655 Line Video - A variant of NTSC video standard, developed and used by Video Image for the playback of video which can be synchronized with motion picture cameras operating at 24 FPS.

Abekas - A manufacturer of video equipment, and in particular, its models of digital disk video recorders.

Bezel - The part of a television receiver or monitor which forms a physical frame around the face of the picture tube.

Canon Plug - The brand name of a particular type of XLR connector. Though used by some generically to refer to such XLR connectors, the term is a brand name only.

Cathode Ray Tube - A video display device in which an electron beam scans an image onto the front surface of the tube, illuminating phosphors on that surface.

Closed Captioning - A method of embedding text, usually corresponding the dialogue of a video program, in the vertical interval of a video signal.

Component - A type of video transmission, where the color picture information is transmitted separately as two or more signals.

Composite - A type of video transmission, where the color, the luminance, and the synchronization information are combined in a single signal.

D-1 - A video format in which the video information is stored and processed as digital data.

FPS - Frames-per-second.

Field - In interlaced video, the amount of signal information representing the scan of every other line of the video display. In NTSC video, a video frame is made up of two consecutive fields.

Frame - In film, a single image, one of multiple images sequentially recorded in time on a strip of celluloid. In video, the amount of signal information representing one complete scan of the video display.

Ground Loop - A differential in grounds that affects a signal cable path, either video or audio.

Guide Track - Sound that is recorded for the purpose of reference only. Different sound will be used in post production.

Hum Bar - A rolling bar that is present on a video signal (monitor) because of a ground loop between the video source and the final input. Usually a ground loop caused hum bar can be eliminated by removing the electrical ground on one of the pieces of equipment employed. (cut the ground pin off the monitor power cable or use a ground lifter)

Interlaced Scan - A method of scanning an image onto a video display. An electron beam first scans the odd lines of the image onto the display. The beam turns off, and retraces back to one line below its original starting point. Then the beam scans the even lines of the image.

Line Level - The normal level for interconnection between active professional audio equipment. Usually professional line level is +4 dbmv in 600 ohm circuits. Some older professional audio circuits can be found that operate at +8 dbmv. Because of the considerable cost savings that can be achieved by using some "high end" consumer audio equipment, we often find line levels at -20 dbmv in 10K ohm or higher impedance circuits.

Location Mixer - The operator of the production audio equipment.

Looping - The act of actors replacing their dialog in a previously filmed sequence during post production.

LVR - Laser Video Recorder. A device which records video onto a laser disk.

Mic Level - The term indicates a vary low audio level as may be delivered by a microphone. Mic level is typically referred to as -60 or -60 dbm. Mic level feeds are not appropriate for direct feeding to audio inputs on video equipment. Mic levels require a mic pre-amp to boost the level to approximately +4 dbm before they can be used in normal line level audio inputs.

Mikromonitor - A self contained and amplified speaker with a balanced audio input.

Mixing Console - A mixing panel that takes line or mic level audio sources and combines them for feeding the audio recorder. The Mixing Console may also contain headphone and monitor channels for additional feeds.

Nagra - The brand name of the typical audio recorder used by most Location Mixers for the recording of sound on a motion picture set.

NTSC - National Television System Committee. The video standard used in the United States.

Pixel - An acronym for PICTURE ELEMENT. The smallest independent element of a computer generated image.

Non-Interlaced Scan - A method of scanning an image onto a video display, where the every line of the image is scanned on in a single pass.

Production Track- Sound that is recorded for the purpose of later being used as post production audio.

RCA Plug - An Unbalanced line level connector. A transformer must be used to connect an audio feed on an RCA plug to Balanced Equipment.

RGB or RGBS - Red, Green, Blue and Sync. A type of component video, where the red, green, blue, and synchronization information of the color video image are transmitted separately.

Raster - The array of pixels making up a computer display.

SGI - Silicon Graphics Inc. A brand of computers known for advanced graphics capabilities.

Safe Action Area - A standard area which has been determined will not be cropped by the bezels of most television displays.

SC/H PHASE - Zero SC/H phase is the coincidence of the zero crossing of a subcarrier the same phase as color burst with the 50% point of the leading edge of horizontal sync. On color frame one, the subcarrier zero crossing will be negative going on odd numbered lines.

Screen Graphics - A computer generated graphic still image, or animation, which appears on a computer screen, or a video monitor, in a video playback situation on a motion picture set.

Shutter - The mechanical device that closes the light path and prevents the exposing of film in the motion picture camera as it is being transported from frame to frame.

Shutter Bar - The artifact that is seen when non-synchronized video imagery is photographed by a film camera.

Speaker Level - A output that is designed to drive speakers or headphones. Not to be used for the interconnection of audio equipment.

Time Code - A method of embedding time information, stored a digital signal, either on an audio track, or in the vertical interval of a video signal.

UltraScan - A process developed by Video Image in which an interlaced video signal is converted into a non-interlaced signal.

Video Playback - In motion picture production, the process of displaying a video image on a movie set which is photographed by the live action movie camera.

Video Assist - In motion picture production, the process of recording the video imagery provided by the video tap installed on the film camera viewfinder. This recording is "non-production" video and is used for review and documentation only.

Videotex - A method of embedding text and simple graphic imagery in the vertical interval of a video signal.

XLR-3 (P or M) - The type of connector used world wide for the interconnection of professional audio equipment using balanced line principals. However, using an XLR connector by no way indicates whether an audio circuit is balanced or unbalanced, line or microphone level. It is professional audio standard for audio outputs to be present on XLR-3P (male) connectors and that audio inputs be XLR-3F (female). But for every rule there are many exceptions. Be flexible.