Yamaha MU50 Owner's Manual page 137

APPENDIX
Pitch Bend A function found on virtually all MIDI
keyboards (usually controlled with a pitch bend
wheel) that allows the pitch to be raised or lowered
continously. The Pitch Bend Control parameter on
the MU50 allows you to set the range over which
the pitch can be changed.
polyphony The number of notes that can be sounded
simultaneously by an electronic instrument. The
MU50 has 32-note polyphony, ensuring that even
the most complex song data will play back com-
pletely and accurately, with no "note robbing."
Portamento A function found on early synthesizers
that creates a continuous pitch glide between suc-
cessively played notes. On the MU50, the time of
the pitch glide can be adjusted.
return Related to effect operation, "return" refers to
the effect-processed signal that is returned to the
overall sound mix. For example, the parameter
Reverb Return determines the amount of Reverb-
processed signal that is blended with the overall
sound mix of the MU50. ("Return" is the compan-
ion function of "send" below.)
send Related to effect operation, "send" refers to the
signal that is sent to an effect for processing. For
example, the parameter Reverb Send determines
the degree to which an individual Part is processed
with the Reverb effect. ("Send" is the companion
function of "return" above.)
sequencer A device used for recording, editing and
playing back of MIDI data. Sequencers are gener-
ally of two types: "dedicated" sequencer units, and
computer-based sequencing software. The MU50
can be used with either type.
Solo The Solo function of the MU50 allows you to
isolate a single Part, to hear how that Part sounds
by itself.
Sound Module mode The MU50 has five Sound
Module modes, and these determine the basic op-
eration of the unit as a tone generator. Three Multi
modes (XG, TG300B, C/M and DOC) and one
Performance mode (PFM) are available.
128
tone generator An electronic instrument that func-
tions as a MIDI-controllable sound source. For the
most part, the term "tone generator" refers to those
devices that have no keyboard or other controller,
but are meant to be connected to and played from
a separate keyboard or computer.
Variation In the MU50, "Variation" refers to the spe-
cial section of various effects, including Reverb,
Delay, Chorus, and many others. The Variation ef-
fects total 44, and can be used simultaneously with
the other effect sections of the MU50: Reverb, and
Chorus.
velocity The speed at which a note is played (for ex-
ample, on a keyboard). Normally, the faster (or
harder) a key is struck, the higher the correspond-
ing note's velocity — and, hence, the louder the
sound produced. The MU50 features a variety of
velocity-related parameters that provide extensive
control over the velocity response of the Voices,
and even allow you to set up sophisticated velocity
splits, in which the Voices change in response to
playing velocity.
Vibrato Vibrato is a quavering, vibrating sound, and
is produced in the MU50 by regularly modulating
the pitch of a Voice. The speed and depth of the Vi-
brato can be adjusted, as well as the time it takes
before the Vibrato effect is applied.
Voice The basic sound unit (or sound program) of
the MU50. There are a total of 737 Voices avail-
able on the MU50.
XG-MIDI A new standard created by Yamaha which
significantly improves on the General MIDI stand-
ard by providing a greater variety of high-quality
Voices and enhanced effect operation.