2023.09.18 – 0991 – The Diction-ary of Voice – M

Marking copy – different markings on a script (underlinings, arrows, circles) to show which words require different voice presentations such as inflection, characterisation or changes to volume or speed, difficult passages, odd pronunciations and character thumbnails

Mask – using sound to cover a bad edits or to smooth a transitions

Mastering - the process of preparing and transferring an edited and mixed audio file from which all copies will be produced

Mic fright – the fear of talking in an audio or video situation

Mic level – the volume of the microphone input channel

Microdynamics - the difference between the loudest moments and the quietest moments over a short timeframe, usually referring to transients

Microphone – the device which picks up sound and turns it into electrical energy so it can be broadcast or recorded

Mix - to combine several audio sources into a single finished piece

Mixed audio – see ‘dry’ audio

Mixer – the equipment that allows various inputs of audio or video to be broadcast or recorded at different times and levels

Modal voice- your usual speaking voice

Monaural (or ‘mono’)- sound on one, single channel, that is, not stereo

Monitor speaker (or ‘loudspeakers’ or simply ‘speakers’) – used to hear studio or playback output

Monotone – when a person talks with little or no variety in their pitch, volume, and speed

Montage - several pieces of audio combined sequentially to create a single sound element

Monthly retainer - an agreement in which the voice-over is paid a set amount each month for ongoing work, based on the average amount of recording minutes or scripts per month

Mouth axis – the direction of your mouth in relation to the microphone: ‘slightly off axis would mean that you are not speaking towards the mic and so you will be heard slightly indistinctly

Music bed (or simply ‘bed’) - music played underneath a voice

Mute button – the manual switch which significantly quietens an audio feed, maybe completely. This is automatically activated on studio loudspeakers when the microphone goes live, to avoid feedback

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