MU128 Appendix
189
English
Glossary
A/D input
Abbreviation for analog-to-digital. The A/
D inputs of the MU128 allow you to process ana-
log inputs (such as a microphone, electric guitar,
CD player, or another electronic instrument) with
the digital effects of the MU128 and mix them with
the internal Voices.
Assignable Controller 1
Certain functions on the
MU128 (such as the Filter, Volume or Variation ef-
fect) can be changed in real time by controllers on a
connected MIDI instrument. Assignable Controller
1 lets you determine which controller (for example:
modulation wheel, breath controller, foot control-
ler, etc.) is used for that purpose.
AWM2
Abbreviation for Advanced Wave Memory 2,
an enhanced version of Yamaha’s original tone gen-
eration system, featuring digital filters for superior
sound.
bank
A set of Voices or programs. The MIDI standard
supports up to 128 banks, each of which can con-
tain up to 128 Voices or programs.
edit
Editing is the process of changing or adjusting
the settings of the MU128.
EG
Abbreviation for Envelope Generator, a common
control on electronic instruments that affects the
“shape” (or envelope) of the sound in time. The
MU128 provides two types of EGs: one for level
and the other for pitch.
Filter
A control for affecting the frequency content of a
sound. Filters are used to selectively cut or boost cer-
tain frequency ranges in the sound — subtly enhanc-
ing the sound, or dramatically changing its character.
On the MU128, the Filter can be controlled in real
time with the Assignable Controller 1.
General MIDI (GM)
An addition to the MIDI stan-
dard which effectively ensures that any General
MIDI-compatible song data can be properly played
back on any General MIDI-compatible tone gen-
erator. The standard specifies that a GM-compat-
ible tone generator must have at least 24-note po-
lyphony, 16-part multi-timbral capacity and 128
standard voices. The MU128 exceeds this with 128-
note polyphony, 64-part multi-timbral capacity and
1342 Voices.
host computer
The controlling computer in a com-
puter music system. The host computer is connected
to the MU128 (via the TO HOST or MIDI termi-
nals) and runs the software necessary for recording
and playing back song data, which is reproduced
by the internal sound sources and effects of the
MU128.
LFO
Abbreviation for low frequency oscillator, which
generates a low frequency signal that is used to
modulate certain aspects of the sound, such as pitch
or level. Chorus, Flanger, Tremolo, Vibrato and other
modulation effects use LFOs.
MIDI
Acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Inter-
face, a worldwide standard that allows MIDI-com-
patible instruments and devices to communicate
with each other. For the instruments to communi-
cate, they normally must be set to the same MIDI
channel.
modulation wheel
A controller found on most MIDI
keyboards which is normally used to control pitch
and other types of modulation. It can be used to
control various aspects of the MU128 sound by
proper setting of the Assignable Controller 1. (See
page 79.)
multi-timbral
This refers to the capacity of a tone
generator to produce several different sounds at
once. The MU128 is a 64-Part multi-timbral tone
generator, capable of playing 64 different instru-
ment Voices at once, each over an independent MIDI
channel.
Mute
The Mute function of the MU128 allows you to
silence one Part to hear how all of the other Parts
sound without it.
parameter
The word “parameter” refers to any ad-
justable setting of an electronic musical instrument.
For example, the Vibrato function of the MU128
has three parameters: Rate, Depth, and Delay.
Part
The Voices of the MU128 are assigned to sepa-
rate Parts, and up to 64 Parts can sound simulta-
neously. Parts are similar to the various instrumen-
tal parts in music: e.g., piano part, guitar part, etc.
Glossary
