M
 

M/E

Mix/effects.

MAC

Multiplex analog components.

Machine Leader

Strong leader threaded through a film processing machine which is used to pull film through the machine during its operation. (Laboratory)

MacintoshTM

An AppleTMbrand computer used in desktop video production.

Macro

A function that provides a one-key stroke streamlined operation in place of a procedure having many keystrokes.

Macrovision

Macrovision APS (Analog Protection System) -- The DVD Video copy-protection mechanism that prevents copying from a set-top DVD player to an analog videotape. This introduces distortions to the synchronization signals in the video output, so that video recorders cannot synchronize to the signal properly, although televisions will be able to display it correctly. See also content protection.

Magenta

A red-purple color which is the complementary color of green.

Magenta:

Process red, one of the basic colors in process color.

Magnetic Disc

magnetic disk -- Term used for storage media such as hard disks and floppy discs that record data using magnetic fields. See also optical disc.

Magnetic Film (mag film)

Film which is coated with an iron oxide compound on which sound is recorded and from which sound is reproduced.

Makeready:

All the activities required to prepare a press for printing.

Manipulation

In a digital picture manipulator, the various processes used to alter a video image, such as transformations and programmed effects.

Marginal words:

Call outs for directions on various parts of a business form.

Mask:

Blocking light from reaching parts of a printing plate.

Masking

A phenomenon whereby one or more sound "trick" the ear into not hearing other, weaker, sound that are also present. (Audio)

Master

master -- For prerecorded discs, to create the master mold used in manufacturing DVD (and CD) discs. See also replication.

Master (print master)

A positive print made specifically for duplicating purposes. (Laboratory)

Master control system

The switching link for video and audio sources used between a television facility and a transmitting device.

Master/slave

In editing, the process in which one or more VTRs (slaves) are controlled by another VTR (master).

mastering

"Mastering is the process of creating a stamper or set of stampers to be used in the injection moulding stage of manufacturing compact discs. During this process a digital signal from a computer is used to guide a laser beam which etches a pattern of ""pits and lands"" (in the case of CDs) or a continuous groove (for CD-Rs) onto a highly polished glass disc coated with photoresist. This ""glass master"" is then cured (developed) with ultraviolet light and rinsed off, and a metal (nickel or silver) mold is electroformed on top of it. This mold is removed and then electroplated with a nickle alloy to create one or more stampers to be used in the injection moulding machine to press the data into the polycarbonate substrate of CDs, or the guiding groove into the substrate of CD-Rs.

media or ""blanks""

CD-Recordable media are the discs used to record digital information using a special recorder and premastering software with a computer. These discs are made of a polycarbonate substrate, a layer of organic dye, a metalized reflective layer, and a protective lacquer coating. Some discs also have an additional protective coating over the metalized layer, and some discs have a printable surface silkscreened on them.

"

Match

In editing, a command that calculates the match frame for the time specified in the R-VTR's mark table IN column.

Match Cut (match-action cut)

A cut made on action or movement between two shots in which the action has been overlapped either by repetition of the action or by the use of more than one camera. (Film Editing)

Match Dissolve

A dissolve linking images which have similar content. (Film Editing)

Match-Image Cut

A cut from one shot to another shot having an image of the same general shape as the one in the prior shot. (Film Editing)

Matching

Arranging for the impedances presented by a load to be equal to the internal impedance of the generator. This is essential to avoid loss of power. In microphones, the loss results in poorer signal-to-noise ratio. Matching is done by means of a transformer. (Acoustics)

Matching Action

The process of aligning or overlapping the shots of a film sequence in order to achieve a smooth transition from the action in one shot to the action of the succeeding shot. (Film Editing)

Matchprint:

Trade name for 3M integral color proof.

Mater

A small adjustable clamp with a baby stud which can be interchanged with a variety of accessories. (Grip)

Matrix

A logical network configured in a rectangular array of intersections of input-output leads. In routing switchers, a signal switching frame configured such that any frame input may be selected at any frame output. In a color television set or an encoded chroma keyer, the section that combines the luminance and color signals and transforms them into individual red, green, and blue signals. In the TV set, these signals are then applied to the picture-tube grids. In the encoded chroma keyer, these signals are used to generate a chroma key.

Matte finish:

Dull paper or ink finish.

Maxi-Brute

A 9 light unit with (9) 1000 watt PAR 64 lights. (Lighting)

MB

The acronym for megabytes which is a measure of computer storage capability; the equivalent of 1,000 bytes.

Mbps

Megabits per second. Digital transmission speed in millions of bits per second.

ME Track

This refers to the music and effects tracks which are combined into one (or a stereo pair) for use with foreign language re recording of a film or video program.

Meat Axe

An grip arm-like accessory which is designed to clamp onto the hand rail of a studio overhead catwalk, or other suitable surface, and has a gobo head at the end of the arm. (Grip)

Mechanical separation:

Mechanical art overlay for each color to be printed.

Mechanical:

Camera ready art all contained on one board.

Megabyte

One million bytes (actually 220 or 1,048,576); one thousand kilobytes.

Megahertz (MHz)

One million hertz.

Menu

menu -- The main mechanism for navigating DVD productions. Typically consists of a background (still image or motion video), title text, buttons to link to different elements of the DVD (menus or video tracks), and background audio. The viewer interacts with the menu by pressing the up, down, left, and right keys on the Remote Control to cycle through the buttons; and then presses Select to activate the currently-highlighted button. See also button, motion menu.

Menu Key

Menu key -- A dedicated key on DVD remote controls that typically returns playback to the main menu for the current section of the disc (that is, the current Video Title Set). The action of this key is defined by the DVD author. See also Return key, Title key.

Mercer Clip

A trade name for a small plastic clip which is used to hold film ends together during film assembly. (Film Editing)

M-format

A component video format invented by Panasonic for use in videotape recorders. The signal set consists of separate Y, I, and Q signals. The M refers to the way in which the tape is routed through the recording mechanism.

Mickey

An open faced 1K lighting unit. Also known as a 'Redhead'. (Lighting)

Micrometer:

Instrument used to measure the thickness of different papers.

Microphone Impedance

The nominal load impedance for a microphone indicates the optimum matching load which utilizes the mike's characteristics to the fullest extent. Impedance is a combination of dc resistance, inductance and capacitance, which act as resistances in ac circuits. An inductive impedance increases with frequency; a capacitative impedance decreases with frequency. Either type introduces change in phase. (Acoustics)

Microprocessor

An IC package incorporating logic, memory, control, computer and/or interface circuits.

Middle tones:

The tones in a photograph that are approximately half as dark as the shadow area.

MIDI

Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A machine protocol that allows synthesizers, computers, drum machines and other processors to communicate with and/or control one another. (Sound)

MII Format

A second-generation component video format invented by Panasonic for use in videotape recorders. The signal set consists of separate Y, scaled R-Y, and scaled B-Y signals. The M refers to the way in which the tape is routed through the recording mechanism.

Mini-DVD

mini-DVD -- A smaller-diameter DVD disc format, especially for use in portable camcorders. The disc diameter is 8cm (80mm), compared to 120mm (12cm) for full-size DVD discs.

Mix

Electrically combining the signals from microphones, tape, and/or reproducers and other sources. (Post Production)

Mix (dissolve, crossfade)

A transition between two video signals in which one signal is faded down as the other is faded up.

Mix Cue Sheet (cue sheet)

A sheet having several columns for notations of footage, fades. volume levels, and equalizations which are used in mixing sound tracks where each column usually represents one track.

Mix/Effects (M/E)

A subsystem of a video production switcher where a composite of two or more images can be created. Each M/E typically includes crosspoint buses, keyer(s), and mixer.

Mixer

European term for production switcher. Complete term is vision mixer.

Modem

A device that transforms a typical two-level computer signal into a form suitable for transmission over a telephone line. Also does the reverse-transforms an encoded signal on a telephone line into a two-level computer signal. Model is an acronym for modulator/demodulator.

Modulator

A circuit that modifies a carrier wave by amplitude, phase, and/or frequency.

Module

A printed circuit board or assembly that contains electronic components and slides into a cell.

Moire:

Occurs when screen angles are wrong causing odd patterns in photographs.

Monitor

In video, a device that directly displays a video picture from a camera, videotape recorder, or special-effects generator.

Monochrome

Black and white video. A video signal that represents the brightness values (luminance) in the picture, but not the color values (chrominance).

Monolithic

A single slice of silicon substrate on which an integrated circuit is built.

Montage

The assembly of shots and the portrayal of action or ideas through the use of many short shots. (Film Editing)

MOS

Silent filming. Traditionally explained as Motion Omit Sound.

Motherboard

A circuit board that accommodates plug-in cards or daughterboards and makes interconnections between them. May also provide cable input/output connections.

Motion Menu

motion menu -- A DVD menu that incorporates motion video as the background image and/or in the thumbnail buttons to link to video tracks. The video is typically a short clip that repeats until a menu selection is made.

Motivated Lighting

A lighting style in which the light sources imitate existing sources, such as lamps or windows. (Lighting)

Moviola

A trade name for an upright film editing machine.

MPEG Audio

MPEG audio -- A multichannel, digital audio format created by Moving Picture Experts Group. One of the three required formats for PAL DVD-Video players. See also Dolby Digital, PCM.

M-S

(Mid-Side). A stereo microphone technique where two microphones are incorporated into a special configuration for recording. (Audio)

MS-DOS

A computer operating system developed by Microsoft for IBM personal computers.

MultiAngle Video

MultiAngle video -- DVD tracks can contain multiple video streams that can be switched between seamlessly. These tracks allow the user to choose from several different viewing angles when watching a concert. The DVD-Video format supports one main video track and up to eight alternate video streams. See also video stream.

Multichannel

In film, used to refer to a final mix that includes more than stereo information (i.e., LCRS or six-channel surround formats).

Multichannel Audio

multichannel audio -- Audio stored in more than one component, typically representing different spatial positions, to be played on different speakers. Includes stereo (two-channel) and surround-sound audio.

Multilanguage DVD

multilanguage DVD -- The DVD-Video format supports discs that can be played in multiple languages. Discs can contain different versions of material; each is tagged with an associated language code, including audio streams, subpicture streams for subtitles, and even menu paths for different languages. The user then can choose the desired material to view, or can select a language preference in the player setup menu.

Multimode effect

An effect that results from the difference in time required for different light signals to traverse the length of a multimode optical fiber.

Multimode fiber

An optical fiber with a relatively large core diameter anywhere in between 25 and 200 microns in which more than one mode of light propagation takes place.

Multiplex

multiplex -- To combine multiple data streams into a single stream, typically by interleaving sequential elements from each stream. In DVD authoring, often used to describe combining the separate DVD content files and navigational data into finished DVD format. See also format, layout.

Multiplex

In switchers, the duplication of wipe patterns. Instead of one pattern, multiple patterns all of the same shape appear or screen.

Multi-story DVD

multi-story DVD -- A DVD production with an alternate version of the same program material, accessed through user- and program-controlled conditional branching.

Multistream Audio

multistream audio -- DVD presentations can contain multiple audio streams that can be switched between seamlessly. These are intended for uses such as multiple language support and commentaries. The DVD-Video format supports up to eight parallel audio streams. See also audio stream, multilanguage.

Multitrack

An audio tape recorder capable of handling more than two tracks of information separately.

Musco Lights

An array of permanently crane mounted HMI lights. (Lighting)

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