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M
MONITOR
1) An onstage speaker which allows a performer to hear the output of the PA
system, or other members of a band.
2) A video display screen (not normally able to receive broadcast TV
pictures) used with a CCTV system or a computer.
MOON BOX
Lighting effect. A large shallow circular box with calico cloth on one face
and low wattage lamps arranged on the back. Can be flown behind a gauze or
thin cyclorama to give the effect of the moon rising.
MOVING LIGHT
Remotely controllable "intelligent" lighting instrument. Each instrument is
capable of a massive variety of effects which are operated "live" via a
moving light control desk, or can be pre-programmed by a standard memory
lighting desk. The instruments require a power supply and a data cable
(normally carrying DMX512 signal from the control desk). There are broadly
two types:
1) Moving Head: A luminair is mounted on a moving yoke.
2) Moving Mirror: A stationary luminair directs light onto a motorized
mirror.
Both types have in common: A discharge (non-dimmable) light source. A
dimming shutter.Motorized rotating color wheels. Some offer color mixing
using graduated red, green and blue wheels or prisms. Profile versions have
motorized gobo wheels with rotation. Strobing effects and adjustable iris.
Some also have shutters. The term "intelligent" is used as the instrument
has a processor chip and electronics built into it, not because it's able to
interpret the designer's artistic intent! It can be incredibly frustrating
trying to get moving lights to behave exactly as required in a dramatic
situation. Musicals and live music performances are more forgiving. Moving
Head lanterns are sometimes known as NODDING BUCKETS, Moving Mirrors are
sometimes known as WIGGLIES or SCANNERS.
MR16
A 12 Volt lamp dichroic lamp commonly used in place of a Par 16 lamp in
BIRDIES.
MSDS
Material Safety Data Sheet. Form available from manufacturers of, for
example, smoke fluids. Lists any hazardous ingredients and other
safety-related data about the product.
MSR
(Medium Source Rare earth) High efficiency discharge lamp with a high color
temperature (approx 5600°K). Provides around 50% more light output than a
incandescent lamp of the same wattage.
MULTICORE
A flexible electrical cable composed of several well-insulated cores covered
in a strong PVC or rubber covering. Enables a number of different circuits
to be carried down one piece of cable. Both lighting and sound multicores
are available. Sometimes known as a Multi or Snake.
MULTIPLEXED (MUX) SIGNAL
All modern lighting desks use this serial form of communication with
dimmers. All the information from the desk is transmitted along a single
pair of cables to the dimmer where a de-multiplexing unit (demux box)
decodes the string of data and passes the correct piece of information to
the correct dimmer. The industry standard protocol (language/standard) for
multiplexing is the digital USITT DMX512 (introduced in 1986, based on RS485
data protocol). However, new protocols are continually being added to keep
up with more demanding equipment.
SMX is a communications protocol which enables digital dimmers to "report
back" to the desk on any faults (eg blown lamps). RDM (Remote Device
Management) is an emerging upgrade to DMX512 which will include
bi-directional communication between controller and device. DMX512-A
(officially ANSI E1.11) is a new standard under development at ESTA which is
backwards compatible with DMX512 but has stricter safety parameters and
offers some upgrades of functionality. Among the older protocols (pre
DMX512) are D54 which uses a stream of analog voltage levels and was the
Strand standard, and AMX 192 (US Standard, introduced around 1975) which can
control up to 192 channels and uses a 4-pin XLR connector. (AMX stands for
Analog Multiplex).
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