Glossary
0-9
4:2:2
The Y (luminance) is sampled at double the rate of the Cb and Cr (red difference and blue difference chroma components).
4:4:4
Each component of the YCbCr colour space is sampled at the same sample rate.
10 Bit Video
Colour values are encoded at 10 bit, ie range from 0 to 1023.
8 Bit Video
Colour values are encoded at 8 bit, ie range from 0 to 255.
A
AACS
Advanced Access Content System is a digital rights management standard used to restrict access to and prevent copying Blu-ray.
Abstraction Layer
Computing term to denote the hiding of implementation details of a set of funcionaltiy
AIFF
Audio Interchange File Format – an audio file format with little-endian bite order primarily used on Apple computers
Analogue
A continuosly variable signal
Apple Pro Res
Apple’s industry standard codec for virtually losless digital video, accepted by the BBC as an HD delivery format.
Aspect Ratio
The shape of a TV picture expressed as width:height, eg 16:9 for widescreen. Is sometimes factored down eg 16:9 = 1.78:1
Aspect Ratio Conversion
The process of converting from, for example, 16:9 widescreen to a letter boxed 4:3 image. Often used for compatibility with legacy systems though less common.
AVI
Audio Video Interleaved – Less common PC based video format that acts as a container for a number of different CODEC
B
BDR
Blu-ray Disc recordable, the write once version of Blu-ray
Beta SP
An old analogue standard definition Sony broadcast tape format, rarely used these days
Bit
The smallest unit of data in computing terms
Bit Rate
Refers to the amount of data per time unit that a digital file is encoded at, for example 4 Mbps (megabits per second)
Block Error Rate
A measure of the number of errors per second present on a CD audio. The accepted maximum allowable is a BLER of 220
Blu-ray
The latest optical disc format, specifically designed for HD video.
Byte
8 bits make up 1 byte
C
CD
Compact Disc, the first mass produced optical disc system to become popular
CDR
Compact Disc Recordable, the write once version of CD
CDROM
Compact Disc Read Only Memory, refers to a replicated data CD
CF
Compact Flash card, a memory card used by professional stills cameras and some in store video players
CMYK
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow & Black, the colours used in the 4 colour printing process.
CODEC
Coder/Decoder, a device or more commonly a computer program capable of encoding and/or decoding a digital data stream or signal, for example MPEG1
Copy Protection
Any system that prevents copying of content , eg DVD Sequr for DVD video
CRC
Cyclic redundancy checks, a system to verify copied or transmitted data
CSS
Content Scrambling System, the copy protection system originally used for DVD Video, now mostly ineffectual
D
DDP
Digital Descriptor Protocol, the file format used for delivering replication masters
Digibeta
Sony’s SD digital video format which replaced Beta SP
Digital
The representation of continuously variable signals using sampling
Digital Print
Any method of printing which does not use traditional screen or offset techniques
Div X
A proprietary version of H264 supported by a large number of DVD players, favoured by internet users
DLT
Digital Linear Tape – A tape format for delivering DDP DVD images for replication, not used much anymore
Duplication
Any act of copying, specifically in optical disc refers to copying on recordable discs as opposed to replication
DVC Pro HD
Panasonics HD tape format
DVCAM
Sony SD digital tape format
DVD
Originally Digital Video Disc but renamed to Digital Versatile Disc when it became popular for storing data other than DVD Video
DVD Video
A DVD disc authored in such a way that it will play on a set top DVD player.
DVDR
Write once version of DVD
E
Eclipse
An analysis platform to check integrity of DVD masters
Encoding
The process of converting a digital signal to a digital computer file
Error Correction
Most digital storage systems (eg CD Audio) contain inherent errors which are compensated for by error correction systems on reading. The reason that a full 700MB CD can store more audio as an audio CD than 16 bit uncompressed 44.1KHz audio files is that more space is required by data error correction systems than audio error concealment systems.
Exabyte
A tape format which was used to deliver audio DDP images for replication, not used much anymore
F
FAT 16
Microsoft’s 16 bit File Allocation Table, the system used for storing data on hard drives, rarely used these days
FAT 32
Updated 32 bit version of FAT16, still often used on USB flash memory
Flash Memory
Solid state memory with no moving parts that make up USB memory sticks, SDHC cards etc.
FLV
Flash Video Files, the webs most popular video file codec, as used by Youtube.
FSC
Forest Stewardship Council; international non-profit organisation established in 1993 to promote responsible management of the world’s forests.
FTP
File transfer protocol, the system used for transferring large amounts of data over the internet.
G
Glass Master
The physical master, made from glass, from which stampers are created to mould polycarbonate during the CD or DVD replication process.
Gold Master
Term often applied to the CD replication Master on CD-R, owing to the use of gold in the manufacturing of early CD Recordables.
H
H264
The video compression technology which is used by MPEG4
Harding Test
The Harding flash and Pattern test is based on research by Professor Graham Harding to predict if flashes or other patterns likely to cause fits in epileptics. All footage needs to be checked for this before being broadcast
HD
High Definition, ie frame sizes above 720 X 576 for PAL and 720 X 480 for NTSC
HDCAM
Sony professional HD digital tape format, replacement for Digibeta
HDMI
High Definition Multi Interface, Consumer interface used for interconnection of TVs, Blu-ray Players etc.
HFS
Hierarchical File System the file system developed by Apple Inc. for use in computer systems running Mac OS
Huff YUV
A lossless codec sometimes used for archiving purposes
I
Inkjet
Printing system where ink droplets are jetted onto a surface without contact between the head and surface
ISO
Disc image format, primarily PC based
ISRC
International Standard Recording Code, the code embedded in CD Audio to track royalty payments.
K
Kbps
Kilobit per second, ie 1000 bits per second, an expression of bitrate, often confused with Kilobytes per second (or 1000 bytes per second)
Kib
Kibibit, 1024 bits. Computer operating systems incorrectly refer to a Kilobyte as being 1024 bytes but this should be referred to as a Kibibit
L
Litho
More accurately referred to as Offset, a print method used for paper and disc printing
M
Mastering
Any process of preparing content for copying or broadcast. Often refers to audio mastering which is the compression, EQ and limiting process applied to a music as a final stage during preparation of DDP masters.
Mbps
Mega bits per second, or 1 million bits per second not to be confused with mega bytes per second
MCPS
Mechanical Copyright and Performance Society – the UK licensing body for recorded music
Mibit
Mebibit, 1024 Kibibits or 1,048,576 bits
Mini DV
Sony Consumer standard definition digital video tape format
MP3
Mpeg 2 Layer 3, the audio layer for MPEG video files which has become the de facto codec for compressed audio
MP4
See MPEG4
MPEG LA
Motion Picture Engineering Group Licensing Authority, responsible for protecting the IP of MPEG compression technology
MPEG1
The original MPEG video CODEC as used by VCD
MPEG2
CODEC used for DVD and Blu-ray at higher bit rates
MPEG4
CODEC based on H264, efficient and can be used for web video as well as HD quality
Multisession CD
Writing more than one session allows both multiple data sessions or a data session to be written after an audio session, allowing both to be readable. Known as orange book due to the combination of Red Book (Audio) and Yellow Book (Data)
N
NAND Flash
NAND is one of the two basic forms of logic gates as used in computer chips (NOR being the other), NAND flash memory is the memory used by USB flash drives.
NTFS
New Technology File System, Microsoft file system that supersedes FAT32 for use in hard drives. USB drives still often use FAT
NTSC
National Television System Committee, refers to the TV standard as used by USA, Japan and some other countries
O
Offset Printing
The correct way to refer to Litho Printing, a 4 colour print process where rollers and plates are used to transfer ink onto paper or discs.
Optical Disc
any disc format that uses laser technology to store and retrieve information, eg CD, DVD, Blu-ray
Orange Book CD
Part of the rainbow book CD format standards, so called as Red Book and Yellow Book are written on the same disc in different sessions.
P
PAL
Phase Alternate Line, the television standard used by United Kingdom and other parts of the world.
Pantone Colour
Standardised Colour from the Pantone Matching System invented by the company of the same name.
Pixels
Picture Element, a single point in a raster image, or an individual dot that makes up a TV image
PMS
Pantone Matching System,see Pantone Colour.
Process Colours
Another term for CMYK.
PRS
Performing Rights Society, the body that collects and allocates music performance royalties
Q
Quicktime
Apple’s multimedia file format, a container for a variety of CODECS for both audio and video
R
Red Book Audio CD
The rainbow book standard that covers audio CDs
Replication
The process of making copies, specifically used in optical discs to define manufactured copies
RGB
Red Green & Blue, RGB is the colour model used for the display of images in electronic systems such as televisions and monitors.
S
Sampling
The process used to convert continuously variable (analogue) signals to digital signals
Screen
The mesh that ink is squeezed through in screen printing
SD
Standard Definition (720 X 576 pixels in PAL and 720 X 480 pixels in NTSC) (also Secure digital in flash memory cards)
SDHC
Secure Digital High Capacity, the most recent flash memory card as used in consumer (and some prosumer) stills and video cameras
SDI
Serial Digital Interface, profesional video communication standard which carries uncompressed video over coaxial cable.
Standards Conversion
The process of converting from one television standard (eg PAL) to another (eg NTSC)
Streaming
Video or audio provided over the internet in realtime as opposed to being downloaded for later viewing
U
USB
Universal Serial Bus, a computer interface that has become the standard for interconnection of peripherals
UV Cured Ink
Ink which is solidified by passing under high power ultra violet light, as used by the latest generation of digital printers
W
Watermark
Originally a visible pattern in print but has come to refer to either in vision or invisible marking used to identify content and IP holders
WAV
PC audio file format for uncompressed audio