Electronic Music Interactive, 2nd edition

Glossary

microphone: a device that converts waves of acoustic energy to electrical energy; sometimes called an electroacoustic transducer, or transducer for short.
MIDI, Musical Instrument Digital Interface: a protocol that allows messages (usually performance directions) to be sent as digital data from one musical instrument to other musical instruments or computers.
MIDI-controller: an instrument that is "played" and that sends MIDI information out to other instruments in the system. Instruments with a piano-like keyboard are the most common.
MIDI cable: a specific type of cable with a 5-pin plug at each end through which MIDI data is transmitted from one instrument to another.
MIDI channel: a numerical designation from 1 through 16 associated with MIDI messages and instruments contained in a MIDI system.
MIDI IN port: a MIDI port through which MIDI data is received. Information may not be received through any other port.
MIDI interface: a device that assists and permits the flow of MIDI data to and from the computer, and to and from instruments in the MIDI system.
MIDI mode: describes how a module will respond to incoming MIDI data.
MIDI OUT port: a MIDI port out of which MIDI messages are transmitted if, and only if, the information originates in that instrument.
MIDI sequencer: is either a hardware device that is programmed specifically to record, edit and play back MIDI data or a software program resident in a computer that carries out these same tasks.
MIDI THRU port: a port which outputs a replica of any MIDI data that is received at the MIDI IN port. This replica is output virtually the instant it is received.
mixer: a synthesis module that combines the audio signals from several or many sources. Often a mixer is given a formal name within a system, and many times the combining function occurs transparently without the user having to include it in the synthesis process. Also called a combiner. The term mixer is also used to describe a hardware device that combines signals from multiple sources.
modifier: a general classification of synthesis modules. A modifier is a module that changes the sound material sent to it. Examples include a filter and amplifier.
modulation: to induce change in a synthesis module by means of a control signal that varies over time. At one time the use of the term modulation was limited to those changes which were periodic, such as those that might be induced by an LFO; however, current usage also includes changes induced by time-variant controllers that output non-periodic control signals.
Mono mode; Omni Off, Mono: a MIDI mode where an instrument is enabled to respond to only one note at a time and only on the single channel on which the message is transmitted. Also called Mode 4.
Multi-mode: a MIDI mode where an instrument is enabled to respond like multiple sound producing instruments on multiple channels and with multiple "synthesized" sounds.