Appendix E: Glossary 429
Software codec: Compression method that can create
and play back compressed digital video sequences
without special hardware. The quality of the sequences
depends on the performance of the complete system.
Codec, Hardware codec
Still video: Still images (or “freeze-frames”) extracted
from video.
S-VHS: Improved version of VHS using S-Video and
metal particle tape to deliver higher luminance
resolution, resulting in sharper pictures than VHS.
VHS, S-Video
S-Video: With S-Video (Y/C) signals, the brightness
(luminance or “Y”) and the color (chrominance or “C”)
information are transferred separately using multiple
wires, avoiding modulating and demodulating the video
and the resulting loss of picture quality.
Timecode: Timecode identifies the position of each
frame in a video sequence with respect to a starting
point (normally the beginning of the shot). The usual
format is H:M:S:F (hours, minutes, seconds, frames),
e.g. “01:22:13:21”. Unlike a tape counter (which can be
“zeroed” or reset at any point in a tape), timecode is an
electronic signal written onto videotape, and is
permanent once it is assigned.
Transition: The visual connection between adjacent
video clips, ranging from a simple “cut” to a showy
animated effect. The common transitions like cuts,
fades, dissolves, wipes and slides are part of the visual
language of film and video. They can convey passages
of time and changes of viewpoint concisely – and often
subliminally.
TrueColor: The name indicates an image with enough
color resolution to appear “true to life”. In practice,
