| Mac |
Manufacturer's name for one of the most used intelligent
lights (qv). |
| Maroon |
An electrically fired thunderflash, set off in a steel
tank fitted with a wire mesh top, to simulate an explosion. These
are so loud that it is as well to inform the police in advance if
one is to be set off (and at what time), so that they can be ready
to deal with hundeds of reports of bombs going off! |
| Mask |
To hide: an actor masks another when he stands in front of him
and prevents the audience from seeing him properly. Note: if this
happens by accident during a performance, the upstage person (i.e.
the one being masked) should move, as (s)he is more likely to notice
what has happened than the actor who is doing the masking. Also
a noun: fabric hiding a row of lanterns hung above the stage (also
known, probably more commmonly nowadays, as a border). |
| Microphone |
Usually shortened to mic. An instrument which collects
live sound and coverts it to electrical impulses which are then
input into a mixer/amplifier. |
| MIDI |
Musical Instrument Digital Interface.
A protocol for linking electronic instruments such as keyboards
to a computer or a sound control system. |
| Mix, The |
The name given to the result when a mixer (qv) mixes together
incoming sounds from a variety of sources. |
| Mixer |
Or Mixing Desk. A device for mixing together and modifying
sounds from a variety of sources - microphones, tapes, CDs, musical
instruments, etc. - before feeding them to one or more amplifiers.
There are also Powered Mixers which inlcude one or more built-in
amplifiers. |
| Mr Sands |
Theatrical code to warn theatre employees of a fire without frightening
the audience. "Mr Sands is in the foyer" means that fire
has broken out in the foyer. |
| Monitor |
A special kind of loudspeaker which is used to monitor the sound
(either onstage or in the lighting/sound box) and not to relay it
to the audience. |
| Multi |
See multicore |
| Multicore |
A type of cable which contains (normally) six ways of power to
a lighting bar. Can also be used in sound and, indeed, to refer
to any cable which carries more than three ways. |
| Multiplex |
A means of sending control signals from a lighting control console
to the dimmer packs. Signals are sent down one cable rather than
using one cable per channel as is the case with analogue desks.
At the dimmer end, a de-multiplexer (DMUX) is used to separate the
signals and route them to the right dimmer. Often shortened (in
brand names) to MX. |
| Move Fade |
A type of lighting change (cue) in which the brightness of the
lanterns already on is changed. Distinct from a cross fade
in which one set of lanterns fades down while another set fades
up. |
| Musical Director |
(MD) In complete control of the music in the production, under
the overall control of the Director. Rehearses the singers and musicians,
conducts the orchestra or band, and usually arranges the music too.
|
| Neutric |
A type of connector found on sound equipment, usually but not
restricted to loudspeakers. |
| Notes |
At the end of each rehearsal, the director will give his notes,
which are his comments on the performance. |
| Number 1 Bar |
The lighting bar immediately behind the proscenium arch (qv)
or the front bar which hangs over the stage in a non-proscenium
arch theatre. |
| Omnidirectional |
A type of microphone which takes in sound coming from all directions. |
| OP |
Opposite prompt: the right hand side of the stage as you face
the audience. If the prompt corner (or simply corner (qv))
is on the OP side, it is called a bastard prompt. |
| Open White |
A lantern (qv) is said to be "in open white",
i.e. no filter or gel is used to colour or otherwise modify its
light. |
