M
Macro Lens: A lens designed specifically for close-up work, macro lenses focus very close to the subject and feature low distortion from corner to corner. Macro lenses can be used for general photography, as well.
Macro Mode: Digital camera setting which configures the lens for close focusing and optimizes exposure settings for close-up photography. Macro mode is usually represented by a flower icon.
MagicGate: Copy-protection system developed by Sony and supported by MagicGate Memory Sticks and supporting devices such as the PlayStation 2 and Sony laptop computers. Most currently produced Memory Sticks support MagicGate. See Memory Stick.
Mandatory Managed Copy: Mandatory Managed Copy is a component of AACS which ensures users will be able to make copies of Blu-ray and HD DVD content for use on a home network pr personal use. See AACS.
Matrix Surround: Surround sound process that records out-of-phase signals on a stereo track. The out-of-phase signals are extracted by the surround sound processor circuitry and sent to the appropriate speakers. Dolby Pro-Logic, Dolbly Pro-Logic II, and DTS Neo:6 are all examples of matrix surround formats.
MC: See Multicoating.
Memory Stick: Memory card format developed by Sony and and used primarily in Sony products, though some Samsung products have used Memory Stick as well. See MagicGate, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro.
Memory Stick Duo: Memory Stick with smaller form factor, Memory Stick Duo cards are shorter than regular Memory Sticks. An adpater is used to make them compatible with devices requiring the long Memory Sticks. See Memory Stick.
Memory Stick Pro: Faster, higher capacity version of Sony’s Memory Stick. Memory Stick Pro was developed in conjunction with Sandisk.
Metrocolor: Term used by MGM for color motion picture film developed in their own labs. Though branded as Metrocolor, it was actually Eastmancolor (Kodak) film.
Micro MV: Proprietary digital camcorder format developed by Sony, MicroDV used a tiny tape and heavily compressed MPEG-2 video. Introduced in 2001, quality was noticeably inferior to MIniDV and other digital formats and the format never caught on and was discontinued in 2006.
Micro-monitors: Term given to small, very high quality bookshelf speakers (usually of British origin) that are extremely accurate with very precise imaging, but usually with limited bass respnonse due to the small size. The lack of bass is a trade-off for the highly accurate midrange and the precision imaging.
Minidisc: Optical-magnetic disc storage system developed by Sony. It is popular in Japan and with musicians who make their own recordings. Minidiscs are smaller than CDs and can record up to 80 minutes of audio.
MiniDV: Digital camcorder format employing small cassettes to record 60 minutes of DV video at up to 520 lines of resolution. MiniDV image quality is the best of the standard definition consumer camcorder formats and is easily edited by computer using any number of editing programs. All MiniDV camcorders use a FireWire connection to transfer information to a DVD recorder or computer. MiniDV cassettes can be used with HDV camcorders to record high-definition video. See DV, FireWire, HDV.
Mini-monitors: See Micro-monitors.
Monoprice.com: Online vendor of accessories and audio/video/computer cables, reknowned for their high quality HDMI cables selling for under $5.00. See HDMI.
Motion Artifacts: Artifacts in a video image created by moving objects. Motion artifacts are caused by poor video processing or the inability of a display device to properly render the moving object. See 120 Hz, Motion Blur.
Motion Blur: Blurring of fast-moving objects caused by the physical properties the LCD panels in an LCD TV. The 120 Hz scan rate feature was developed to combat motion blur. See 120 Hz.
Moving Coil: Phono cartidge that uses a coil generator attached to the cantilever. The lightweight coil Moving coil cartridges are the top choice of audiophiles for their detailed, precise sound. Voltage output is noticeably lower than moving magnet or moving iron designs, so a special high-gain phono preamplifier may be needed.
Moving Magnet: Phono cartidge that uses a magnet generator attached to the cantilever.
MP3: Part of the MPEG-1 video format, MP3 refers to the audio layer. Used on its own for audio files, MP3 is a compressed audio format used in a wide variety of applications from portable music players to the Internet. MP3 is a widely supported non-proprietary format, making MP3 files easily portable between devices.
MP4: Audio files recorded with the AAC codec are listed as MP4 files. This is because the audio encoding is part of the MPEG-4 standard. See AAC.
MPEG-1: MPEG-1 is a video encoding and compression standard specified by the Motion Pictures Experts Group, hence the acronym MPEG. MPEG-1 is low quality compression used primarily on Video CDs. See VCD.
MPEG-2: MPEG-2 is a video encoding and compression standard specified by the Motion Pictures Experts Group, hence the acronym MPEG. The most prominent use of MPEG-2 for video in DVDs and HDTV broadcasts.
MPEG-4: MPEG-4 is a audio/video encoding and compression standard specified by the Motion Pictures Experts Group, hence the acronym MPEG. Compared to MPEG-2, MPEG-4 delivers higher quality with lower space requirements, making it ideal for high definition content. MPEG-4 AVC is used on Blu-ray Discs and HD DVDs as well as satellite television broadcasts. The audio portion of MPEG-4 is used for AAC digital files. See AAC, AVC.
Multicoating: Multiple coatings applied to optical lens surfaces to increase light transmission and contrast, reduce flare and incrimprove color rendition. Some companies have branded their multicoat processes, such as SMC (Pentax) and T* (Zeiss.)
Multichannel Analog Inputs: Inputs on a stereo or receiver that supports 5 or more channels, configured to a single input selection (usually “Multichannel In”.) Multichannel analog inputs are meant to be used with surround-sound disc players containing internal surround-sound decoders and multichannel audio outputs. Examples of such players are Blu-ray players, DVD and DVD-Audio players, HD DVD players, and Super Audio CD players. Most multichannel input channels are for five channels: left front, center, right front, surround left, surround right, and subwoofer. Multichannel analog inputs allow a receiver to be used with surround-sound formats introduced after the receiver. For example, an older receiver may not support Dolby TrueHD decoding, but has multichannel analog inputs. A Blu-ray player that supports Dolby TrueHD and has multichannel analog outputs can be connected to the multichannel analog inputs to provide full Dolby TrueHD sound quality. See Multichannel Analog Outputs.
Multichannel Analog Outputs: Analog audio outputs on disc players equipped with internal surround-sound decoders. Examples of such possible players are Blu-ray players, DVD and DVD-Audio players, HD DVD players, and Super Audio CD players. Most multichannel outputs are five channel: left front, center, right front, surround left, surround right, and subwoofer. See Multichannel Analog Inputs.
