Glossary
Pre Production
This is the period of time at the start of a project that is used for planning before initiating and video project.
Storyboard
A series of hand drawn sketches produced by a specailist artist used to illustrate how the programme will look and how the shoot will progress.
ENG
Electronic News Gathering.
DV
This is a small tape based standard definition digital video format, still used, which is low cost and usually shot on something like a Sony PD170 camera. Although it is said to be broadcast quality, the resolution is not high enough for high end production. Its very good for Vox Pops or fly on the wall type work though. Great for low budget productions.
DV Cam
A format similar to DV, but uses a slightly higher quality tape stock and will give slightly better definition. Generally this will be shot on a slightly bigger camera such as a Sony DSR500. Also slightly more time consuming to process.
HDV
A much high definition version of DV which can provide greta results. Normaly shot on a sony HDV Z1. This is also a compact format.
Digi Beta
This is a standard definition format. Tape based but provides relatively high quality and still occasionally used.
XDCam HD
A format providing high end HD results.
5D
A digital format using a video enabled Canon 5d stills camera. Shoots very high quality pictures but does not record not proper audio, which will require some additional equipment.
HD
High definition is standard. Nearly all cameras are HD and produce work in a digital file format.
Film
8mm, 16mm and 38mm formats, film has always been the most expensive and highest quality format. Normally used for commercials, movies and some high end broadcast and corporate work. Detailed pre production and planning is required to avoid wastage and film proccessing itself is also more complicated, but the extra effort and cost can be rewared by some stunning results.
Stock
Blank tapes or film for use on a shoot or edit. Used also for mastering and additional copies.
Logging
The process of recording and giving each shot on a tape a start and finish time code number. This is made available for use throughout the edit.
Aspect Ratio
Aspect ratio is the width to height dimensions of the picture. The two most popular are 16:9 and 4:3. Old TV sets are 4:3 ie 4 units wide and 3 units high. Nearly all new TVs are 16:9 (wide screen) 16 units wide and 9 units high. This is particularly important as the finished programme may be used on a web site and shown on computer screens (4:3) or on a widescreen TV (16:9). Also 4:3 is still used on the continent. There are other ratios which are normaly used for film and are described as a ratio to 1 ie 2.35:1 (feature film) or 1.66:1 (most Disney cartoons).
Boom Mike
The microphone with a fluffy cover on it on the end of a long pole. Usually requires a “boom op”