rack focus Shifting focus during a shot in progress, typically between background and foreground subjects. Respective clarity and blurriness -- or vice versa -- switches.

raw footage Pre-edited recordings, usually direct from camera. [See edit, master.]

RCA plug See phono plug.

reaction shot Cutaway view showing someone's or something's response to primary action/subject. [See cutaway.]

real time The actual time during which video recording occurs, distinguished from the tampering of time via editing.

real-time counter Tallying device that accounts for videotape playing/recording by measure of hours, minutes, and seconds.

receiver Television set that includes a tuner as well as an audio amplifier and speaker. Accommodates broadcast RF signals, whereas a monitor accepts composite video signals only. [See monitor.]

recording VCR Recipient of raw video feed (master or workprint) and recorder of edited videotape in basic player/recorder editing setup. [See playback VCR.]

redundance Redundatn (superfluous) information can be eliminated during image compression. During decompression, images can be restored completely.

reflected light That which bounces off the illuminated subject. [See incident light.]

reflector Lighting accessory helpful for spreading light as well as filling in shadows. Often made of lightweight reflective metal or poster board covered with metallic material.

remote [1] Videomaking performed "on location," outside controlled studio environment. [2] Equipment allowing from-a-distance control, usually without physical connections.

rendering time The time it takes a DTV computer to compute a wipe or DVE from two video sources, typically 30 seconds to "render" a 30-frame effect. Analog SEGs do this in real time.

resolution Amount of picture detail reproduced by a video system, influenced by a camera's pickup, lens, internal optics, recording medium, and playback monitor. The number of pixels that can be displayed on a monitor horizontally and vertically. The higher the resolution, the sharper and better defined the picture. [See horizontal resolution.]

Rewritable Consumer Acronym for RC. Time code sent trhoug Control-L interface permitting extremely accurate edits. Each frame is assigned a unique address expressed in hours:minutes:seconds:frames.

RF Acronym for Radio Frequency. Combination of audio and video signals coded as a channel number, necessary for television broadcasts as well as some closed-circuit distribution.

RF converter Device that converts audio and video signals into a combined RF signal suitable for reception by a standard TV.

RGB (Red, Green, Blue) Video signal transmission system that differentiates and processes all color information in separate red, green, and blue components -- primary colors of light -- for optimum image quality. Also defines type of color monitor.

ringing See ghosting.

RLE See Run Length Encoding.

roll Text or graphics -- usually credits -- that move up or down the screen, typically from bottom to top. Produced with character generator. [See crawl.]

rough cut Raw, tentative edit of footage in the approximate sequence, length, and content of finished program. Gives preliminary indication of eventual actual work. [See edit.]

rule of thirds Composition consideration suggesting that a picture appeals most with its primary point of interest appearing off-center. With screen divided into thirds vertically and horizontally, important elements should be targeted wherever imaginary lines cross.

Run Lenght Encoding RLE is a method used as part of JPEG compression. The "zero" values are not saved individually but with a counter, which states how often zero values occur in succession.

scaling Adaptation of an image to a different size.

scan converter Device that changes scan rate of a video signal, possibly converting it from noninterlaced to interlaced mode. Allows computer graphics to be displayed on a standard video screen, for example.

scan line Result of television's swift scanning process which sweeps out a series of horizontal lines from left to right, then down a bit and left to right again. Complete NTSC picture consists of 525 scan lines per frame.

scan rate Number of times a screen is "redrawn" per second. Computer displays operate at different scan rates than standard video.

scene In the language of moving images, a sequence of related shots usually constituting action in one particular location. [See shot.]

scrim Lighting accessory made of wire mesh, lessens intensity of light source without softening it. Half scrims and graduated scrims reduce illumination in more specific areas.

script Text specifying content of a production or performance, used as a guide. May include character and setting profiles, production directives (audio, lighting, scenery, camera moves), as well as dialogue to be recited by talent. [See storyboard.]

SCSI Acronym for amall Computer System Interface. Provides a high data transfer rate.

SECAM Acronym for S�quentiel Couleur � M�moire. A color television system developed on the basis of the NTSC system. 625-line 25-frame-per-second television signal standard used in France and the Soviet Republic. Incompatible with NTSC PAL and SECAM are partially compatible. [See NTSC, PAL.]

SEG See special effects generator.

selective focus Adjusting camera focus to emphasize desired subject(s) in a shot. Selected area maintains clarity, image sharpness while remainder of image blurs. Useful for directing viewer's attention.

sepia Brassy "antique" look characteristic of old photographs. For video images, tone achieved with a special lens filter or electronically with an SEG.

shooting ratio Amount of raw footage recorded relative to the amount used in edited, finished program.

shot All pictorial material recorded by a camera. More strictly speaking, shots are intentional, isolated camera views which collectively comprise a scene. [See scene.]

shotgun Highly directional microphone with long "barrel," designed to pick up sound from extreme subject-to-mike distances.

signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) Relationship between signal strength and a medium's inherent noise. Video S/N indicates how grainy or snowy a picture will be, plus color accuracy; audio S/N specifies amount of background tape hiss present with low- or no-volume recordings. Higher the S/N the cleaner the playback.

Skylight (1A) or haze (UV) filter Mounted at front of camcorder lens, virtually clear glass absorbs ultraviolet light. Also excellent as constant lens protector. [See filter.]

SMPTE Time code standard for film, video, and audio named for the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, which sanctions standards for recording systems in North America. [See time code.]

S/N See signal-to-noise ratio.

snoot Open-ended cylindrical funnel mounted on a light source to project a narrow, concentrated circle of illumination.

snow Electronic picture interference; resembles scattered snow on the television screen. Synonymous with chroma and luma noise.

software CODEC Compression method that compresses digital video sequences which can be played back without special hardware. The quality of these sequences depends on the performance of the complete system.

solarization Electronic special effect distorting a video image's original colors, emphasizing some and de-emphasizing others for a "paint brush" effect. [See DVE.]

sound bite Any recorded video or audio-only segment salvageable for use in edited program -- usually a highlight phrase or event. Common component of broadcast news.

sound effects Contrived audio, usually prerecorded, incorporated with a video soundtrack to resemble the real thing. Blowing on a microphone, for example, might simulate wind to accompany hurricane images.

soundtrack The audio portion of a video recording, often multifaceted with voiceover, background music, sound effects, etc. In film industry, refers more strictly to musical score.

SP (standard play) Fastest tape speed of a VHS VCR, accommodating two-hour recordings. [See EP, LP.]

special effects (FX) Tricks and illusions -- electronic or on camera -- employed in film and video to define, distort, or defy reality.

special effects generator (SEG) Video signal processor with vast, but varying, image manipulation capabilities involving patterns and placement as well as color and texture: mixing, multiplying, shrinking, strobing, wiping, dissolving, flipping, colorizing, etc. [See DVE, switcher.]

spotlight Radiates a well-defined directional beam of light, casting hard, distinct shadows. Best used to focus illumination on individual subjects, whereas floodlights blanket broader areas.

stabilizer Video signal processor used primarily for tape dubbing to eliminate picture jump and jitter, maintain stability.

star filter Mounted at front of camcorder lens, gives videotaped light sources a starburst effect. Generally available in four-, six-, and eight-point patterns. [See filter.]

stereo Sound emanating from two isolated sources, intended to simulate pattern of natural human hearing.

still video Method where cameras digitally store photographs on floppy disks, computer memory, or within the camera itself.

stock shot Common footage -- city traffic, a rainbow -- conveniently accessed as needed. Similar to a "photo file" in the photography profession.

storyboard Series of cartoon-like sketches illustrating key visual stages (shots, scenes) of planned production, accompanied by corresponding audio information. [See script.]

strobe Digital variation of fixed-speed slow motion, with image action broken down into a series of still frames updated and replaced by new ones at rapid speed. [See DVE.]

superimposition (super) Non-inherent titles or graphics appearing over an existing video picture, partially or completely hiding areas they cover. A picture superimposed on another can appear transparent.

Super-VHS (S-VHS, S-VHS-C) Improved version of VHS and VHS- C videotape formats, characterized by separate carriers of chrominance and luminance information, yielding a sharper picture. [See VHS, VHS-C.]

S-video Also known as Y/C video, signal type employed with Hi8 and S-VHS video formats. Transmits chrominance and luminance portions separately via multiple wires, thereby avoiding the NTSC encoding process and its inevitable picture quality degradation.

sweetening Post-production process of adding music and sound effects to or otherwise enhancing, purifying, "massaging" a final audio track.

swish pan See whip pan.

switcher Simplified SEG, permits video signal mixing from two or more sources -- cameras, time base correctors, character generators -- for dissolves, wipes, and other clean transition effects.

sync (synchronization) Horizontal and vertical timing signals or electronic pulses -- component of composite signal, supplied separately in RGB systems. Aligns video origination (live camera, videotape) and reproduction (monitor or receiver) sources.

synchronous sound Audio recorded with images. When the mouth moves, the words come out. [See lip sync, nonsynchronous sound.]