Useful Stuff
Click below to links & here's a glossary of terms:
Lens Calcualtions
5.1 Channel Sound - film digital sound exhibition standard which utilizes six output speaker channels (left, centre, right, right surround, left surround, and subwoofer).
Aaction safe area - 90% of a the video frame, where action will be visible on a standard display.
ADC Analog-to-Digital Converter - electronic device used at the input of digital audio equipment to convert analog electrical signals to digital values whose numbers represent the level and frequency information contained in the original analog signal.
ADR - Automatic Dialog Replacement. Also known as "looping." A process of re-recording dialog in the studio in synchronization with the picture.
alpha channel - Information attached to each pixel that represents how that pixel is to be blended with background.
analogue - an electrical signal that continuously varies in strength as related to some form of input.
anamorphic - an optical system having different magnifications in the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the image.
anti-aliasing - the process of smoothing the edges of graphics and text to prevent flicker and jagged edges.
aspect ratio - proportional height and width of a video image.
assemble edit - a method for building a videotape in which a series of clips are placed one after the other to create, or assemble, a program.
audio dub - recording audio over an existing video program without affecting the video images.
AVI Audio - video Interleave, which is a video format for Windows.
B back-timing - using a 3-point edit to mark two out points and one in point, allowing the computer to match up the two out points and calculate the remaining in point. For example, marking an in and out point on a source clip and an out point in a program and allowing the editing software to calculate the in point in the program.
bin - location for storing and organizing clips in the Project window.
bug - small network or station logo superimposed in a corner of the frame.
bulk eraser - device which magnetically aligns all of the iron oxide molecules on a magnetic tape or film, thus eliminating any 'sound' on them.
burn-in time code - videotape in which a "window" displaying the time code count on the tape is superimposed over part of the picture.
Ccall sheet - form which refers to all of the scenes to be filmed and all of the personnel and equipment required for shooting on a particular day.
cardioid microphone - unidirectional microphone with most of its sensitivity aimed toward the front, and a pickup pattern that resembles an inverted heart.
chrominance - video signal that carries hue and saturation color information. Also see luminence.
chroma key filter - filter that allows for a selected color in a clip to be made transparent. It is generally used to superimpose one clip on another.
close-up (CU) - framing that presents a close view of an object or person--filling the frame and separating it or her or him from the surroundings. Conventionally, a TV close-up of a person is from the shoulders or neck up.
colour palette - software tool for choosing a desired colour for use with many of the filters and transitions. A colour might be chosen to be replaced, to be keyed out, to be changed, etc.
colour adjust filter - the editing software filter that produces a change in the color aspects of a clip by allowing adjustment of individual channels.
colour replace filter - filter that produces a change in the colour of objects or areas within a clip based on their hue values.
component video - signal the keeps luminance and chrominance separate for better picture quality.
composite video - signal the combines luminance and chrominance in a single signal. Less expensive than component video, but lower picture quality.
compositing - combination of two or more video/film/digital sources in a single image.
compression - digital representation of media in an efficient storage format. For video, motion-JPEG is often used. compression may be lost in that the original picture cannot be reconstructed exactly.
condenser microphone - simplest type of microphone in which the capacitance (electrical charge) is varied by sound, causing movement in one plate (diaphragm) in relation to a fixed backplate.
control track - recorded track used to adjust or manipulate a recording or playback device. Generally, these are used to maintain consistent playback speed of video and/or sound recorders consistent with the recorded speed.
crossfade - gradual mix of sound sources accomplished by the simultaneous manipulation of two or more mix console faders.
cut - abrupt transition between two clips. The first frame of the incoming clip immediately follows the last frame of the outgoing clip.
cutaway - transitional footage normally inserted between cuts containing the same subject in slightly different screen positions to avoid a 'jump cut'.
D
DAT (digital audio tape) - two-channel digital audio has become increasingly common as a professional master reference and for use in field recording.
digital 8 - Sony's proprietary digital camcorder format, which records digital video onto standard 8mm and Hi8 tapes.
digitize - to convert an analog video or audio signal into a digital signal that can be used by a computer.
dissolve transition - transition in which the end of one clip gradually blends with the beginning of the next.
drop-out - Videotape signal 'voids', which are visible as white specks or streaks. Normally the result of tiny bare spots on a tape's magnetic particle coating, or tape debris covering particles and blocking signals.
drop-frame timecode - timecode that is accurate relative to actual video running time. The numerical reference drops two numbers every minute to allow for the fact that there are actually 29.97 frames of video per second, rather than 30 frames per second.
drop shadow - shadow that is offset from an object or text in a video.
DVE effects - digital video effect (DVE) is created by taking any existing video source and manipulating its position within the video frame.
E EBU European Broadcast Union - generally identifies a 25 FPS time code standard.
edit decision list (EDL) - computer generated list containing information about a specific program, the SMPTE timecodes and options chosen during production. It is used to inform an editing system of all the parameters involved in the creation of that program. An EDL is generally used to assemble a program in a traditional video editing suite.
edit master - video industry term for the tape containing the finished (edited) program.
encoding - process of converting digital video from one form to another, for example we would encode a picture from tape to Windows Media Format for viewing on the internet.
equalization - alteration of sound frequencies for a specific purpose, such as to remove 'noise' frequencies or to improve speech clarity.
establishing shot - long shot at the beginning of a scene which is intended to inform the audience about a changed locale or time for the scene which follows.
F fade - optical effect in which the image of a scene is gradually replaced by a uniform dark area or vice versa.
field - half of a video frame, either the even or odd scan lines.
fps - frames per second.
frame - one complete still image of video media. Video media is made up of a series of frames. Each video frame has two interlaced fields.
frame rate - the frequency at which film or video frames run (i.e. 24 fps; 29.97 Hz in NTSC; 25 Hz in PAL European format).
FX track - separate track on the time line used strictly for creating special video effects with filters and/or transitions.
G generation - original recorded footage is called "first generation." A copy of the original is second-generation video. A copy of a copy is called third generation, and so forth.
gigabyte (GH) - unit for measuring computer memory capacity, equivalent to 1,000 megabytes (MB).
grading - process of selecting the printing values for color and density fo successive scenes in a complete film to produce the desire visual effects.
H hypercardioid microphone - highly unidirectional microphone, for which the pickup pattern is narrower than that of a cardioid microphone.
I identifier - name or number given to a clip or segment of a video to allow for easy recognition of the segment and its contents.
image resolution - measurement of the quality of a video image based on the number of pixels that make up the image.
in point - SMPTE time code of the specific frame at which a clip begins.
insert edit - placing a section of a source clip in the time line with the media currently to the right of the insertion point is moved farther to the right to accommodate the insertion of the new clip.
interpolation - progressive calculation of a parameter between key frames.
insert editing - used in videotape or digital audio editing to describe the process of replacing a segment located between two specific and previously dubbed segments.
iris wipe - wipe effect in the form of an expanding or diminishing circle.
J jog - to move forward or backward in video or audio media by playing at slow speed through it.
JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group. An international standard for still picture data compression.
jump cut - instantaneous transition between two scenes that have identical subjects in slightly different screen locations, which makes the subject appear to jump within the screen. A cutaway shot remedies the distracting jump appearance.
K keyframe - In animation, the essential frames used to construct a character's movement. If the animation is computer aided, the animator designs the keyframes and the computer automatically generates the frames in between.
key out - removing a section of video by making it transparent by creating an alpha channel based on color (Chroma Key) or on brightness (Luma Key). Chroma and Luma are filters.
LL-C-R-S (left, centre, right, surround) - four playback channels used in 35mm motion pictures, now available on home hi-fi systems. L, C and R speakers are located behind the screen. The S channel surrounds the audience and may be mono or encoded stereo.
leading - space between lines of text.
letterbox - process by which a widescreen film is presented on video. The top and bottom of the video frame is blackened, and the widescreen film frame is reduced to fit into this frame-within-the-video-frame. Also used to present high definition video on conventional TV sets.
lip-sync - relationship of sound and picture that exists when the movements of speech are perceived to coincide with the sounds of speech.
linear editing - traditional form of tape based video editing.
long shot (LS) - framing that presents entire objects or persons--situating them in a setting.
luma key filter - filter that allows the areas of light or dark in a clip to be made transparent, revealing the background clips in those regions.
luminance - black and white portion of a video signal representing picture contrast and brightness.
M
match dissolve - dissolve linking images which have similar content.M&E track This refers to the music and effects tracks which are combined into one (or a stereo pair) for use with foreign language re recording of a film or video program.
medium close up (MCU) - framing in between medium shot and close-up
medium long shot ( MLS) - framing in between long shot and medium shot.
medium shot (MS) - framing that presents a moderately close view of an object or person. Conventionally, a TV medium shot of a person is from the thighs or knees up. Two common types of medium shots are the two shot and the three shot.
mixer - machine that blends various sound sources.motion-caption device A system by which the movement of three-dimensional objects or humans is traced by a computer.
motivated lighting - lighting style in which the light sources imitate existing sources, such as lamps or windows.
motivation In narrative structure - catalyst that starts the story's progression a reason for the story to begin (usually a character's lack or desire).
N
non-dropframe timecode - timecode that does not compensate for the 29.97 frames of video per second of NTSC video, rather than 30 frames per second. Each frame is assigned a unique, consecutive SMPTE time code.
NTSC - signal The standard composite video signal adopted by the NTSC that has 525 interlaced lines at a frame rate of 29.97 frames per second.
O
off-line - videotape editing process whereby the final edit list is compiled, usually in a more inexpensive edit room, in preparation for the on-line edit.
omni-directional microphone - microphone that is able to pick up sound equally from all directions.
on-line - videotape editing process that creates the final video edit master, including effects, from the offline edit list.
out point - SMPTE time code defining the end of a clip. The frame with this time code is not included in the clip.
overwrite edit - placing a section of a source clip on the time line in the Sequencer and replacing or "overwriting" that program section.
P package In television journalism - 80-105 second news story shot in the field and filed by a reporter.
PAL -European colour television standard that specifies a 25Hz frame rate and 625 lines per frame.
pan-and-scan - process by which a widescreen, anamorphic film (1:2.35) is reduced to television's smaller 1:1.33 aspect ratio. The most significant part of the original frame is selected, and the pan-and-scan frame can slide, or "scan" left or right across the original frame.
pre-blacked - video tape which has already had a control track, usually with SMPTE encoded time code, but without any picture or sound. This is done to facilitate the video editing or assembly process.
Q quarter inch - reference to the standard width magnetic audio tape which is used to record film production sound.
quick time - software from Apple Computer, Inc. that enables the storage, editing, and playing of digitized video and audio media on a computer.
R reference clip - clip created from a source clip when the source clip is placed on the time line in the Sequencer. A reference clip does not contain any digitized media but refers to the digitized source clip. A reference clip only exists in a sequence and is the only kind of clip that a sequence contains.
render - processing of a series of individual clips, transitions and filters into a single playable track.
re-mastering - process of mixing all edited music, effects and dialog tracks of a film or video production to mono, stereo, multichannel or whatever audio format is desired for the final print master.
rough cut - preliminary trial stage in the process of editing a film. Shots are laid out in approximate relationship to an end product without detailed attention to the individual cutting points.
S scrub - play through an audio or video clip interactively (under manual control) to evaluate it or locate a specific event.
shotgun mic - highly directional microphone, usually with a long, tubular body; used by the production sound mixer on location or on the set for film and television productions.
shuttle - move smoothly, forward or backward, through video or audio media at a constant rate.
signal to noise ratio - ratio of the desired signal to the unwanted noise in an audio or video record/playback system.
SMPTE time code - known as Longitudinal Time Code. A high frequency signal that allows the accurate "locking" of film audio and video equipment. Locator information is displayed as numbers.
source clip - clip that refers directly to physical media.
T
THX - theatrical film exhibition sound system which maintains a consistent sound standard from theatre to theatre. Generally, this system uses Dolby Stereo Surround as the basis of the exhibition standard, although a number of other systems have also now qualified.
title safe area - standard area of a video in which text can be seen on a television screen.
trim handles - frames before and after the In and Out points for a source clip to allow for trimming and transitions.
U
uni-directional microphone - microphone that picks up sound from a specific direction.
V
VITC Vertical Interval Time Code - time code signal that is written in the vertical interval by the rotating video heads, allowing it to be read when the tape is not moving. Requires special equipment to read and write.
voice-over - narration or non-synchronous dialog taking place over the action onscreen.
W
white balance - adjusting a camera's light filtering system to ensure that the camera accurately records true colors. Different lighting conditions affect how cameras record colors.