Video Switcher (150-1274) Glossary Faxback Doc. # 7296
Audio-Follow-Video - A switcher that automatically changes the
accompanying audio when the video source is
changed.
Black - Darkest part of the gray scale on the TV
screen.
Banding - Distortion of a video picture breaks up the
picture into different colors horizontally
across the screen.
Cassette - A plastic case containing takeup and
playback reels of recording tape.
Close-up - Object or person at close range taking up the
greatest part of the screen.
Complexity Editing - Juxtaposition of shots to add intensity to
the production.
Continuity Editing - Preserving visual continuity from one shot to
the next.
Crawl - Graphics that are moved in front of the
camera, usually mounted on a drum, so they
can be rolled smoothly across the screen.
Cross Fade - A video transition whereby a shot is faded to
black and a second shot is faded from black
to the screen.
Cue - Signal to start any phase of the production.
Cut - Instant change from one shot to the next.
Density - Tight collection of numerous shots,
montage of quick cuts.
Digital VTR - A videotape recorder that receives digital
information more easily manipulated for
visual enhancement and special effects.
Double System - The simultaneous recording of video and audio
on separate recording devices, video to
videotape and audio to audiotape.
Dropout - Partial loss of video signal that appears as
white flashes. It is a result of uneven
videotape iron-oxide coating (bad quality or
overuse) or dirt.
Dub - Duplication of an original tape.
Dubbing Down - Making a duplicate from a larger size tape to
a smaller one.
Dubbing Up - Making a duplicate from a smaller size tape
to a larger one.
Echo Effect - The visual is repeated creating a mirror
image.
Editing - Selecting and connecting a series of shots in
a logical sequence.
Editing Log - A preliminary list of in and out cues for
each shot.
Electronic A-B Rolling - Producing a master tape from two playback
VCRs, one designated the A tape, the other
the B tape. When the A/B tapes are routed
through a switcher a variety of transitions
can be accomplished.
Electronic Editing - Splicing together two shots without cutting
the tape.
Fade - The gradual appearance or disappearance of a
picture.
Fade In - Picture slowly appears on the screen.
Fade Out - Picture slowly disappears from the screen.
Fade to Black - Picture fades all the way out and screen has
no visual content.
Feedback - In video, it consists of streaks and flashes
on the monitor screen caused by reentry of a
video signal into the switcher and subsequent
overamplification.
Frame - The smallest complete picture unit on a
television screen.
Freeze Frame - Picture motion stopped to appear as a still
shot.
Generated Graphics - Lettering or effects produced electronically.
Generation - Designates the number of dubs the tape is
away from the original. There is a gradual
loss of quality from one generation to the
next. The further away from the original the
greater the loss.
Graphics - Two-dimensional, nonmoving art, charts,
graphs or lettering.
Graphics Generator - Art produced electronically on the screen.
Helical Scan, or - A videotape recording of a videotape
Helical VTR recorder in which the video signal
is put on tape in a slanted,
diagonal way (contrary to transverse
scanning, which goes across the
tape.) Because the tape wraps
around the head drum in a spiral
type configuration, it is called
helical (from helix, spiral). Also
called slant track.
High-Band - Refers to the frequency of the video
information. High-band videotape
recorders operate on high frequency
range (10 megacycles). which
provides operationally higher
quality pictures with less video
noise and better resolution than
low-band recordings. Most high-
quality color machines are high
band.
High Definition Television - The use of special cameras and
(HDTV) recording equipment for the
production of high-qualilty
pictures. The pictures have a
higher resolution (show smaller
detail more clearly) than regular
television pictures.
Hot Editing - Method of assembling shots during production
resulting in a final edit at end of
production. Director stops taping from time
to time to redo a scene change set or
costumes. Continues production by editing
the next scene onto the master tape.
Instantaneous Editing - Synonymous with switching.
In-the Can - Finished television production, either on
tape or on film.
Jogging - Frame-by-frame advancement of video tape with
a VCR.
Jump Cut - Cut between shots of same subject from
different angles. Subject seems to jump from
one position to another.
Smear - Streak that follows a moving object.
Limbo - Any area used for small displays having a
plain background.
Lockup Time - The time needed by the VCR for picture and
sound to stabilize.
Low-Band - Refers to frequency of video information.
Low-band recorders operate in a relatively
low-frequency range.
Mixer - A mixing channel for audio signals.
Mixing Audio - The combining of two or more sounds
in specific proportions.
Video - The combining of shots by the switcher.
Monitor Audio - Speaker that carries the program sound
independent of the line-out.
Video - High-quality television receiver that
receives production video but not TV
broadcasts.
Noise Audio - Unwanted sounds that interfere with the
wanted sounds. Or unwanted hisses or hums
generated by the equipment.
Video - electronic interference known as snow.)
Perspective Sound - far sound must go with distance of
picture. Close sound must match
close-up.
Preroll - To start a tape in advance of desired video
to give the electronic system time to
stabilize.
Radio Frequency - usually referred to as RF broadcast frequency
which is divided into various channels. In
RF the video and audio signals are
superimposed on the radio frequency carrier
wave.
Roll - Graphics (usually credits) moving slowly up
the screen, sometimes called a crawl.
Rough Cut - Tentative arrangement of shots, without
precision editing.
Slave VCR - Synonymous with Recording VCR.
Slant Track - Synonymous with Helical Scan.
SOT - Sound on tape.
Source VCR - The video recorder supplying segments to be
assembled on the recording VCR.
Stock Shot - A shot of a typical scene such as, sky of
clouds, traffic, crowds of people, etc. Such
shots can be ordered from stock shot
libraries.
Switching - Changing from one video source to another.
Tape - Plastic ribbon, coated with iron oxide, to
record magnetic impulses from video or audio
sources.
Title - Studio card with letters of the name of the
show. Can also be electronically generated.
Tracking - An electronic adjustment of the video heads
so that the playback phase matches the
recording phase. This prevents picture
breakup and misalignment. Especially
important for tapes that have been recorded
on the machine to be played back on another.
Video Cassette - A plastic container in which a videotape moves
from supply to takeup reel, recording and
playing back segments through a video
cassette recorder. Similar in construction
and function to an audio cassette.
Video Disc - A phonograph shaped disc on which is
stored video information. Requires
a video disc player.
Videotape - Plastic iron-oxide coated ribbon for
recording video and audio signals.
Videotape Recorder - Also called VTR. Electronic recording device
that records and stores audio and video
information.
Video Track - Area of tape that stores video information
only.
VTR - Videotape recorder.
(br/all-8/10/94)