from musical instruments making music.
MIDI Channel – A grouping of data about the performance of one synthesizer or device, separate from data for other synthesizers/devices.
MIDI Clock – Time data in the MIDI signal that advances one step each 1/24 of a beat and can be used to sync two sequencers together.
MIDI Clock With Song Pointer – A MIDI clock signal (time data in the MIDI signal that advances one step each 1/24 of a beat) which also has a number signal for each measure to indicate the number of measures into the tune.
MIDI Controller – A device that can be played by a musician and puts out MIDI signals to control synthesizers or sound modules.
MIDI Echo – A function in a synthesizer that causes the output of a sequencer to send a MIDI signal out the out port which matches the MIDI signal coming in for the track being recorded.
MIDI Interface – A device that converts a MIDI signal into the digital format of a computer so it can store and use the MIDI signal.
MIDI Patch Bay – A device that has several MIDI inputs and outputs allowing any input to be routed to any output.
MIDI Sample Dump –The copying of a digitally recorded sample without converting it to analog between different storage units or sound modules thru a MIDI transmission.
MIDI Sequencer – A computer that can record and playback MIDI data in such a way to control the performance of MIDI controlled musical instruments or devices in a series of timed steps.
MIDI Time Code – All of the information of SMPTE time code that has been converted into part of the MIDI signal.
Mini Disk - A small Sony compact disc that can be recorded on by general consumers.
Mix – Blending audio signals together into one composite signal. Also refers to the signal made by blending individual signals together or a control or function on a delay effects/reverberation device which controls the amount of direct signal that will be mixed into the processed signal.
Mixer – 1) A console, or other device that blends audio signals into composite signals and has a small number of outputs. 2) A section on a console that does this function. 3) In Europe, a fader. 4) An engineer or technician who mixes, especially a live sound mix at a performance.
Mixdown/ Mix Down –Combining the signals from the tracks of a multitrack tape onto a master tape; reverberation and other effects may be also added.
Mixing Console – A device which can combine several signals into one or more composite signals in any desired proportion.
Mixing Solo – A button that turns off all other channels, allowing the signal to be heard in the stereo perspective and level used in the mix down, with the reverberation being used.
Modular Digital Multitrack – A multitrack digital recorder with eight tracks than can be run in synchronization with other machines of the same type to attain more tracks.
Modulation –The control of one signal by another AC signal.
Modulation Noise – Noise that is present only when the audio signal is present.
Module –A group of circuits and controls that are mounted on a removable housing; often on consoles, all of the controls and circuits for one or two channels.
Monitor – In audio, this means to listen. Also refers to indicating with a meter or light the conditions in a circuit, especially level and overload.
Monitor Channel/Monitor Path – An audio channel or a single path that an audio signal travels or can travel through a device used to listen to the signal fed to or received back from one track of a multitrack tape recorder.
Monitor Mixer – A console or other device that blends audio signals into composite signals and has a small number of outputs. Also refers to the section of the console which is used to do a rough mix so the engineer can hear what is being recorded without effecting the levels being fed to the multitrack recorder.
Monitor Pot –A rotary control used to set the level of the track signal in the monitor, or the signal to or the signal back from one track of a multitrack tape recorder.
Monitor Section/Monitor Mixer Section – The section of the console which is used to do a rough mix so the engineer can hear what is being recorded without effecting the levels being fed to the multitrack recorder.
Monitor Selector – A console switch allowing one to hear various things over the control room monitor speakers such as the main console outputs for mixing, the monitor mixer section for recording and overdubbing, the disc player, tape machines and other devices.
Mono – Shortened from Monophonic or Monaural and meaning that there is only one sound source or the signal was derived from one sound source.
Monophonic – More formal term for Mono and meaning that there is only one sound source or the signal was derived from one sound source. 2) In synthesizers, a term meaning that only one pitch may be sounded at a time.
Mounted Toms – An alternate name for Rack Toms, smaller toms, as small as approximately a 10" diameter, mounted above the foot drum in a drum kit.
Moving Coil Microphone – A term with the same meaning as Dynamic Microphone, a microphone in which the diaphragm moves a coil suspended in a magnetic field to generate an output voltage proportional to the sound pressure level.
Moving Fader Automation – A console feature that lets the engineer program fader level changes so that these changes happen automatically upon playback of the multitrack recording because the fader positions actually change.
MS Micing –A method of stereo microphone placement where one microphone, with a cardioid pattern, points directly at the middle of the area to be miked and a Bi-directional microphone is as close as possible to the first mic with its rejection pointing the same way as the axis of the first mic.
Multi/Multi Jack – Multiple Jacks or Multiple Jack, refers to 1) a jack at the output of a device which is not normalled so that plugging into the jack will allow the output to be sent to a different input and the output will also feed the normal place it feeds. 2) A set of jacks (or one of a set of jacks) with each terminal wired to a corresponding terminal of another or other jacks.
Multitimbral –The ability to send out several signals of different sound patches, and often playing different parts, by one synthesizer; having several sound modules in it .
Multitrack Recording –A technique of recording various instruments separately on different portions of the same tape, in time with each other and so that final balancing of the sound may be accomplished later. Also refers to a technique of digitally recording various instruments onto a hard disk in different data files so the may be played in time with each other and final balancing of the sound may be accomplished later.
Multitrack Tape – A piece of magnetic tape which can be used to store two or more discrete signals, in time with each other.
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) –A digital system of numbers used to communicate to and from musical instruments; data regarding the performance of the instruments making music.
Mute Switch –A switch which turns off a channel, takes out a track signal from the monitors, or which turns off the entire monitor signal.
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