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

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

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

Magnetic Film (mag film): Film which is coated with an iron oxide compound on which sound is recorded and from which sound is reproduced.

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

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

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)

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.

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)

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

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

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)

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)

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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)