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Video Glossary

Just when you thought you were familiar with computer jargon, along comes PC-based video editing--with its own set of terms, acronyms, and buzzwords. Here are a few that you should know.

AnalogVideo that is stored as a stream of varying signal strengths on tape used by VHS, VHS-C, 8mm, and Hi-8 camcorders.

CaptureVideo imported from a camcorder to a PC for editing.

CCDCharge-coupled device--a chip that converts light into electrical signals, analogous to the eye's retina.

ClipA segment of captured video. Individual clips can be assembled into a finished movie.

CodecShort for compressor/decompressor. A protocol dictating how to compress video (for convenient storage and editing) and decompress it for writing back to tape.

Composite video An analog video format with all information encoded into a single signal.

DigitalVideo stored in a binary (computer) format.

DigitizeVideo converted from an analog source into digital format.

DissolveA video effect in which one scene fades out while another fades in.

DVAbbreviation for Digital Video. DV camcorders store video in binary code (ones and zeros) instead of varying analog signal strengths.

FrameA single still image of video. Showing frames in succession gives the illusion of movement.

HI-8A high-quality 8mm analog camcorder format that produces 400 lines of resolution.

IEEE 1394 A high-speed serial interface (also known by brand names FireWire and I.Link) for copying digital video to a PC and back to the camcorder after editing.

Lossless compressionCompression that doesn't discard data, thereby preserving the original quality. DV is an example.

Lossy compressionCompression that discards some of the data in video to minimize the storage space required. M-JPEG is an example.

RenderingCombining all the elements of an edited video into a format for writing to tape or other media.

S-Video A video signal used by Hi-8 camcorders, in which the luminance (brightness) and chrominance (color) information are separated. Most DV camcorders also offer S-Video connections.

Time codeThe date, time, and frame information embedded in DV recordings; it can be read by editing software to break up clips.