Glossay
Commonly used terms.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Analogue / Analog
A variable signal continuous in both time and amplitude. Used by VHS tapes, audio cassettes, LPs, etc.
Audio Cassette
The compact cassette. Replacing the reel-to-reel tape recordings, this format for primarily holding audio has been effectively replaced by the CD.
C
CD
Compact Disc. A disc of various formats. Audio, playable on a Hi-Fi system, or CD player; CD-ROM containing data read by a computer; Video-CD, playable on certain DVD players.
Compact Flash
CompactFlash (CF) was originally developed as a type of data storage device used in portable electronic devices. There are two main subdivisions of CF cards, Type I (3.3mm thick) and the thicker Type II (CF2) cards (5mm thick). The CF Type II slot is used by Microdrives and some other devices.
D
Digital
Descriptive of any method of representing information (numbers, strings of characters, sounds, pictures) by a sequence of electronic pulses of fixed duration. Digital representation is preferred because it is less vulnerable to noise, easy to compress. Used by the CDs, DVDs, MP3s, scanned pictures, etc.
Duplication
Creating an exact copy of existing work.
DVD
A high-density compact disk for storing large amounts of data, especially high-resolution audio-visual material. DVD-video is designed to be used with a set-top DVD player, while DVD-ROM is designed to be used on a PC.
F
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions. Commonly asked questions that have existing solutions.
FTP
File Transfer Protocol. Used to transfer data from one computer to another over the Internet, or through a network.
L
LP
Long Playing. A vinyl gramophone record. Now effectivly replaced by the CD, this old format for holding music comprises of a vinyl platter.
M
Memory Stick
Memory Stick (MS) is a removable flash memory card format. Also used in general to describe the whole family of memory sticks.
Memory Stick Duo
The Memory Stick Duo is slightly smaller than the competing Secure Digital format and roughly two thirds the length of the standard Memory Stick form factor. It incorporates MagicGate, an encryption system allowing music to be downloaded to the card and played back on authorised devices.
Micro Drive
a miniature, 1-inch hard disk designed to fit in a Compact Flash (CF) Type II slot.
Mini DV
The small Digital Video cassette, commonly using in household video cameras.
MMC
Multi Media Card. A flash memory card format used in portable device, such as digital cameras, handheld computers and cellphones. More or less superseded by the SD card, although they can be used in most devices that support SD cards.
N
NTSC
National Television System Committee. the analog television system in use in the United States, Canada, and some other countries, mostly the Americas.
P
PAL
Phase Alternation Line. A colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems in large parts of the world, including South Africa.
Printing
The processing of creating a hardcopy, or physical copy, of a digital file such as a photograph or document.
S
Scanning
The process of digitising, or creating a digital image from a physical object such as a photograph or document.
SD
Secure Digital card. A flash memory card format used in portable device, such as digital cameras, handheld computers and cellphones.
Showreel
A show reel is vital in this industry. It is a collection of a few select pieces of your work, and helps you show your talents and abilities.
Slideshow
A display of a series of chosen images, stored on a disc, or cassette tape, viewed either on a computer, or a TV screen.
Smart Media
A flash memory card standard. Initially named the Solid State Floppy Disk Card (SSFDC) and pitched as a successor to the floppy disk, compact flash is a storage media primarily used in portable devices.
T
Transfer
Creating a copy of footage from one medium, using another.
V
VHS
Video Home System. a format for recording and playing VCR tape, incompatible with other formats.
