A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

 
8 mm
 Videotape format with a compact (8 mm wide) tape, utilized by Sony and other camcorder/video camera manufacturers. TOP
56K Line
A digital phone-line connection (leased line) capable of carrying 56,000 bits-per-second. At this speed, a Megabyte will take about 3 minutes to transfer. This is 4 times as fast as a 14,400bps modem. TOP

A
A and B rolls
 Refers to use of two videotapes in recording a single-camera segment. During editing the audio and/or video from the B roll (generally consisting of cutaways and insert shots) is inserted over the primary A-roll footage. TOP
AFTRA
 American Federation of Television and Radio Artists The union to which broadcast artists belong. TOP
Animation
Process of taking series of still frames of slightly different drawings or objects which, when presented at normal speed, give the illusion of motion. TOP
Anti-aliasing
 Process of blurring the edges of sharp lines to make them appear less jagged when viewed at low resolution. TOP
Applet
A small niche application or utility that performs one useful task and is designed for use with larger programs TOP
Aspect ratio
 The ratio of the width of a video or film image to its height. The aspect ratio of a TV screen is 4 to 3 (4:3), The aspect ratio of HDTV is 16:9 TOP
Audio level
The strength of audio signals, shown on most audio mixers by LED indicators. If levels are too high, sound distortion will occur, if they are too low, the signal to noise ratio will be inadequate. TOP
Audio sweetening
 A post-production process designed to correct problems in audio as well as to enhance and supplement audio tracks. TOP
Audio mixer
A device that blends sound from several sources, controlling individual input audio levels, and one master output audio level. Background music (soundtrack), narration, and the native audio portion of a videotape are the typical audio inputs. TOP
AVI
Audio Video Interleave. A video format developed for Windows™ To view .AVI files, some sort of .AVI player must be present on the system. TOP

B
Banding
 An image defect where solid bands of color appear in an area that should contain a smooth, gradual transition between colors. TOP
Betacam
A broadcast-quality format developed by Sony and used in several types of camcorders. TOP
Bandwidth
The amount of information that can be sent, processed, etc., in a given amount of time. For example, a double speed CD-ROM drive has a bandwidth of 300 KBps, a 14.4 baud modem has a bandwidth of approximately 1.4 KBps. TOP
Boom
Cantilevered camera mount allowing adjustment of camera height. Also balanced pole device used to suspend microphone. TOP
Browser
A client program (software) that is used to look at various kinds of Internet resources. TOP

C
Calibration
Technique for producing acceptably close color between different devices (eg. Different printers, monitors and scanners), and under different conditions (eg. Compensating for changes in humidity, media, inks, lighting, etc.). TOP
CD-ROM
(Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) a storage disk for computer files; a CD-ROM can hold about 650 megabytes of data; you cannot replace the information on a CD-ROM as you can on a floppy disk or hard disk. Designed to work with a Computer, which reads the files, CD-ROM's can either be made for a specific type and speed computer, in which case that is the only one they will play on, or they can be made down to the lowest common denominator and run on several different types of computers, but at a lower standard of output. TOP
Color bars
 A video test image of eight vertical bars, each in a different color, used to test the color correctness of a TV or monitor. TOP
Component video
The separation of video signal components for the highest-quality images. There are several types of component video systems: RGB (red-green-blue), Y/C (luminance/chrominance -- or the S-video format), and YUV (a professional system with synchronization as well as luminance and chrominance information). TOP
Composite video
A video signal in which all video elements have been combined, in contrast to component video. Composite video is utilized in the world's three TV standards: NTSC, PAL, and SECAM. The connectors used for composite video cables are typically either RF, RCA, or BNC. TOP
CPU
(central processing unit) The heart of a computer that processes information according to the instructions received from software. TOP
Cross-platform
Usable on different types of computers (for The Troupe's applications, this usually means Macintosh and PCs) TOP
Cut
A video scene transition effect where one image jumps to another. TOP
Cyberspace
This is a term that gives us a way to sort of "see" what we are surfing while on the net. It's a generic term for all of the Internet, not just the World Wide Web. TOP

D
D-1, D-2,
D-3 and D-5 formats
 Various videotape systems which record signals in terms of digital information, each providing a number of advantages over analog videotape systems. TOP
DAT
 (digital audio tape) A digital audio recording format. The professional digital audio format utilizes a tape cartridge containing 3.81 mm wide metal particle tape. TOP
Data compression
 A technique for increasing a storage system's ability to hold information. By applying mathematical algorithms to shrink the space needed for computer data, the data can be stored in a fraction of the original space, or transmitted within a fraction of the amount of time required by non-compressed data. TOP
Deinterlace
A filter that removes the interlacing artifacts caused by the two fields-per-frame nature of video. TOP
D.P.I.
 (dots per inch) Measure of resolution for a laser printer, image setter, or monitor. TOP
Dolly
To move the camera on its mount in a straight line directly toward or away from a subject. A wheel-based camera mount. TOP
Download
To copy a file from a server or network to your machine. TOP
Drop Frame time-code
A system which electronically skips frames at regular intervals to compensate for the timing difference which exists between black and white and color signals. TOP
Dropout
The black or white streaks that can appear on screen when a video-tape is dirty or missing sections of its magnetic coating. TOP
Dub
As a verb: to make a copy. As a noun: the copy itself. TOP
DV
Digital video. The type of video signal produced by professional (and the latest consumer) video equipment. TOP

E
Editing
The general term for the post-production process of selecting segments of one or more videotapes to save or edit out, then recording a final assembly of the "saved" scenes, with or without titles and other special effects. TOP
Edit points
The points on an edited videotape where cuts, fades, A/B dissolves, titles, special effects, and other editing actions occur. TOP
EDL
Edit Decision List. A computerized list of edit points for a particular editing production that can be saved and modified to reproduce or modify the production. TOP

F
Font
Particular set of letters and symbols of one size and typeface. TOP
Frame Rate
The number of frames per second in video. NTSC video (standard American Television) is approximately 30 frames per second (fps). Computers commonly use 12-15 fps. TOP
Fredinated
 A Troupe-Specifc term refers to the "mysterious" loss of data; usually unretrievable. TOP
FTP
 File-Transfer Protocol. A standard way to transfer files between computers. The method has built-in error checking. TOP
Full-motion video
Video sequences that consist of enough images (generally, 30 frames per second) to result in smooth motion. TOP

G
Gaffer Grip
A clamp used to attach small lighting instruments to scenery, furniture, doors, and other set pieces. TOP
Gain
Audio or video amplification. The strength of an audio or video signal. TOP
Gel / Gelatin
A piece of optically pure colored, translucent material used to filter the light coming into a camera lens. TOP
Generated graphics
Graphic material that is generated and/or manipulated by a computer. TOP
Generation
Referring to the number of times a tape is copied. A copy of a copy is a second generation tape a copy of that copy becomes the third generation, etc. (See also first generation.) TOP
GIF
(Graphics Interchange Format) A common graphic file format on the World Wide Web; used by online services and Web browsing software, GIFs contain information compressed into a relatively small file size and may display faster than other formats. TOP
gobo
In video a scenic piece through which the camera shoots and which will become a part of the scene's foreground. For example, by shooting thorough a gobo of a keyhole-shaped piece of black cardboard, the impression is given that the camera is peering through a keyhole. TOP
Graphics
Visuals prepared for a television camera, such as logos, lower thirds, charts, and graphs. TOP

H
HDTV
 High Definition Television. The new emerging standard of TV, with increased resolution (1125 lines) and a wider screen (aspect ratio of 16:9) for higher quality video images. TOP
Hi-8
A higher-quality version of 8 mm videotape, with better definition, resolution, and S/N ratio. Comparable in quality to S-VHS; higher quality than the standard 8mm format. Often used as an acquisition format. TOP
HMI light
A high-efficiency, discharge-type light source that has the same color temperature as sunlight. TOP
Hot
Attributed characteristic of a wire carrying an electrical current. The term is also used to signify instrument that is turned on for example, a "hot camera" or "a hot microphone." TOP
HTML
(HyperText Markup Language) -- The coding language used create Hypertext documents for use on the World Wide Web. HTML looks a lot like old-fashioned typesetting code, where you surround a block of text with codes that indicate how it should appear, additionally, in HTML you can specify that a block of text, or a word, is "linked" to another file on the Internet. HTML files are meant to be viewed using a World Wide Web Client program TOP

I
Institutional video
Television production not intended for a mass audience or for general broadcast. Includes most corporate, educational and medical productions. TOP
Interlacing
 Horizontal lines in areas of fast movement caused by the fact that a video frame is made up of two separate fields, each 1/60th of a second apart. TOP
Internet
 The coolest and biggest time-sink ever invented by humanity. TOP
Intranet
 Large private network, often in a corporate environment. TOP
Intro
Introduction. The beginning or introductory portion of a production or production segment. TOP
Iris
An adjustable diaphragm that controls the amount of light passing through a lens. TOP
Isoed
A camera that is routed into a separate VTR and is not dependent upon the output of the on-line video switcher to be recorded. Commonly used in instant replays. TOP
IP Number
Sometimes called a "dotted quad". A unique number consisting of 4 parts separated by dots, e.g. 165.113.245.2 Every machine that is on the Internet has a unique IP number - if a machine does not have an IP number, it is not really on the Int ernet. Most machines also have one or more Domain Names that are easier for people to remember. TOP
ISDN
 A moderately fast connection to the Internet. Theoretical throughput is between 5KBps and12KBps depending on details of the configuration. TOP

J
JPEG
(Joint Photographic Experts group) A graphic file format that compresses information with many colors (up to 16 million) into a smaller file TOP

K
Key words
The more important words within sentences which, when emphasized, more effectively convey essential meaning.  
A Troupe-Specific term, referring to phrases that combine known proverbs into sublime, new meanings. Pure Kimballisms are generated completely by accident by resident Senior Designer, Marc Kimball. Honorary Kimballisms are created by others who have been inflicted with the Kimballism condition. TOP

L
Lapel /Lavaliere microphone
A microphone, usually wireless, that clips to a tie or jacket and connects to a belt-worn transmitter. TOP
Laser disc
The reflective optical videodisc system used to record and play back audio and video. TOP
Letterbox
Term used for one method of adapting a 16X9 aspect ratio to 4X3 which results in a black or patterned bar at the top and bottom of the 4X3 image. Since this technique does not involve altering original images or scenes in any way, it is considered the "most honest" form of conversion. TOP
Level
The strength or amplitude of an audio or video signal. TOP
Lighting grid
A criss-cross arrangement of pipes suspended below the studio ceiling used to hold lights. TOP
LTC
A videotape time code encryption system found in certain VCRs and camcorders that enables edit controllers to communicate super-accurate editing commands. TOP

M
Master
The original or primary recording. TOP
Matte key
 Commonly refers to keying letters or symbols from one video source into background video. In the process the letters or symbols can be electronically filled in with any desired color. TOP
MIDI
 Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A file format that is used to instruct electronic instruments how to play a piece of music TOP
Menu
In computer terms, an on-screen index of possible choices. TOP
Modem
(MOdulator, DEModulator) 1. a device that you connect to your computer and to a phone line, that allows the computer to talk to other computers through the phone system. 2. An incredibly slow way to drink from the information firehose. TOP
MoirŽ pattern
A unintended wavy, moving pattern in a picture often caused when an interaction occurs between striped wardrobe patterns and the TV scanning system. TOP
Montage Editing
An impressionistic sequence of disconnected scenes linked by a variety of transition devices that are designed to communicate feelings or experiences. A montage does not tell a story by developing an idea in a logical sequence. TOP
Music Production Libraries
 Collections of music covering a wide variety of moods and needs, which have been especially designed for productions. TOP

N
NTSC
National Television Standards Committee (also known--because of its relative color instability--as Never The Same Color). The TV system standard of North America and also Japan, with 525 lines per frame and 30 frames per second. TOP

O
Omnidirectional
 A microphone sensitivity pattern in which sounds are picked up (more or less) equally from all directions. TOP

P
Paint program
A computer program designed create and modify graphics. TOP
PAL
Phase Alternate Line. The primary European TV system, with 625 lines per frame; 25 frames per second. See also NTSC and SECAM. TOP
Panning
Moving the camera left or right TOP
PC
Personal computer Normally refers to a computer using the IBM operating standard. TOP
Preproduction
The planning stage of a production. TOP
Prop
Property. Something that is handled or used within a set by talent during a production. TOP
Prosumer Video Equipment
A combination term denoting equipment which lies between professional and consumer-quality video equipment. TOP
Plug-In
 A program or file that adds functionality to another program. TOP
PDF
 Portable Document Format. A file format developed by Adobe Systems that lets users send and receive files that will appear on-screen or be printed as they were originally intended. Users must have the Acrobat Reader to view .PDF files. TOP
Post-Production
The term given to all work done on a videotape after the original video shooting takes place. Datavideo products are made specifically to enhance and/or simplify the post-production process. TOP
PSA
 public service announcement A non-commercial announcement broadcast by a television station. TOP
Public Domain
A creative work that can be used without charge because it is not copyrighted or because the copyright has expired. TOP

Q
Quadraphonic Sound
A system of sound reproduction that goes beyond stereo and attempts to record and playback a 360-degree sound perspective. See quad mic. TOP

R
RAM
(random access memory) A computer's basic working memory which holds information only as long as the computer is turned on. TOP
RCTC
Rewritable Consumer Time Code. A videotape encryption system found in certain camcorders and VCRs that enables edit controllers to communicate super-accurate editing commands. TOP
RGB
(red, green and blue) The primary colors of light used to create a color TV image. TOP
Resolution
An expression of image size; the sharpness and clarity of an image, achieved by the tightness of the dots that make up the image. Resolution is expressed for the scanner as samples per inch (spi), for the screen as pixels per inch (ppi), for the printer as dots per inch (dpi). Most people say "dots per inch" when speaking of scanning resolution, (although technically this is not accurate). The more data per inch (samples, pixels, dots) the higher the resolution of the image and the better looking the image will be. Most screens display at a resolution of 72 pixels per inch. Most laser printers print at 300 or 600 dpi. Higher resolution image files are much larger than low resolution image files, so only save a high resolution image if you need to (such as for archiving). You will need a high resolution image if you are going to print the image in a paper publication and/or enlarge all or any part of the image on screen or on paper. TOP

S
Safe Action area
 The inner 90 percent of the video frame. Since the outer 10 percent of a broadcast picture is typically cut off by overscanning, this area is considered safe for most subject matter. TOP
The inner 80 percent of the video raster or frame. Since the outer 20 percent of a broadcast picture is cut off by some home receivers, this is considered safe for essential subject matter such as titles and text. Click here to download a GIF of a 640 x 486 Safe Title Grid, compatible with The Troupe's editing systems. TOP
SAG
(Screen Actors Guild) Trade union for motion picture and television actors. TOP
Scratch Track
An audio track containing production cues or information. Used only as a guideline or reference during production or editing. TOP
SECAM
Sequential Couleur A'memorie. The TV system of some European countries, including France, with similar characteristics to the PAL TV system. See also NTSC. TOP
Slate
A small blackboard-type visual photographed at the beginning of a scene that identifies the scene in terms of basic production information such as the date, scene, take, director, etc. TOP
Special effects
Enhancements, such as as wipes, fades, freeze-frames, animation, titles, and negative effects, often produced by a Special Effects Generator during post-production, that add to the sophistication of a video production. TOP
Steadicam
A brand-name for a body camera mounts which uses a system of counterbalanced springs to keep a camera reasonably steady, even when the camera operator is walking or running. TOP
SVGA
(super video graphics array) A high resolution video display for computers. TOP
S-VHS
Super VHS. A higher-quality version of the VHS videotape format, with better definition, resolution, and S/N ratio. Comparable in quality to Hi-8. TOP
S-VHS-C
Super VHS-Compact. The compact version of S-VHS, with tape size, as well as quality, comparable to that of Hi-8. TOP

T
T-1
A leased-line connection capable of carrying data at 1,544,000 bits-per- second. At maximum theoretical capacity, a T-1 line could move a megabyte in less than 10 seconds. That is still not fast enough for full-screen, full-motion on video, for which you need at least 10,000,000 bits-per-second. T-1 is the fastest speed commonly used to connect networks to the Internet TOP
T-3
 A leased-line connection capable of carrying data at 45,000,000 bits-per-second. This is more than enough to do full-screen, full-motion video. TOP
Talking Head
Slang for the typical head-and-shoulders shot of actors seen on newscasts or in institutional/coroporate productions. TOP
Tease
a short, initial, often provocative segment of a production intended to grab and hold attention. TOP
TelePrompter
Originally, a brand name for a camera prompter. A device used by on-air talent that rolls an image of a script across a screen near the camera lens. TOP
Three-D Animation
Building a 3-D computer model of an object on a video screen and thereafter being able to rotate the object in several directions. TOP
Thumbnail
A smaller version of a graphic or document page that takes up less space on-screen to allow multiple pages to be viewed simultaneously. These smaller images also are faster to load than full-sized images. TOP
TIFF
 (Tagged Image File Format) a type of graphic file format developed for scanning. TIFFs are bitmapped graphics that can contain lots of information about each bit or pixel. TIFFs can be read by both Macintosh and PC/Windows applications, such as PageMaker and QuarkXpress. If you think you will ever print your image in a book or publication of any kind, you will want to save a copy of your image as a TIFF. Because TIFFs save a lot of information about each pixel, they can be very large files. TOP
Time code
A digital encryption recorded onto videotape that enables edit controllers to communicate super-accurate editing commands to camcorders and VCRs. The videotape is broken down to its basic units--hours, minutes, seconds and frames--and catalogued for editing accuracy. There are three time code systems: LTC, RCTC and VITC. TOP
Tracking
An adjustment to the playback heads of a videotape machine to make them match the phase of recording heads. Sometimes the adjustment is necessary because the tape was recorded on another machine. Tracking problems cause video breakup and aberrations at the top or bottom of the picture. TOP
Tracking shot
A dolly shot that follows a moving subject or moves with respect to a stationary subject. TOP

U
U-matic
Trade name for the 3/4-inch tape format invented by Sony. TOP
URL
 Universal Resource Locator. A standardized naming, or "addressing," system for documents and media accessible over the Internet. TOP

V
VCR
Videocassette recorder.
TOP
VHS
Video Home System. The most common consumer videotape format, utilizing 1/2-inch tape. TOP
VHS-C
VHS-Compact. The compact version of VHS, with tape size comparable to that of 8 mm. TOP
Voice-over
Speech heard over related video, without the person talking being seen on the screen. TOP

W
Web browser
A software program that gives access to and navigation of the World Wide Web. Browsers use a graphical interface that lets users click buttons, icons, and menu options to access commands. They show Web pages as graphical or text-based documents. TOP
White balance
A feature built in to camcorders/video cameras that adjusts the picture for different light conditions. Correct white balance should always be determined prior to shooting by aiming the camera at a white sheet under the available light and selecting the white balance setting that best reproduces the white color. TOP
Whip-pan
Swish pan. A very rapid camera panning action where subject matter is deliberately blurred. An early in-camera special effect used to link shots or sequences. TOP
Wide angle
A lens or a scene that represents an angle of view significantly wider than normal. A wide-angle lens or shot is either a prime lens with a focal length significantly less (at least 25 percent less) than a normal lens, or a zoom lens used at a focal length significantly less than normal. TOP
Wipe
Visual effect where a moving line or pattern acts as a border as one video signal gradually replaces another. As one picture disappears another is revealed. TOP
WYSIWYG
An acronym (pronounced "wizzywig") for what-you-see-is-what-you-get. Refers to a computer screen representation of text or graphics being the same as the subsequent hardcopy printout. TOP
Window Burn; Window Dub
A copy of an original videotape that contains a permanent display of the SMPTE/EBU time code in the video. TOP

X, Y, Z
Yesterday
 The day the final product was needed by; usually the day before pre-production begins.  
Zooming
The process of varying the focal length and, therefore, the angle of view of a zoom lens. TOP
We would like to thank the following for their contributions to this glossary:
Terran , DataVideo, ProGraphics, CyberCollege, CompAge Solutions