Glossary

3D Three dimensional; a production recorded and played back on systems that add the illusion of depth.

180-degree rule A principle that places an imaginary line between two people talking or in line with the direction of a movement. As long as cameras are placed on one side of the line and do not cross it, spatial continuity will be maintained.

above-the-line Costs for creative and performing personnel (such as the producer, writer, director, musicians, and actors).

actors TV talent who perform as someone other than themselves.

AD See associate director and assistant director.

adapter A connector that converts from one type of connector to another (e.g., from phone to RCA).

AGC See automatic gain control.

agents People who find work for actors, writers, and others engaged in creative aspects of the media business.

air monitor (1) In video, the TV set in the control room that shows the video signal currently on the air. (2) In audio, the speaker that allows an operator to hear the transmitted broadcast signal.

alter To change a video or audio signal so that it is different from the original signal that was transduced.

amplify To magnify an audio or video electrical signal for mixing, distribution, and transducing purposes.

amplitude The height of a sound wave. Amplitude determines the volume of the sound. The higher the amplitude, the louder the sound.

analog A method of representing video or audio signals using a “wave” of continuously varying value.

analog cartridge A loop with prerecorded sound and inaudible cue signals used for playback during production.

animal handler A person who makes sure dogs, cats, horses, and other animals do what they are supposed to for a TV production.

aperture The opening in the camera lens that determines how much light will pass through.

arc shot A combination trucking, panning, and dollying movement in which the camera is moved in a semicircle around a subject while the camera head remains pointed toward the subject.

arm move A camera movement in which the boom arm of a crane moves left or right.

art director A person who deals with the look of sets and other artistic aspects of a television program; sometimes called a “production designer.”

aspect ratio The ratio of the width of a video or film picture to its height. For example, a 16:9 aspect ratio represents 16 units of width for every 9 units of height.

asset management The process of cataloging and using video on servers in the most efficient manner possible.

assistant director A person who helps a director; the term is most likely to be used in relation to a film director, whereas associate director is used in studio-based television.

assistant producer See associate producer.

associate director The person who keeps track of timing for a program and assists the director in other ways.

associate producer A person who helps the producer with any of a number of production chores.

asymmetrical balance An informal arrangement of elements in a camera shot or graphic in which an important object placed close to the center of the picture is balanced by one or more objects of lighter visual weight some distance from the center.

ATSC A series of digital television formats developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee.

audio board See audio console.

audio console The piece of equipment that is used to gather, mix, select, and amplify sounds and send them on to their next destination.

audio operator A person who sets mics in a studio or location setting and/or operates the audio console.

audition A separate audio speaker that is not tied to what is being mixed by the audio console or sent over the air.

autofocus A camera feature in which focus is achieved and/or maintained without manual adjustment by the operator.

auto key A key effect in which one source is used to establish the shape of the key hole, and another source or sources are then inserted into the hole.

automatic dialogue replacement Rerecording dialogue for a production after the principal shooting is over.

automatic gain control An internal control device for either audio or video signals that automatically increases or decreases the strength of the incoming sound or picture to maintain optimum signal strength.

automatic iris A camera setting that continuously alters the aperture in response to changing light levels.

automatic white balance A camera setting that automatically adjusts the camera’s white-balance setting for differing lighting conditions.

aux See auxiliary send.

auxiliary send A routing bus on the audio console used to feed external processing gear, multitrack recording equipment, or other audio equipment.

axis of action An imaginary line that extends the path in which a character or an object is moving. If one camera is on one side of the line and another is on the other side, cutting from one camera to the other will make the person or object appear to change direction.

axis of conversation An imaginary line that connects two persons talking to each other. If one camera is on one side of the line and another is on the other side, cutting from one camera to the other will make the people appear to change position.

background light General lighting on the set behind the talent.

backlight A highly directional light coming from above and behind a subject, adding highlights, shape, and separation from the background.

backplate The part of a condenser mic that is electrically charged.

backtime The process of timing a piece of audio and/or video so that it can be started at a precise time and end at the properly appointed time.

balance In audio, the achievement of the correct ratio among several sound sources; in video, a picture composition where the various portions of the screen appear to have equal weight.

balanced cables Audio cables that have three wires: one for positive, one for negative, and one for ground.

bandwidth The amount of information that can be carried by a given method of signal transmission. The higher the bandwidth, the more information that can be carried.

bank See bus.

barn doors Movable metal shutters attached to the front of a lighting instrument used to limit the area of the projected light.

base light The overall illumination of an image, based on the minimum amount of light needed for a camera to operate.

bass Low sounds produced at fewer cycles per second (hertz) than higher treble sounds.

batten A lightweight metal or plastic pipe that can be attached to others using joiners and supporting mechanisms to create a grid on which lights can be hung; some battens and grids can be lowered to allow lights to be hung and adjusted at floor level before being raised back up to the ceiling.

beam splitter The optical device in a color camera, consisting of a prism and mirrors, that separates the incoming visual image into the primary colors of blue, red, and green.

below-the-line Costs for technical and production personnel and for equipment, facilities, and services.

bidirectional A microphone that picks up sound from two directions.

bin A storage area for clips on a nonlinear editing system.

binary A numbering system that uses only zeroes (off) and ones (on).

bit An individual unit of a digital signal; it can have a value of either “off” (0) or “on” (1).

bit rate The number of bits of digital information that are transmitted at a given time. In video production, bit rate is normally expressed in kilobits per second (kb/s) or megabits per second (Mb/s).

bitstream A stream of digital information, such as video, audio, or other data.

black (1) A synchronized video signal that contains no picture information—a blank screen. (2) To record a control track and a synchronizing signal.

blocking The process of planning and coordinating all movement and positioning of talent and production equipment before a production begins.

blocking diagrams Drawings directors make to help them visualize where actors and cameras should be placed.

Blu-ray An advanced optical disc with the same physical size as a CD or DVD disc, but with much higher capacity.

BNC connector A bayonet-type connector used for video and sometimes for digital audio.

boom (1) Any device consisting of a movable base, an adjustable stand, and a long arm for suspending a microphone above and in front of a performer. (2) An arm of a crane that can be used to move a camera up and down or sideways. (3) To move a camera with a boom arm.

boom operator The person who is responsible for following performers with a directional mic attached to a boom during a production.

boundary mic See pressure zone mic.

breakdown sheets Lists of what will be needed for each scene, such as actors, props, and special effects.

broad A rectangular floodlight.

browser The area of a nonlinear editing program where clips are stored.

bus A group of buttons on a video switcher representing the available video inputs.

byte A group of bits.

C-clamp A metal clamp with a pivot adjustment for attaching lighting instruments to a lighting grid.

C-stand A c-shaped mounting used to place a flag-sized piece of material in front of a light to achieve a particular visual effect.

cables Wires that transport the signals needed for audio and video production.

call sheet A posted list that lets cast and crew know when and where they should report.

calling shots The process of the director giving commands for other crew members in a production.

camcorder An integrated unit that combines a camera and a recorder; normally used in field production.

cameo lighting A type of lighting where the performer is lit but the background is not.

camera control unit The part of a studio camera used to adjust various video settings of the camera.

camera mount The support mechanism, such as a tripod, pedestal, or crane, that holds the camera mounting head and the camera itself.

camera operator The person who operates one or more cameras, framing the shots for a production.

canvas A window in Final Cut Pro or other nonlinear editing programs that allows the operator to view content on the timeline or quickly add clips to the timeline.

capacitor The part of a condenser mic that stores electrical energy and permits the flow of alternating current.

capture Recording video and/or audio information to a nonlinear editing system.

cardioid A microphone that picks up sound in a heart-shaped pattern and is more sensitive to sounds coming directly from the front.

carpenter A person who builds sets.

cassette A plastic case containing reels that hold audiotape or videotape.

casting Deciding who will act various roles in a production.

casting agencies Companies that can be hired to select people for various roles in a production.

catwalk A structure above or around a lighting grid on which technicians can crawl to position lights.

CCD See charge-coupled device.

CCU See camera control unit.

CD player Equipment that plays back discs on which sound has been recorded digitally.

CG See character generator.

channeling Moving signals from one place to another.

character generator An electronic device used to display lettering on-screen.

character generator operator A person who builds computer-generated graphics and operates the equipment that enables them to appear on-air; often called a “graphics operator.”

charge-coupled device A microchip inside a camera that transduces visual energy in the form of light into electrical energy.

choreographer A person who designs dance sequences, routines, or numbers.

chroma key A special effect in which a designated color (usually green or blue) is used as a key to determine what picture information is to be cut out of the picture with the foreground image.

chrominance The color information (hue and saturation) of a video signal.

clip (1) A segment of video and/or audio stored as a discrete unit in a nonlinear editing system. (2) A digital audio phenomenon where sound that is overmodulated disappears or is intermittent.

close-up A view of a subject from a relatively short distance. A close-up of a person, for instance, might include only the person’s face.

CMOS See complementary metal oxide semiconductor.

coaxial cable Camera and video cable with a central insulated conducting wire and a concentrically arranged outer wire.

codec A specific method of compressing digital video; short for “coder/decoder.”

color bar generator The part of a camera, switcher, or other piece of equipment that produces the basic colors—red, blue, green, yellow, cyan, and magenta.

color bars An electronically generated pattern of vertical color stripes that can be used to standardize and calibrate the color values of all cameras and monitors.

color temperature The relative reddish or bluish quality of a light source, as measured in degrees Kelvin.

command of execution A command given by a director that calls for an immediate action, such as “Take camera 2.”

command of preparation A command given by a director that notifies a crew member to get ready to take a specific action, such as “Ready camera 2.”

compact disc player See CD player.

complementary metal oxide semiconductor A type of image sensor chip increasingly used in video cameras due to its power and quality advantages over charge-coupled device chips.

component A method of video signal distribution in which the signal is separated into two or more separate signals representing its chrominance and luminance elements.

composer The person who creates the music for a production.

composite A method of video signal distribution in which the three basic video elements (hue, saturation, and brightness) are combined into one signal.

composition The arrangement of the pictorial elements inside the frame, using the “rule of thirds,” the “z-axis,” and other principles.

compositor Joins together various effects so they meld in a credible manner.

compression A process used to make digital audio or video data more compact.

compression ratio The size of the original digital signal compared with the size of the compressed digital signal. The higher the compression ratio, the more the material is compressed.

compressor An electronic device used to lessen the distance between the highest and lowest audio volume levels.

condenser A high-quality mic whose transducer consists of a diaphragm, backplate, and capacitor.

connectors Metal or plastic housings that allow cables to be joined to one another or that allow cables to be connected to devices.

container A digital file format designed to hold video and other information, such as audio, subtitles, and metadata.

continuity A quality of consistent and unobtrusive progression from shot to shot in terms of screen direction, lighting, audio, props, graphics, and other production details.

continuous image compression A digital video effect in which a video image is shrunk to a smaller size in real time.

contrast ratio The relationship of the brightest area to the darkest area in a given camera shot, as determined by reflected light readings.

control room The area where all video signals are mixed. The director and technical director (and other crew members) control all program elements from this location.

control room rehearsal A rehearsal with the director seated where he or she will be calling the shots, rather than in the studio.

convergence A term used to define the coming together of technologies with previously differing applications to create a digitally based video system. This process involves such things as broadcasting, cable TV, telephones, satellite transmission, and the Internet.

cookie See cucalorus.

copyright The exclusive right to a production or publication.

corner insert A video effect in which one video input appears in the corner of another video input.

costume designer The person who decides what the clothing that actors wear should look like.

countdown Numbers from 10 to 2 that are placed on a recording before the program material so that the program can be cued to come in at the right time.

coverage All the shots recorded for a given scene from which the editor can assemble the final scene.

craft services The department that caters or provides food for the entire cast and crew of a production.

crane (1) A large camera mount with an extended boom arm for a camera and a seat for a camera operator, all placed on a large four-wheeled base. (2) To move the boom arm of a crane up and down. (3) A shot produced by craning a camera.

crawl A graphic effect in which lettering moves horizontally across the screen.

creative light Lighting that enhances the mood, style, and perspective of an object or scene and that can reveal shape and focus attention.

critical area See essential area.

crossfade To bring in one sound slowly while taking another out slowly.

crossing the line Having one camera shot come from one side of the axis of action/conversation and another camera shot come from the other side. If the two shots are cut together, the movement in the shot will appear to change direction. Crossing the line should be avoided unless a jarring effect on the viewer is intended.

cross-keying A lighting technique that uses one light for several purposes, such as a key light and a backlight.

cross-pair miking A stereo mic setup that uses two cardioid mics placed like crossed swords, sometimes called “X-Y miking.”

CU See close-up.

cucalorus A metal or wooden cutout pattern that is placed in front of a spotlight to produce a shadow effect on a scenic background.

cue button A control on an audio board that allows an operator to hear a sound without transmitting or taping it. It is used to prepare sound before it is to be aired or recorded.

cue cards Sheets of cardboard with the script written on them that are held next to the camera lens so that the talent can look at the camera and read the script.

cut The most-used shot transition; an instantaneous change from one video source to another; also called “a take.”

cutaway A shot edited into a program to prevent a jump cut. A cutaway shot does not show the focus of action but rather shows something related to the main action.

cutting for information Making a video edit in order to reveal new information to the viewer; for example, cutting from a medium shot of a magician on stage to a close-up when he holds up a card from a deck.

cutting on action Making a video edit at a point when some action takes place; for example, when an actor turns toward another actor.

cyc See cyclorama.

cycles per second A basic unit of frequency measurement for electromagnetic and acoustic waves; now usually referred to as hertz.

cyclorama A large, continuous, smooth backing, usually made of cloth, that may cover two or three walls of a studio.

daily hire Someone who is hired to work only one day or a few days at a time, as opposed to someone who is a regular staff member at a particular company.

DAR See digital audio recorder.

DAT See digital audiotape.

data rate The amount of information being sent simultaneously in a digital video or audio signal, usually measured in megabits per second (Mb/s).

DAW See digital audio workstation.

dB See decibel.

decibel (1) A unit of measurement of sound that compares the relative intensity of different sound sources. (2) A unit of measurement for video that relates to the output gain.

defocus A camera transition in which the picture on the on-air camera becomes fuzzy.

demographics Information that pertains to vital statistics of a population group, such as age, marital status, income, and geographic location.

depth of field The distance between the nearest point at which objects are in focus and the farthest point at which objects are in focus in a camera shot.

diaphragm The vibrating element in a microphone that responds to the compressed air molecules of sound waves.

digital A method of representing video or audio signals that uses discrete “on” and “off” pulses. The value of a digital signal at any point can be either “off” (0) or “on” (1).

digital audio recorder An outboard audio unit that records sound onto solid state media for playback.

digital audiotape Recording medium that gives high-quality sound because it records information in digital form.

digital audio workstation A stand-alone computer that can be used to record, store, edit, sweeten, and mix sounds.

digital cart A piece of equipment that replaced the analog cartridge player. It stores audio selections in files on a hard drive and can be programmed to bring up any files in any order.

digital delay A unit that holds a signal temporarily and then allows the signal to leave. It is often used for talk shows so that something a participant says can be halted before it goes on the air.

digital SLR Digital single-lens reflex, a type of camera often designed for professional still photography that can also be used to shoot video.

digital versatile disc An optical disc that can be used to store and play back digital information, through a computer or a set-top DVD player.

digital video effects Special effects accomplished through digital technology in which elements of video can be manipulated, resulting in pictures that change size, move across the screen, or are altered in other ways.

digital zoom A variable focal-length lens in which the field of view is altered electronically instead of through moveable glass pieces inside the lens. Digital zoom is generally inferior in quality to optical zoom.

digitizing pen An electronic pen used to create computer graphics by “drawing” on a graphics tablet.

dimmer board A lighting control unit, operated on the same principle as a rheostat, that determines the intensity of a light by controlling the amount of electric current flowing to the instrument.

dimmer circuit One fader of a dimmer board that brings up one or several lights.

director The person in charge of the creative aspects of a production and all the procedures that occur in the studio or field.

director of photography A lighting director who commonly works in field production.

dissolve A simultaneous fading out of one picture while fading in to another.

distortion A muddy sound caused by playing a sound at a higher volume than the equipment can handle.

DMX A popular lighting control protocol used with a dimmer board.

dolly To move the camera and its mount closer to or farther from the subject.

dolly shot A shot produced by dollying the camera.

downloading Transferring digital data from a computer network such as the Internet to a personal computer.

downstream effects A capability on some switchers to produce fades and keys without using an M/E bus.

downstream keyer Part of a switcher used to create a key on a signal after it has gone through all other switcher manipulations.

DP See director of photography.

dress rehearsal The final, full rehearsal before the actual production take—using all sets, props, and costumes—designed to be conducted straight through without interruption.

drone A remote-control aircraft, somewhat like a helicopter, to which a camera or other equipment can be mounted.

dry run A session where the director and talent work together on the basic staging of a program without doing a full rehearsal.

DSLR See digital SLR.

dual-purpose lighting A lighting technique in which one light serves multiple purposes, such as a light that is a key for one actor and a backlight for another.

DVD See digital versatile disc.

DVE See digital video effects.

dynamic mic A rugged microphone whose transducer consists of a diaphragm connected to a movable coil; also called a “moving coil mic.”

dynamic range The difference between the softest and loudest sounds a piece of equipment can handle.

economy of lighting A lighting technique in which one light serves multiple purposes, such as a light that is a key for one actor and a backlight for another.

edit decision list A computerized file containing information about edits. The file can be used within the computer, printed out, or used to re-create an edited program using another editing system.

EFP See electronic field production.

electrician A person in charge of lights and power for a production.

electronic field production The technique of shooting on location with a single camera.

electronic news gathering The use of single-camera portable equipment to record news events and other actualities.

electronic still store A system of storing video frames in digital form, indexed for easy retrieval.

ellipsoidal A spotlight with a reflecting mirror at the back of the housing that enables it to create a very directional, well-defined beam.

encode To compress a digital signal or to digitize and compress an analog signal.

ENG See electronic news gathering.

equalization Emphasizing, lessening, or eliminating certain audio frequencies.

equalizer A unit that adjusts the amount of amplification given to certain audio frequencies, such as high, middle, and low frequencies.

essential area The area left after cropping 10 to 20 percent from the outer edges of the screen. Graphics and other crucial screen elements should always be placed within the essential area, as the edges of the screen may be lost by the time the image is seen by the home viewer.

establishing shot A long shot used at the beginning of a scene or program to relate the subjects and/or circumstances to one another.

EVS operator A person in charge of a specialized server who can quickly call up footage from a number of different cameras operating during a production and who can edit several shots together, add graphics, or replay a shot in slow motion.

executive producer A person who oversees several productions.

extender An optical device placed between the lens and the camera to extend the focal length of the lens. A 2X extender, for example, doubles the focal length of a lens.

external key See auto key.

extreme close-up A very close shot of a person or object, used to intensify drama or to show close detail.

extreme long shot A shot in which the characters are so far away that they are not distinguishable as specific individuals.

f-stop A notation that indicates the size of the lens opening; the higher the f-stop number, the smaller the opening and vice versa. The smaller the lens opening, the less light that enters the lens.

facilities request form A sheet that someone fills out to reserve studio and/or equipment time.

fade The gradual bringing in or taking out of an audio or video source.

fade-in (1) For video, a dissolve transition—normally used at the beginning of a program or program segment—in which a picture gradually fades in from a black screen. (2) For audio, the gradual bringing in of a sound.

fade-out (1) For video, a dissolve transition—normally used at the end of a program or program segment—in which a picture gradually fades away to a black screen. (2) For audio, taking a sound from full up to silence.

fader The audio console control that raises and lowers volume by controlling the amount of resistance going through the system.

fader bar A handle unit on a video switcher that allows the operator to change manually from one bus to another.

fc See foot-candle.

feedback A high-pitched squeal that results from accidentally feeding a program monitor into a live microphone, causing an instantaneous overamplification of the system.

fiber optic A transmission cable that uses transparent strands of glass or plastic instead of copper or other metallic wire.

fiber channel A network system that is popular for use with digital video and audio data.

field In interlace scanning, one-half of a complete frame of video. NTSC interlace scans the odd-numbered scanning lines, then the even-numbered scanning lines, creating a complete frame every 1/30th of a second.

field of view The size or scope of a shot, indicating how much of a scene is encompassed.

field production Television production, usually consisting of single-camera recording and postproduction editing, that takes place outside of the studio.

fill light An unfocused and diffused light used to complement the key light, coming from the side opposite the key to fill in dark areas and soften shadows.

film-style script A script that is organized by scene with description written on the width of the paper and dialogue centered in the middle.

film-style shooting Shooting the way movie makers have traditionally filmed, by using one camera, repeating a given scene, and resetting the camera and lights for each different shot.

filter (1) A glass or gelatin element mounted in front of a light or in front of a camera or imaging device that compensates for changes in color temperature or that in other ways changes the color of the light. (2) Part of a nonlinear editing program that has various settings to change the color, shape, or texture of a video image. (3) Equipment or code within a computer program that cuts out a particular frequency or frequency range of an audio signal.

First Amendment The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees five freedoms: religion, speech, press, peaceful assembly, and redress of grievances.

fishpole A small lightweight arm to which a microphone is attached, to be handheld by an audio assistant outside of the picture frame.

fixed-focal-length lens A lens that is one specific focal length, as opposed to a zoom lens.

fixed-width font A lettering font in which each letter is the same width, such as Courier; contrast with variable-width font.flag A rectangular cloth-covered or metal frame placed in front of a lighting instrument to produce a precise shadow on one side of the light beam.

flat (1) A standard staging unit, constructed of a frame covered with cloth or hardboard, often used to represent a wall of a room or the exterior of a building. (2) When all audio frequencies are recorded equally well.

flat lighting A general lighting throughout a set that does not create many shadows.

floodlight A lamp fixture that creates diffused light covering a wide area.

floor director See stage manager.

floor manager See stage manager.

floor plan A drawing done to scale that shows where various set flats and furniture are to be placed in the studio for a particular production.

floor rehearsals Rehearsals where the director is in the studio rather than in the control room.

floor stand A stand that holds a light; a microphone holder that rests on the floor and has a pole that can be adjusted to various heights so that someone standing can talk into the mic.

focal length The viewing range of a given lens. The higher the focal length numerically, the narrower the field of view.

focus To make an image, or part of an image, look sharp and distinct, as opposed to blurry.

follow shot A camera shot in which the camera follows a moving subject, usually keeping the same distance from it.

follow spot A light of high intensity that is most commonly used to follow a performer as he or she moves around a stage area.

font A set of consistently designed lettering and characters.

foot-candle A unit of light measurement equivalent to the amount of light falling upon a surface one foot away from a standard candle.

fps See frames per second.

frame A complete television picture.

frame rate The number of frames in each second of video. The NTSC frame rate is 30 frames per second, while ATSC formats have frame rates ranging from 24 to 60 frames per second.

frame synchronizer An electronic component that is used to synchronize external video sources such as satellite feeds with the synchronization created by in-house components.

frames per second The unit of measurement for frame rate; an indication of the number of complete frames that are displayed each second.

framing The selection of pictorial elements to appear inside the frame, using such concepts as close-up, medium shot, long shot, and the like.

free run A time code mode in which the time code numbers continue to increment even when video is not being recorded; often used to identify the time of day something was shot.

freelance Working by the hour or day on one project at a time and without being an employee of any particular organization.

frequency The number of oscillations per second (hertz) of an electromagnetic wave, which, in the audio range, determines the pitch of the tone and, in the light range, determines color.

frequency response The range of pitches (frequencies) that any particular piece of audio equipment can pick up or reproduce.

Fresnel A light with a well-defined lens; the beam width is varied as the bulb is moved toward or away from the lens.

front focus The lens focus that is obtained by zooming in tightly on a subject and then focusing.

full screen A graphic that covers the entire area of the screen.

fundamental The main frequency of a particular sound.

gaffer A person who handles lights and power for a production, sometimes under the supervision of an electrician.

gain Volume of an audio signal or amount of amplification of a video signal.

gel A thin, translucent, colored material that can be mounted in front of lighting instruments to produce specific color effects.

genlock A signal used to keep various devices in a production environment synchronized.

giraffe A small boom that consists of a counterweighted arm supported by a tripod on casters.

gobo A patterned metal cutout inserted between the bulb and the end glass of an ellipsoidal light, which casts the pattern onto the set.

graphics generator An electronic device used to create and display titles, charts, and other graphics on the screen.

graphics operator A person who creates words, drawings, and some visual effects that are incorporated within a production.

graphics tablet A pad used with an electronic pen to create drawings on a computer.

green room The place in a studio complex where people who are about to appear on a TV show can wait.

greensperson Someone who keeps plants looking alive and fresh on a set.

grid A structure of battens, or pipes, and supporting mechanisms positioned several feet beneath the studio ceiling, allowing lights to be placed at the proper angle while leaving the studio floor uncluttered for the cameras, talent, and set elements.

grip A person who carries things such as cables and set pieces.

group assign switch A control on each input channel of an audio board that allows the operator to group some audio inputs together so they can be controlled separately from other audio inputs.

guide pin The part of an XLR connector that is used to line up the male and female conductors accurately.

guilds Organizations that set wages and working conditions that production companies must adhere to for people (usually above-the-line people) whom they hire.

hand mic A microphone that a person holds to speak or sing into.

handle The portion of a video clip that is trimmed out in the editing process. Retaining these frames allows the editor to use advanced editing features and techniques of the software.

hard drive A motor-driven disc system used to store digital information on a computer.

harmonics See overtones.

HD See high-definition television.

HDMI A signal format that allows uncompressed digital audio and video signals to be transported over short distances. Stands for “High-Definition Multimedia Interface.”

HDTV See high-definition television.

headphones Small speakers worn over the ears.

headroom The space between the top of a subject’s head and the upper edge of the camera frame.

headset Connected earpiece and mouthpiece device worn by crew members so they can communicate with each other. Also worn by equipment operators so they can hear the sound from their equipment without disturbing others.

hertz (Hz) A basic unit of frequency measurement for electromagnetic and acoustical waves, named after Heinrich Hertz.

HID See high-intensity discharge lamp.

high-definition television A television format with more lines of resolution and a wider aspect ratio than standard-definition television.

high-frequency fluorescent lamp A low-energy, long- lasting light that puts out reds, greens, and blues in a consistent manner to produce 3,200 K or 5,500 K light that oscillates between 25,000 and 40,000 cycles per second.

high-intensity discharge lamp A 5,600 K light that is more efficient than tungsten lights.

high-key lighting Lighting that is generally bright and even, with a low key-to-fill ratio.

high-speed fluorescent lamp See high-frequency fluo- rescent lamp.

HMI A hydrargyrum medium-arc iodide lamp that is balanced for daylight and is often used outdoors as a supplement to the light from the sun.

horizontal sync pulse A video signal that controls the movement of a scanning beam from the right side to the left side of the screen at the completion of a line of scanning.

hue The tint of a color.

hydrargyrum medium-arc iodide lamp See HMI.

hypercardioid A narrow pickup pattern in an elongated heart shape.

hyphenate A person who undertakes two jobs, such as producer-director or writer-director.

Hz See hertz.

IFB See interruptible foldback.

image expansion A digital video effect in which a portion of a video input is “magnified” to a larger size.

image sensor The computer chip(s) in a camera that transduces light into a digital signal. The two main types of image sensor chips are CCDs and CMOSs.

image stabilization An internal camera feature that keeps the image relatively still through digital or optical means.

image stretching A digital video effect in which a portion of a video input or the entire video input is stretched to a larger size or shrunk to a smaller size vertically and/or horizontally.

import To bring digital video, audio, or other information into a nonlinear editing system or computer program.

in point The designated start point for an edit.

incident light Light coming directly from the source of illumination.

indecency Material that is offensive (usually in a sexual way) to members of the community in which it is shown.

ingest To bring digital video data into a video server.

in-house Producing a program using equipment and facilities that belong to the company desiring the production.

instantaneous cut When one camera picture replaces another immediately, indicating no change in time or location. Also called a “straight take.”

intercom A closed-circuit audio network connecting all production personnel with headsets.

interframe compression A video compression method that analyzes frames of video in groups, discarding information that does not change from frame to frame.

interlace scanning A scanning method in which half of a frame is scanned at a time, creating a field. Two fields combine to create a complete frame every 1/30th of a second. Interlace scanning is used in NTSC television and in some ATSC formats.

internal key See self key.

interruptible foldback An audio setup that allows the talent, wearing a small earpiece, to hear program audio or receive instruction from the director or someone else.

intraframe compression A video compression method that analyzes each individual frame of video as a separate entity.

invasion of privacy Not leaving someone alone who wants to be left alone or presenting information about a person that he or she does not want divulged.

inverse square law A principle of physics that states that when the distance between a light (or an audio source) and its point of perception is reduced by half, its intensity will be increased fourfold.

iris The part of the lens that allows light to pass through.

iso camera An isolated camera, which is one that is connected (“slaved”) to a dedicated recorder during the taping of a multi-camera production and that records continuously for the duration of the show. This technique facilitates postproduction editing.

jack (1) A hinged stage brace attached to the rear of a flat. (2) A female connector.

jump cut An effect—usually undesirable—in which a person or object changes position from one shot to the next.

K See Kelvin.

Kelvin The scale of measurement used to measure the frequency of a light wave, which determines its color temperature.

key bus A bus on a video switcher used to select from among various key sources and create various types of key effects.

key effect A generic term for any number of special visual effects whereby video signals from two or more sources are electronically combined in such a way that one image looks like it has been cut out and placed on top of the other image.

key light The primary source of illumination falling on a subject that is highly directional and produces a definite modeling or shaping effect with well-defined shadows.

keystoning Visual distortion created when a camera is not precisely perpendicular to a flat object being shot. Keystoning is normally undesirable but can be used intentionally for artistic effect.

kicker Additional light, usually a spotlight, coming from the side and slightly to the rear of the subject.

kinescope An early form of recording a TV program by placing a film camera in front of a television.

kook See cucalorus.

lav See lavaliere.

lavaliere A small mic that can be worn near the neck.

layering The process of placing video elements “on top” of existing elements during the editing process.

LD See lighting director.

lead room Additional framing space in a camera picture on the side toward which a subject is looking or moving.

LED See light emitting diode.

leko See ellipsoidal.

libel Defamation of a person’s character by written, recorded, or published means; usually considered more serious than slander, which is defamation by spoken word, because libel involves forethought.

light emitting diode An electron tube that puts out light. Series of LEDs may be used as indicators of sound volume.

light meter A photoelectric device that measures in foot-candles the amount of light falling on a specific area.

light plot A floor plan that indicates the lighting requirements—location, type, and function of each instrument—for every staging area in the studio.

lighting console See dimmer board.

lighting director The person who oversees the lighting of the set and makes lighting changes, if they are needed, during production.

lighting grid See grid.

limbo lighting A type of lighting where the performer is seen clearly, but the background appears to be vague or nondescript.

limiter An electronic device used to cut off audio levels when the volume is too strong.

line feed An audio input for equipment, such as a video recorder or an audio recorder, that has already been amplified.

line producer A person who is on the production set representing the producer by making sure the program finishes on time and on budget.

linear editing A method of video editing that progresses from the beginning to the end of the program and usually uses videotape for playback and recording. Linear editing has been replaced by nonlinear editing.

lines The number of horizontal rows of pixels in a video picture. The more lines, the higher the resolution of the picture.

live slow motion server A server that records several different cameras simultaneously, allowing the operator to re-call multiple camera angles and replays quickly. Often used in sports coverage.

logging Writing down what has been recorded, including the content of each shot, the in points and out points, and comments about the quality of the shot.

long lens A lens with a high focal length, creating a narrow field of view. Also a telephoto lens.

long shot A camera view of the subject from a relatively great distance, usually showing the subject in its entirety.

loudness The level of sound as it comes through a speaker or headphone; not the same as “gain,” which is the level of audio as it is being recorded.

low-key lighting Lighting that is dark and shadowy with a high key-to-fill ratio.

lower third A graphic keyed over an image in the lower third of the screen, usually a name and/or title to identify the person speaking on camera.

LS See long shot.

LSM See live slow motion server.

luminance The brightness information in a video picture.

luminance key See self key.

M/E See mix bus.

macro flange The part of a zoom lens used to set macro focus on some video cameras.

makeup artist The person who applies makeup to performers and actors.

manual white balance Setting white balance on a camera by aiming the lens at a pure white object, then pressing the appropriate button on the camera.

master control The primary engineering control center where all video and audio signals are ultimately channeled; program input, camera controls, and transmitter distribution often are handled from this location.

master fader The volume control on an audio board that is located after all the input channel controls and after any submaster controls.

master shot A camera shot that records all action in a scene and serves as reference and potentially as a shot in a production’s final cut.

matchmove artist Person who performs various actions, such as walking and sitting down, that are transferred into a computer and then used as the basis for the construction of fantasy characters such as animated space people.

medium shot A view of the subject from a comfortable distance between a wide shot and a close-up.

metadata Additional information that can be saved with digital video and audio clips to help in identifying and indexing them.

mic feed The relatively low strength of the electronic signal produced by a microphone prior to several stages of amplification.

microwave High-frequency radio waves that are often used to send signals from a remote location back to the TV studio.

mid-side miking A method of stereo miking with the mics forming an upside-down T. The stem of the T is a supercardioid mic, and the top can be either one bidirectional mic or two supercardioid ones.

miniphone connector A small audio connector with a sleeve and tip.

mix To combine and balance two or more audio signals through an audio console or two or more video sources through a switcher.

mix bus A bus on a video switcher used to set up special effects and transitions.

mix/effects bus See mix bus.

mix-minus An output from an audio board that is missing at least one of its elements so that the missing element can be recorded.

moiré effect A distracting visual “vibration” caused by the interaction of a narrow striped pattern and television scanning lines.

monaural Sound coming from only one direction.

monitor A screen for viewing material produced during TV production as opposed to broadcast signals; also used to refer to audio speakers.

monitoring Listening to or viewing sound or a picture as it is being manipulated.

mono See monaural.

monopod A single-legged device that can be used to stabilize small video cameras.

motion-JPEG (M-JPEG) The first compression method designed for video information. It has since been largely replaced by newer compression methods.

moving coil mic Also called “dynamic mic”; a rugged microphone whose transducer consists of a diaphragm connected to a movable coil.

MP3 player A piece of equipment that can play compressed audio that can be sent over a computer.

MPEG-1 A compression method designed to store VHS-quality video on CD-ROM discs. It can also be used for video on the Internet.

MPEG-2 A series of compression schemes for digital video. It is the most widely used method of compression for digital television.

MPEG-4 A compression method designed for video, audio, and multimedia transmitted over computer networks.

MS See medium shot.

music licensing company An organization that collects money from stations or production groups that use music and then distributes that money to composers and record companies.

mute A control that turns off an assigned channel of an audio console.

ND See neutral density.

network A group of computers linked together electronically so that they can share data.

neutral density A camera filter that reduces the amount of light hitting the camera target without affecting the color temperature.

neutral shot A “head-on” shot of a moving person or object that can be placed between two shots in which the person or object’s screen direction has changed.

noise Unwanted sound or static in an audio signal or unwanted electronic disturbance or snow in a video signal.

nondestructive editing Digital editing that does not disturb the original digital source files.

non-dimmer circuit A switch that turns a light off and on but cannot adjust its brightness.

nonlinear editing A method of video editing that uses computers and random access media for recording and playback.

normalled Having inputs and outputs of an audio patch bay permanently wired so that sound goes from one to the other if it is not sent somewhere else by a patch cord.

NTSC The original television standard approved in the United States in the 1940s. The letters stand for National Television System Committee.

obscenity Material that depicts sexual acts in an offensive manner, appeals to prurient interests of the average person, and lacks serious artistic, literary, political, or scientific value.

off-line editing An editing mode used to create a preliminary rough cut of a product before the final product is edited using on-line editing.

off-mic Distorted sound that occurs when noise from outside a mic’s pickup area is transduced and amplified.

omnidirectional A microphone that picks up sound from all directions.

on-line editing An editing mode used to create a finished product.

open-face spot A light housing that is generally round but does not have a lens on the front.

optical disc A type of media used to record and play back digital information. Common types of optical discs include CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs.

optical zoom A zoom lens in which the variable focal length is achieved through a series of moveable glass pieces inside the lens.

out point The designated ending point for an edit.

outboard equipment Pieces of equipment that are used in conjunction with the audio board, such as CD players, DAT recorders, and digital carts.

outline A general listing of what will be included within a program, usually in sentence fragment or paragraph form.

overtones Acoustical or electrical frequencies that are higher than the fundamental tone.

pacing The overall speed at which edits are made in a program. Fast pacing means there are a lot of edits.

package A self-contained news story that includes a reporter’s voice, sound bites, and video footage.

pad Extra space at the beginning or end of a video scene or edited production.

paintbox A device used to create graphics for television.

painter A person who applies paint to a set either before or after it is assembled.

pan (1) To turn a camera horizontally by rotating the camera mounting head. (2) The shot produced by panning a camera. (3) A rectangular floodlight.

pan handle The handle extending toward the rear of the camera with which the camera operator controls the movement of the camera.

pan knob A control that shifts an audio signal from the left speaker to the right speaker for stereo mixing. For a mono mix it is usually placed at the 12:00 position.

patch bay A board with numerous terminals (inputs and outputs) through which various audio, video, or lighting signals can be connected by patch cords to other channels or circuits.

patch board See patch bay.

patch cord A cable with connectors on both ends that is used to go from one connector on a patch bay to another.

peak In audio, to reach the high point of volume level for a particular sound sequence; the ideal place to peak is at the 0 position on the VU meter.

peak program meter (PPM) Feature of an audio board that measures loudness peaks; a PPM reacts more quickly to overmodulation than a VU meter and can help keep sound from distorting (analog) or clipping (digital).

pedestal mount A camera mount, usually used in studio productions, that facilitates smooth movement of the camera across the studio floor and a limited range of camera height adjustment.

perambulator A large three-wheeled movable platform that holds a mic operator and a mic in such a way that the mic can follow action throughout a studio.

performance release A form signed by people appearing on video giving the production company the right to distribute their performances.

performers Talent who appear as themselves, not acting the part of someone else.

persistence of vision A physiological phenomenon whereby the brain retains images for a short period of time so that series of still images that are projected very quickly look like moving images.

perspective In audio, the matching of visual and sound distance.

phantom power Current sent to a condenser mic from the audio console.

phase The relationship of the positive and negative portions of the sine waves of two different electrical signals, determining to what extent their oscillations are synchronized. Sounds that are out of phase tend to cancel each other out, resulting in silence or on-and-off sound.

phase cancellation A problem encountered when mics placed too close to each other cancel out each other’s audio.

phone connector A connector with a sleeve and tip that is used for patch bays, among other things.

pickup shots Material recorded after an entire program or sequence is recorded that can be edited in to correct some element of what was shot.

pilot A recorded production of one representative program from a proposed series of programs.

pinned Describes rays of a spotlight focused into a narrow beam of intense light.

pitch (1) A meeting during which people with a program idea try to convince other people to buy their idea. (2) The highness or lowness of a sound, determined by the frequency of the sound wave.

pixel One of the small, illuminating “dots” that make up a picture on a television or computer screen. Short for “picture element.”

PL Private line; see intercom.

playback The process of retrieving electronic signals from a storage device and turning them into sound and/or images.

playback operator The person who sets up and starts roll-ins that are part of a larger TV program.

playhead A “pointer” in a nonlinear editing program that indicates visually which portion of the program is playing.

playout server The server in a television station designed to play the information appearing on air.

plosives In speech, a popping “p” sound that is augmented by some mics.

plug A male connector.

pop filter A metal or foam ball placed over the top of a mic to minimize plosive sounds.

ports The holes in a directional mic that allow reflected sound to be filtered out.

position jump A cut between two cameras in which a person or object appears to change position from one side of the screen to the other.

posterization A digital video effect that reduces the number of color shades in a picture, raising the contrast level.

postproduction The period of time, after individual program segments have been produced and recorded, when elements of a program are assembled.

potentiometer See pots.

pots Knobs on an audio board that control the volume.

preproduction The period during which preparation and planning are undertaken for a production.

presence The authenticity of a sound in terms of perceived fidelity and distance.

preset bus A bus on a video switcher used to select the next video input to be placed on the air.

preset white balance A camera setting that allows the user to select one or more predetermined white balance settings for various lighting conditions.

pressure zone mic A flat microphone that consists of a thin pickup plate that, when mounted on a table or ceiling, uses the surface it is mounted on to collect sound waves.

pre-studio rehearsals Rehearsals that take place in a rehearsal hall or other location before talent comes into the studio.

preview bus A bus on a video switcher used to set up video effects and transitions before they are put on the air.

preview line An output of a video switcher that allows the operator to set up and view effects before they are put on the air.

preview monitor A video monitor that shows the preview line output of a video switcher.

primary colors Red, blue, and green; each of which are processed separately by a video camera’s image sensor.

private line See intercom.

producer The creator and originator of a television program, usually in charge of elements such as writing, music clearance, financial considerations, and hiring the director.

production The stage during which all the shooting for a program is undertaken.

production assistant A person who undertakes small miscellaneous duties during a production, such as getting people coffee and distributing scripts.

production designer A person in charge of the overall look of a film or video.

production house An organization that produces various types of video material, including commercials, corporate videos, broadcast programs, educational programs.

program bus The bus on a video switcher used to select the video input(s) that are put on the air.

program line (1) The output of a video switcher that is the signal being put on the air or recorded. (2) A window on a nonlinear video editor used to assemble audio and video elements.

program monitor (1) A video monitor that shows the program line output of a video switcher. (2) An audio speaker on which you can hear the output of the audio board.

program time The total length of a show, including opening and closing credits.

progressive scanning A scanning method that scans an entire frame with each complete pass of the scanning beam. Many ATSC formats and most computer monitors use progressive scanning.

prompter The generic term for TelePrompTer, a mechanical device that projects the moving script, via mirrors, directly in front of a camera lens. It allows talent to read the script as they look into the camera lens.

prompter operator The person who makes sure the script is appearing on the right part of the prompter screen so the talent can read it properly.

prop Something on a set that is actually used or manipulated by an actor during a production.

propmaster The person who sees that all props are obtained and located in their proper places on the set.

proposal A document that describes the purpose, goals, objectives, target audience, and planned segments of a proposed TV series or program.

proximity effect The boosting of bass frequencies as a sound source (particularly a male voice) gets closer to a cardioid mic.

psychographics Information pertaining to lifestyle characteristics of a group of people, such as their desire to preserve nature.

public domain The legal condition in which certain material may be used without obtaining copyright clearance.

push-off A digital video transition in which the first picture is “pushed” off the screen by a second picture.

PZM See pressure zone mic.

quantization The number of bits that each sampled unit of an analog signal is placed into. All else being equal, higher bit levels result in a digital signal that is a truer representation of the original analog wave.

quartz lamp A lamp with a tungsten filament and halogen gas in a quartz or silica housing.

quartz-halogen lamp See quartz lamp.

rack focus A camera shot that starts with one object in focus, then changes to focus on another object.

RAID A series of computer hard disks wired together to act as one large hard disk. Often used in video servers.

rate card A listing of costs for renting equipment or a facility.

ratings Data based on statistical sampling that indicates the percentage of people who watch a particular program.

RCA connector A connector with an outer sleeve and a center shaft.

reaction shot A shot that shows someone responding to what someone else is saying or doing.

record run A time code mode in which the time code numbers increment only when the video is being recorded.

recording Storing audio and/or video information on a computer disk or other media so it can be retrieved later.

recording engineer A person responsible for recording and playback material during a broadcast. Also called “recordist.”

recordist A person responsible for recording and playback material during a broadcast. Also called “recording engineer.”

Redundant Array of Independent Disks See RAID.

reference white A white object, such as a piece of paper or a T-shirt, that can be used on location to white balance a camera.

reflected light Light bounced back from the surface of an object.

reflector A shiny device or light-colored surface used to bounce light back into a scene.

remote production Taping video material or airing it live away from the studio, usually with numerous cameras and a truck that serves as a control room.

rendering The process by which a computer creates a complex video transition or other effect.

residuals Payments that actors, producers, and others receive when a program is rerun.

resolution The fineness of detail that can be produced by a given television system. The higher the resolution, the more detail that can be reproduced.

reverberation Sound that has bounced off a surface or various surfaces more than once or sound that has been processed so it sounds like it has bounced off surfaces.

ripple The process whereby all material in a nonlinear editing program is pushed forward when a new video clip is inserted into an existing sequence. Ripple can also describe material moving backward when a clip is removed from a sequence.

robotic camera control A computerized unit that allows one or more cameras to be controlled from one location.

roll A graphic effect in which lettering moves vertically on the screen. A roll is often used at the conclusion of a program to show closing credits.

rolling shutter A wavy distortion in the picture that can happen when panning or following rapidly moving objects with a digital SLR camera.

roll-in A short bit of material, such as a news story, that is played into a longer program, such as a newscast.

rough cut An assemblage of video and audio, created with off-line editing, that will eventually be used as the model for creating the edited master of a program with on-line editing.

router A device that connects two networks and is sometimes used to send sound, or sound and picture, from one point in a studio complex to another.

routing switcher A simple audio or video switcher used to select from among two or more different signals.

rule of thirds A principle of composition in which a shot is divided into thirds, horizontally and vertically, and objects of interest are framed at the points where the lines intersect.

rundown A list of various segments that will be included in a program.

SA See studio address.

safe or safe title area See essential area.

safety chain A steel chain on a lamp housing that should always be attached to the lighting grid so that the housing will not fall if it comes loose from its mounting.

sampling The process used to convert an analog signal into digital form by measuring the value of the analog signal at various temporal points and converting these values into digital information. All else being equal, a higher rate of sampling results in a digital signal that is a truer representation of the original analog wave.

sampling rate The frequency at which an analog signal is sampled to convert it to digital form.

sandbag A heavy weight placed on the brace of a flat to hold the flat in place.

sans serif A type of font that does not have small protrusions on the tips of letters and is often more suitable for television graphics than serif fonts.

saturation The strength or intensity of a color—how far removed it is from a neutral or gray shade.

scanning The process of reproducing a video picture by illuminating individual pixels that make up the screen; also, the process that a charge-coupled device uses to transduce visual energy into electrical energy.

scanning area The total image recorded by a video camera, the outer edges of which are lost during processing, necessitating framing inside the essential area.scoop A floodlight that contains a single bulb in a bowl-shaped metal reflector.

screen direction The direction a subject on screen is facing or in which a subject or object is moving.

screenplay A script for a movie.

scrim A translucent filter, often made of fiberglass or fine screening, used in front of either a spotlight or a floodlight to soften and diffuse the light quality.

script The written guideline from which a TV program is produced.

script supervisor A person who keeps notes during production so that continuity is maintained and the material shot can be edited properly.

SD See standard-definition television; secure digital memory card.

SDI See serial digital interface.

SDTV See standard-definition television.

secondary colors Colors created by combining two primary colors in equal amounts. Secondary colors are cyan, magenta, and yellow.

secure digital A solid state memory card format used for still photography and some video cameras.

SEG See special effects generator.

segment producer A producer assigned to a news package for a newscast or program. Often reporters serve as their own segment producers.

segue To cut from one sound at full volume to another sound at full volume.

selecting Choosing which audio or video signal is to be recorded or aired, usually through an audio board or a switcher.

selective attention principle The ability of the human ear to filter out unwanted noise so that a person can concentrate on the particular sound he or she wants to hear.

self key A key effect in which the video source cutting the key is also inserted into the key hole.

sequence An area of a nonlinear editing system used to assemble video clips, audio clips, and other information into a completed program. A sequence is sometimes referred to as a timeline.

serial digital interface A method of transporting digital video and audio information over a cable.

serif A small extension found on the tips of letters in some font styles. Serif fonts should be avoided in television graphics.

server A computer-based unit used to store and retrieve video signals or other information in digital form.

set designer The person who determines the environment where the production takes place.

set dressing Something on a set that is similar to a prop but is not essential to the action. It is there to add atmosphere or interest.

set light General lighting on the scenery or other background behind the talent.

setup (1) Ancillary shots recorded after the master shot that capture different perspectives of the action. (2) The electronic adjustment of a video camera through the CCU.

shader See video operator.

shading See setup (2).

shaping Altering an audio or video signal by doing such things as filtering out certain frequencies, emphasizing high or low pitches, and squeezing an image into a smaller space.

shooting schedule A sheet that lists what is to be accomplished each day of production and the major elements needed to accomplish it.

shooting script The script prepared in advance for the day’s production, used by the director to set the desired pace and indicate which images and sounds are needed to achieve his or her purpose. The director marks the shooting script to indicate which cameras will be used for which shots and what instructions will be given to cast and crew.

shot log A list of shots contained on a recording.

shot sheet A list of shots in a program that can be attached to the back of a camera so that the camera operator knows what he or she will be shooting.

shotgun A highly directional microphone used for picking up sounds from a distance.

shutter A device—either electronic or mechanical— that opens and closes to change the amount of time a camera’s image sensor is exposed to light.

sibilance In speech, a hissing “s” sound picked up by some mics.

signal processing Changing the elements of a sound or a picture, such as frequency response and gain, so that the resulting signal is different from the original one.

signal-to-noise ratio The relationship of desired sound to undesired electronic sound. The higher the ratio, the purer the sound.

silhouette effect A type of lighting where the background is lit but the performers are not.

slander Defamation of a person’s character by spoken word; usually not considered as serious as libel, which is defamation by written, recorded, or published means.

slate An identification procedure whereby date, scene, director, and other information necessary for editing or for identifying shots are recorded at the beginning of the recorded material.

sleeve An outer part of a number of connectors, such as phone, miniphone, and RCA.

slug A title for a news story, usually written at the top of the page.

snake A connector box that contains a large number of microphone input receptacles.

snap zoom A camera shot that very quickly (almost instantly, in some cases) zooms in or out. Snap zooms are normally performed manually, after disengaging the zoom control’s motor drive.

snoot A circular metal object placed in front of a light to pinpoint the light onto a particular area of the set.

SNR See signal-to-noise ratio.

soft contrast filter A camera filter used to create a fuzzy effect.

soft light A lamp that has the bulb positioned in such a way that the light is reflected on the back of the lamp housing before leaving the fixture.

solid state media A type of recording/storage media that uses electronic circuitry to store data. With no moving parts, power consumption is lower, durability is better, and size can be smaller. Examples of solid state media include secure digital cards and USB jump drives used on computers.

solo The control on an audio console that silences all channels except the one that has been selected.

sound designer A person who decides on the overall effect of all the aural elements of a show, such as sound effects and music.

source monitor The window in a nonlinear editing program used to trim and manipulate individual clips before they are assembled in a sequence; also referred to as a “viewer” in some programs.

special effects Complicated actions, such as flames or flying people, executed on a set by qualified personnel.

special effects generator The part of the video switcher that can be used to create special electronic effects, normally through the use of digital video effects.

speech bump A frequency response characteristic of a mic that enables it to pick up speech frequencies better than other frequencies.

split edit An edit in which the video and audio portions have different in or out points.

split-pair miking A method of stereo miking that mimics natural hearing by placing two mics several feet apart, sometimes called “A-B miking.”

split screen A special effect with the screen split into two or more sections, with a picture from a different input filling each portion of the screen.

spot meter A type of light meter that measures the amount of reflected light coming from a small, specific area.

spot server A server used to store commercials (spots).

spotlight (1) A concentrated light that covers a narrow area; it usually provides some means for varying the angle of the illumination by moving the bulb within the housing. (2) A special effect in which one part of the picture is lighter (brighter) than the rest of the picture; it is often used to highlight a particular portion of the screen.

spread To focus the rays of a Fresnel spotlight to a relatively wide area so that the light is less intense than when the light is in the pinned position.

stage manager The director’s key assistant in charge of all production concerns on the studio floor.

staging See blocking.

standard-definition television With the advent of high-definition television, this term is used to refer to NTSC television and ATSC formats that have 480 lines of resolution.

star filter A camera filter used to create a “star” effect that radiates from bright spots on the screen.

start-and-stop rehearsal A full facilities rehearsal with cameras operating, designed to be interrupted to work out problems as the production progresses.

stereo Audio that is recorded, transmitted, and played back through two separate (left and right) channels to simulate binaural hearing.

stock footage Scenes of various types that can be purchased to insert into a production.

stop down To adjust the f-stop on a camera to a higher number, meaning that the iris will close up and allow less light to enter into the lens; for use in bright-light situations.

storyboard A series of simple drawings or computer- generated frames that lay out visually the content of a commercial or program.

straight take See instantaneous cut.

streaming A method of sending video, audio, or other digital data over a computer network in sequential form so that the end user can begin playing the information before it finishes downloading.

strip lights A series of pan lights or low-wattage bulbs mounted in a row of three to 12 lights in one housing, used as a specialized floodlight for lighting a cyclorama or other large background area.

stripboards Large boards or computer-generated sheets that summarize the scenes, locations, and actors needed for each day of production.

studio The primary room devoted to video production containing all the paraphernalia for sets, lighting, cameras, microphones, and so forth; the space where all acting or performing takes place.

studio address A public-address loudspeaker system, allowing those in the control room to talk directly to the studio floor.

studio production Program creation that takes place in a controlled environment meant for it, as opposed to production that takes place in the field.

submastering Controlling groups of sound inputs, such as separate inputs from each percussion instrument in an orchestra, separately from other groups of sound inputs, such as all the strings.

super See superimposition.

superimposition A picture resulting from the simultaneous display of two pictures that are partway through a dissolve.

supervising producer See line producer.

surround sound Audio that comes from five or six speakers or more placed around a room.

sweetening The process of adding pickup shots and enhanced audio information after a production has been shot.

switcher A device consisting of selection buttons and other controls that permits the selection and combining of incoming video signals to form the final program picture.

symmetrical balance A formal arrangement of elements in a camera shot or a graphic, usually with the most important element centered in the picture and other objects placed equidistant from the center. It is less dynamic than asymmetrical balance.

sync generator A device that produces a synchronizing signal (sync pulse) that serves as a timing pulse to coordinate the video elements of all components in a video system.

syndication A process by which programs are distributed to individual stations that air them when they wish, as opposed to network programs that are generally aired by all network-affiliated stations at the same time.

take See cut.

talent Performers who appear on camera.

tally lights Indicators—often red lights—on a camera that illuminate to let the talent and camera operators know the camera is on the air or recording.

TD See technical director.

technical director The production person who operates the switcher.

telephoto lens See long lens.

teleplay A script for television.TelePrompTer See prompter.

test pattern See color bars.

three-point lighting The traditional lighting setup that incorporates a key, a fill, and a backlight.

three-to-one cutting ratio A principle that states you should not take to a shot that is more than three times larger or three times smaller than the preceding shot.

three-to-one rule A microphone placement principle that states that, if two mics must be side by side, there should be three times the distance between them that there is between the mics and the people using them.

tilt (1) To pivot the camera vertically by pointing the camera mounting head up or down. (2) The shot produced by tilting a camera.

timbre A distinctive quality each voice or musical instrument has, caused, to a large degree, by overtones.

time code An address system used to assign each frame of video a unique numerical designation in the format hours:minutes:seconds:frames, such as 23:03:58:23.

time code burn-in A copy of video footage that has time code information displayed on the screen.

time code generator A device used to create running time code to record with video information.

time code reader A device used to read time code information.

timing sheet A form that helps the AD keep track of the running times of various portions of a program and other time elements so that the program ends at the appropriate time.

tone A 1 kilohertz sound used to calibrate equipment volume levels so that the program’s sound will have a consistent volume each time it is played or recorded.

tone generator An element in an audio board or other piece of equipment that produces a constant 1 kilohertz sound that can be used to set consistent volume levels on different pieces of equipment.

transcode Re-coding video files in a format recognized by editing software.

transducing Receiving energy in one form (such as sound waves or light energy) and converting it into another form of energy (such as electromagnetic signals).

transition A method—such as a cut, dissolve, or wipe—of getting from one shot to another.

transparent The term used to describe the ability of digital signals to be distributed and manipulated without loss of quality.

treatment A document that describes the main premise and elements of a series or movie.

treble Sounds with more cycles per second (hertz) than lower bass sounds.

triangular lighting See three-point lighting.

trim (1) To adjust an in or out point of an edit frame by frame. (2) To make final adjustments on lights. (3) To make slight adjustments in audio.

tripod A three-legged camera mount, sometimes equipped with casters to facilitate camera movement.

truck (1) To move the camera and its mount laterally to the right or left. (2) A shot produced by trucking the camera.

tungsten-halogen lamp See quartz lamp.

turntable A piece of equipment for spinning records and converting the groove vibrations into electrical energy.

two-column script A script with information about the video in the left-hand column and information about the audio in the right-hand column; also called a “split-page or AV format.”

ultracardioid A very narrow microphone pickup pattern, often used to pick up sound from a distance.

unbalanced cables Audio cables that have two wires, one for positive and one for both negative and ground.

unidirectional A microphone that picks up sound from one direction. Also called a “cardioid.”

uninterrupted run-through The rehearsal of an entire show without stopping for anything except major problems; minor problems are fixed later.

unions Organizations that set wages and working conditions that production companies must adhere to for people (usually below-the-line people) whom they hire.

unit production manager A person who schedules and determines the cost of equipment and facilities.

UPM See unit production manager.

USB connector A digital connecting system used in computers and computer-based devices. USB provides a uniform system of connecting peripherals such as cameras, hard drives, or solid state media to computer components.

variable-width font A lettering font in which the width of each letter varies, such as Times New Roman; contrast with fixed-width font.

variable spotlight See open-face spot.

vectorscope A piece of diagnostic equipment used to adjust the color qualities of a video signal.

vertical sync pulse The portion of the sync signal that controls the movement of a scanning beam from the bottom to the top of the screen.

video capture Hardware and software that allow a personal computer to convert video into digital form.

video gain A control used to boost the overall brightness of the picture being produced by a camera.

video operator A person who makes technical adjustments on a camera using a camera control unit located at some distance from the camera.

video output control A control that increases the gain of a video signal so that a camera can obtain a picture in low-lighting conditions.

video server See server.

viewer The window in a nonlinear editing program used to trim and manipulate individual clips before they are assembled in a sequence. Also referred to as a source monitor in some programs.

viewfinder The part of a camera that allows the operator to see how the shot looks on the camera’s output.

virtual reality Replicating a 360-degree environment with animation or digital video.

virtual sets Studio sets that are computer-generated and filled in electronically behind performers who stand in front of a blank background.

visual effects supervisor A person who oversees the creation of computerized effects.

volume unit meter A display meter that shows the relative volume of an audio signal.

VR See virtual reality.

VU meter See volume unit meter.

walk-through rehearsal An abbreviated rehearsal, conducted from the studio floor, to acquaint the talent and/or crew with the major outline of the production.

waveform An electronic representation of a signal.

waveform monitor A piece of diagnostic equipment used to evaluate the brightness qualities of a video signal.

“West Virginia” formula The term often used for this formula: watts = volts × amps (or W = VA).

white balance An electronic adjustment of a camera to compensate for differences in color temperatures so that a pure white object will appear on-screen as pure white.

wide shot See long shot.

wi-fi A wireless computer network in which signals are transmitted through the airwaves.

wildtrack Background noise recorded at a site so that it can be mixed with other sounds during postproduction.

wipe A transition in which a geometric pattern gradually replaces one picture with another.

wireless Any system that sends audio or video signals through the airwaves as opposed to through cables.

workspace The main operating space for a computer-based video editing or other program.

wrangler See animal handler.

XLR connector A professional-quality balanced connector with three prongs.

XLS Extreme long shot.

z-axis The third dimension of depth in an object. For example, in a cube, the x-axis is horizontal (width), and the y-axis is vertical (height), making a square; then, the z-axis is depth. In image composition, the screen is two-dimensional with x and y axes only, so composing images with fore-, mid-, and background elements utilizes the z-axis, giving the illusion of depth.

zebra stripes A setting on a camera’s viewfinder that indicates overexposed portions of the picture with black and white stripes.

zoom A camera shot during which the focal length of the shot is adjusted as the shot is in progress.

zoom control (1) A control used to vary the focal length of a lens on a video camera. (2) The function on editing software that allows the editor to adjust the timeline window.

zoom lens A variable-focal-length lens that, through a complex optical system, can be smoothly changed from one focal length to another.

zoom mic A microphone that can change its direction pattern gradually from cardioid to super-, hyper-, or ultracardioid.