natural light Planetary illumination -- from sun, moon, stars -- be it indoors or out. Has higher color temperature than artificial light, and thus more bluish qualities. [See artificial light, color temperature.]

neutral-density filter (ND) Mounted at front of camcorder lens, reduces light intensity without affecting its color qualities. [See filter.]

NiCad -- Abbreviation for Nickel Cadmium. Abbreviation coined and popularized by SAFT America for lightweight camcorder battery type designed to maintain power longer than traditional lead-acid batteries.

noise Undesirable video or audio signal interference; typically seen as snow, heard as hiss.

noninterlaced video Image refresh method wherein the complete image is generated without skipping lines. Process of scanning complete frames in one pass, painting every line on the screen, yielding higher picture quality than that of interlaced video. Most computers produce a noninterlaced video signal; NTSC is interlaced. [See interlaced.]

nonlinear editing Digital "cut and paste" editing that uses a hard drive instead of tape to store images. Random access allows easy arrangement of scenes in any order. Also eliminates the need for rewinding and allows for multiple dubs without generational loss.

Nonsynchronous sound Audio without precisely matching visuals. Usually recorded separately, includes wild sound, sound effects, or music incorporated in post-production. [See synchronous sound.]

NTSC Acronym for National Television Standards Committee. A group formed by Federal Communications Commission to regulate U.S. television broadcasting specifications. NTSC refers to all video systems conforming to this 525-line 30-frame-per-second signal standard. [See PAL, SECAM.]

omnidirectional Microphone pickup pattern whereby sound is absorbed equally from all directions. [See bidirectional, unidirectional.]

outtake Footage not to be included in final production.

over-the-shoulder shot View of primary camera subject framed by another subject's shoulder and back of head in foreground. Common in interview situations, perspective affords sense of depth.

PAL Acronym for Phase Alternate Line. 625-line 25-frame-per-second television signal standard, incompatible with NTSC, used primarily in Europe and other foreign markets. [See NTSC, SECAM.]

pan Horizontal camera pivot, right to left or left to right, from a stationary position. Follows a subject, redirects viewer's attention from one subject to another, shows relationships between subjects, and scans subjects too large to fit into one shot.

pedding Vertical camera movement, rising or lowering, with camera levelness maintained. Approaching closer to either floor or ceiling, the up/down equivalent of dollying.

phone plug Sturdy male connector compatible with audio accessories, particularly for insertion of microphone and headphone cables. Not to be confused with phono plug.

phono plug Also called "RCA" or "RCA phono," popular cable connector for home audio as well as video components. Standard connection for direct audio/video inputs/outputs. Not to be confused with phone plug.

pickup [1] A video camera's image sensing element, either CCD (charge coupled device) or MOS (metal oxide semiconductor); converts light to electrical energy. [See CCD.] [2] A microphone's sound reception.

pickup pattern Defines a microphone's response to sounds arriving from various directions or angles. [See bidirectional, omnidirectional, unidirectional.]

PIP (p-in-p, pix in pix) Acronym for Picture In Picture. Image from a second video source inset on a screen's main picture, the big and small pictures usually being interchangeable.

playback Videotaped material viewed and heard as recorded, facilitated by camcorder or VCR.

playback VCR Playback source of raw video footage (master or workprint) in basic player/recorder editing setup. [See recording VCR.]

point of view (POV) Shot perspective whereby the camera assumes subject's view, and thus viewers see what the subject sees as if through his/her/its eyes.

polarizing filter Mounted at front of camcorder lens, thwarts undesirable glare and reflections. [See filter.]

post production (post) Any video production activity following initial recording. Typically involves editing, addition of background music, voiceover, sound effects, titles, and/or various electronic visual effects. Results in completed production.

posterization Electronic special effect transforming a normal video image into a collage of flattened single-colored areas, without graduations of color and brightness. [See DVE.]

POV See point of view.

pre-roll [1] Slight backing-up function of camcorders and VCRs when preparing for tape recording; ensures smooth, uninterrupted transitions between scenes. [2] Usually for on-air applications, starting tape playback earlier than necessary to ensure full operating speed and stabilization.

proc amp (processing amplifier) Video image processor that boosts video signal's luminance, chroma, and sync components to correct such problems as low light, weak color, or wrong tint.

props Short for "properties," objects used either in decorating a set (set props) or by talent (hand props).

PZM Acronym for Pressure Zone Microphone. Small, sensitive condenser mike, usually attached to a 5-inch-square metal backing plate. Senses air pressure changes in tiny gap between mike element and plate. [See condenser.]

quantization Part of the JPEG image data compression process. Relevant details are represented precisely, less relevant details for the human eye are represented with less precision.