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Numbers
Glossary "M"
MACH An abbreviation used on mail container labels that identifies the contents as machinable letters or parcels (mail that can be processed on mechanized mail sorting equipment).
Machinable parcel A parcel that is of the correct size and weight to be safely sorted by mail processing machinery such as a parcel sorting machine. Machinable The ability of a mailpiece to be sorted by mail processing equipment. Compare with nonmachinable.
Macrovision An anti-taping process that modifies a signal so that it appears unchanged on most televisions, but is distorted unwatchable when played back from a video recording or through the analog video output circuit.
Mail class The classification of domestic mail according to content (for example, personal correspondence versus printed advertising). It is codified in the Domestic Mail Classification Schedule.
Mail Any mailable matter that is accepted for mail processing and delivery by the USPS. Also, the sum total of the mail at any time that is in USPS custody. To deposit a mailable item in a collection box or present the item (or a mailing for large quantities of mailpieces) at a post office or business mail entry unit.
Mailing agent A private third party that mails on behalf of someone else.
Mailing A group of mailpieces within the same mail class and mail processing category that may be sorted together under the appropriate standards. Also, the action of depositing or presenting mail at a post office.
Main Menu Menu page from which titles are selected. Normally the first menu accessed on a DVD.
Managed mail (MM) tray A stackable cardboard or plastic container with an enclosing cardboard sleeve and plastic strap that is used to transport letter mail to or between post offices.
Manifest Mailing System (MMS) A postage payment system that enables the USPS to accept and verify permit imprint mailings that contain nonidentical-weight and/or nonidentical-rate pieces of the same mail class (except Periodicals) and same mail processing category. These pieces are prepared by the mailer according to certain standards and require specialized documentation.
Marking Words or abbreviations printed on a mailpiece that show the class of mail, presort level, or ancillary service endorsement. See also
Master (verb) In disc manufacturing, the recording of the original media (glass0 in preparation for making replicates (copies). (noun) In audio, the final finished recording (usually tape) to be used as a source for mastering. In CD ROM, the final recording of the desired CD-ROM Image to be used as a source for mastering. It may be on tape, magnetic disk, optical disc (M-O or W-O), etc.
Mastering Mastering is the process of creating a stamper or set of stampers to be used in the injection molding stage of manufacturing compact discs. During this process a digital signal from a computer is used to guide a laser beam which etches a pattern of "pits and lands" (in the case of CDs) or a continuous groove (for CD-Rs) onto a highly polished glass disc coated with photoresist. This "glass master" is then cured (developed) with ultraviolet light and rinsed off, and a metal (nickel or silver) mold is electroformed on top of it. This mold is removed and then electroplated with a nickel alloy to create one or more stampers to be used in the injection molding machine to press the data into the polycarbonate substrate of CDs, or the guiding groove into the substrate of CD-Rs.
Match Print Color Proof that can be supplied to a client upon request. Used for CDs or printed materials
Media Mail A subclass of Package Services that consists of books, sheet music, printed educational material, film, videocassettes, and computer prerecorded media such as CD-ROMs. Advertising restrictions apply.
Megabyte (MB) 1 Megabyte is equivalent to 1,024 kilobytes of data.
Memory Data storage used by computers and other electronic systems. Read only memory (ROM) permanently stores data; Random access memory (RAM) temporarily stores data while it is being manipulated. CD-R and DVD-R are use written (once) and read-many.
Merchandise return service A service whereby an authorized company provides a customer with a special mailing label to return a shipment without prepaying postage. The company pays the return postage.
Metal Master The first electroformed part from a Glass Master. See Father.
Metalizing A process by which a thin metal coat (usually aluminum) is deposited on the clear plastic disc after it has been injection molded. The usual process is by sputtering, although vacuum vapor deposition or wet silvering can be used.
Meter reply mail (MRM) A preprinted return envelope, card, or label provided by a meter license holder as a courtesy to customers on which the postage is prepaid as a meter impression. Compare to business reply mail and courtesy reply mail.
Meter stamp A postage imprint (either on tape or as a direct impression) to show prepayment of postage applied in the upper right corner of the envelope, address label, or tag. The type, size, and style of the imprint must be fixed when the postage meter or PC postage system is approved by the USPS. For letter-size mail, the imprint must be set in fluorescent ink unless another approved method is used. Meter stamps may be used to pay postage for all mail classes except Periodicals.
Metered mail Any piece of mail with postage printed by a USPS-approved postage meter.
Minimum size standard The smallest dimensions permitted for all mailable matter or for a specific mail processing category or specific rate.
Mixed class A mailing containing more than one class of mail. With certain exceptions, the postage on the entire piece or package is charged at the rate of the higher class.
Mixed Mode Disc A CD-ROM that contains both a computer data track (#1) and audio tracks (#2-99)
MMCD A Microsoft format, early competitor to DVD.
Moiré An undesirable “checkerboard” or wavy effect when the screen angles of films for print are misaligned.
Monochrome Black and white video signal.
Mother A metal part electroformed on the father, used for making stampers.
MPEG Moving Pictures Expert Group, international standards committee that developed all standards for MPEG compression, including MPEG2 for DVD.
MPEG Audio Audio compressed according to MPEG encoding spec. MPEG 1 provides two channels, while MPEG 2 provides for a discrete multi-channel “surround sound” audio. Stereo MPEG 2 is the mandatory audio compression system for PAL/SECAM DVD-Video. MPEG3 – more correctly MPEG, Layer 3, is the audio format known as MP3, the Internet compatible audio format.
MPEG Video Video compresses according to MPEG encoding spec. MPEG 1 provides low data rate, usually partial screen video such as is found on Video CD, CDROM. MPEG 2 is used to provide high quality, full screen video such as in DVD or DirectTV. multi-angle DVD-Video program containing multiple camera angles allowing for user selectable views during playback.
MPEG1 High quality compression scheme which delivers quarter screen
MPEG2 Highest quality compression which delivers full screen playback at 30 frames per second and 60 fields per second.
Multi-channel Multiple channels of audio, usually containing different signals for different loudspeakers in order to create surround sound during playback.
Multi-language A DVD-Video program containing sound tracks and subtitle tracks for more than one language.
Multi-media Information presented in more than one form, such as text combined with still and moving imagery. Usually implies playback using a computer display system.
Multi-plexing The combining of multiple signals or data streams into a single signal or stream. aka: premastering – a final step in DVD production process before mastering and replication.
MultiRead A new standard developed to ensure that all new DVD and CD hardware can read all formats of both (not yet widely embraced 9/99).
Multi-session Technique in write once optical disc recording that allows for additional data to be appended (written) on same disc after data already written in a previous “write” session.
MXD An abbreviation used on mail container labels that identifies the contents as mixed mail for different destinations. Usually indicates the last presort level in a sequence.