Glossary - Sony Betacam SX DNW-A28 Operation Manual

Glossary

Assemble editing
Editing in which new video/audio is added
in sequence to the end of existing recorded
video/audio.
Bridge connection
A connection which allows a signal input
to an input terminal to pass through the
unit and exit from an output terminal as
input to external equipment.
B-Y signal
One of the color difference signals, the B
(blue) signal minus Y (luminance) signal.
Capstan
A drive mechanism that moves the tape at
a specified speed. Its rotation is normally
synchronized with a reference sync signal.
Chrominance signal
A signal which carries information about
hue and saturation. Also called "C
signal".
Condensation
Moisture which condensed on tape
transport mechanisms. If there is
condensation on the head drum, tape sticks
to drum and the VTR may malfunction.
CONFI playback
This refers to playback of the audio and
video signals immediately after recording,
using the confidence heads, the signal
being output to all intents and purposes
simultaneously with recording. This is
used to check recording.
Component video signal
A signal that consists of a luminance
signal (Y) and two chrominance signals
(Y–R, Y–B).
Composite video signal
A signal that consists of video, sync and
color burst signals.
CTL
Control signal in the form of regular
pulses recorded along a longitudinal track
on the videotape. By counting these
pulses, it is possible to determine the
number of frames, and hence the tape's
running time. Used mainly to adjust the
tracking position of video heads, and to
achieve timecode continuity in continuous
recording.
Digital VTR
On a digital VTR, video and audio signals
are recorded on magnetic tape and, unlike
on an analog VTR, can be played back
without any quality deterioration.
Drop frame mode
Time code runs at 30 frames/sec. The
NTSC system, however, runs at about
29.97 frame /sec. Drop frame mode
adjusts this difference. The timecode and
video are synchronized by dropping the
first two frames of the timecode every
minute, except at the ten-minute marks.
Drum
See "Head drum".
E-E mode
Abbreviation of "Electric to Electric"
mode. In this mode, video and audio
signals input to the VTR are output after
passing through internal electric circuits,
but not through magnetic conversion
circuits such as heads and tapes. This can
be used to check input signals and for
adjusting input signal levels.
Emphasis
The signal is emphasized at high
frequencies. During playback, it is de-
emphasized. This suppresses noise
without affecting the original signal.
External lock
Synchronizing one equipment (slave unit)
to another (master unit). The signal and
tape run of the VTRs used for editing,
player and recorder, are usually
synchronized.
Head drum
A metal cylinder to which a video head is
attached. This drum is rotated at high
speeds in synchronization with the sync
signal during recording and playback.
Insert editing
Editing in which new video/audio is added
into the middle of existing recorded video/
audio.
IRE
A unit for representing a video level laid
down by the IRE (Institute of Radio
Engineers). The IRE is now the IEEE
(Institute of Electric and Electronic
Engineers).
Non-drop frame mode
The number of frames of the timecode and
video run is not adjusted. When you use
the timecode in non-drop frame mode, the
real playback time will be about 86
seconds shorter per day than the timecode.
If you edit frame by frame or if you
determine the length of a shot by counting
the timecode, use drop frame mode.
Loading
Also called "threading". To pull the tape
out of the cassette case, thread it along the
specified tape path, and wrap it on the
drum in order to prepare it for recording or
playback. The VTR automatically loads
the cassette tape when you insert the
cassette into the cassette compartment.
There are two loading modes: standby-on
mode and standby-off mode.
LTC
Abbreviation of "Longitudinal Time
Code". This timecode is recorded on a
longitudinal track on the tape. Reading is
unreliable at low speeds, and not possible
at all during still playback. See also
"VITC".
Luminance signal
A signal that determined the brightness of
the picture. Also called "Y signal".
Preroll
Running of a video tape to a prior to an
edit-start point to enable the tape to reach a
steady speed and to be synchronized with
other video tapes.
Quantization
The level resolution when an analog signal
is sampled before converted into a digital
signal. 8-bit quantizing has 256 levels and
10-bit quantizing has 1024 levels.
Generally, 8-bit quantizing is used for
video signals and 16-bit quantizing is used
for audio signals. The fewer the
quantizing steps, the more distortion is in
the analog signal when the digital signal is
reconverted into analog signal.
Reference video signal
A video signal which contains a sync
signal or sync and burst signals, used as a
reference for synchronization of video
equipment.
Appendixes
A-9