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)