| Analog | The older, pre-digital era type of video signal. |
| Aperture | The size of the opening used by cameras when capturing video
& still imagery, this affects the amount of light that
hits the photosensitive array in the camera. |
| Aspect Ratio | The ratio of width to height used for screens and visual
content. For example, 4:3 and 16:9 are common boxy and
widescreen aspect ratios respectively. |
| Bandwidth | The digital spacial allowance that video and audio content
travels through; wider bandwidth allows more content to flow
through at higher speeds than thinner bandwidth. DODGY |
| Bit | The smallest possible piece of digital data to date; short
for binary digit, a bit can be either 0 or 1. |
| Bit Rate | The rate at which the data stream travels from storage to
decoder, which then displays the content. A higher bit rate
means you’ll have an easier time viewing high quality
footage in large file sizes. |
| Bit Depth | The number of bits per pixel, a higher bit depth means more
potential colours. |
| Codec | An algorithm used to convert analog video and audio signals
to digital, and sometimes even back again. |
| Compression | Various methods used to reduce the size of video files for
easier storage and playback. |
| Cropping | A cutting technique used to remove parts of an image. |
| Decoder | A device used to turn encoded signals into displayable
content. |
| Depth of Field | The point(s) of distance in an image that are in focus. |
| Digital Signal | An electronic signal comprised of 0s and 1s that results in
imagery, sound, etc. |
| Digitising | The conversion of analog video or audio to a digital form. |
| Display | The panel technology used to show video or imagery to the
user. |
| Field of View | The maximum viewing angle visible through a lens. |
| Frame | One of the still images that is used in playback to create
video. |
| Frame Rate | The rate at which frames are shown on screen, such as 25
frames per second for PAL. |
| H.264 | One of the most used and efficient recording formats for
high definition video. |
| Hertz | A standard measurement of frequency wherein 1 hertz(Hz) is
one cycle per second. |
| Interlaced | The “i” in “1080i”, interlaced scanning is an older scan
method whereby the image is split, and half of the image is
shown 1/60th of a second after the first half. |
| Letterbox | Black bars surrounding the video image, often the result of
changing in resolution or aspect ration. |
| Monitor | A video display unit used to view digital or analog imagery. |
| National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) | An analog television system previously used across most of
the American continent and a handful of far-eastern
countries such as Japan or South Korea. |
| Packet | One piece of binary data traveling from one point to
another, such as over the internet. |
| Phase Alternate Line (PAL) | An analog television system previously used primarily in
Europe, Oceania, and otherwise scattered across the world. |
| Pixel | Short for picture element, a pixel is an individual part of
the grid used to create an image on a display. |
| Progressive | The “p” in “1080p”, progressive scanning is a method by
which the full image is rendered all at once on a screen, as
opposed to interlaced scan. |
| Resolution | The width and height of pixel lines in an image, for example
1920×1080. |
| Scan Type | The method by which the image is drawn on the screen. See:
Interlaced & Progressive. |
| Séquential couleur à mémoire (SECAM) | An analog television system first used in France, it was
also used in Russia, parts of Africa, and other smaller
localities across the world. |
| Streaming | The capacity to view video online without downloading the
full file first. YouTube, Netflix, and many others use
streaming functionality. |
| Transcode | The conversion of one container to another, ideally
performed in manners to reduce loss of quality where
possible. |
