| S/N |
See signal-to-noise ratio. |
| S/N Ratio |
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. |
| Safe Action Area |
Electronic or physical markings on camera viewfinders and video monitors as the area that will be visible on most TV screens. Defined as 90% of the screen area measured from the center. |
| Safe Title Area |
The area on a monitor defined as 80% of the screen area measured from the center. Keeping the title within this area insures that the complete title will be visible on ALL TV sets. |
| Sample Reel |
Also called a demo reel or tape. Contains samples of a person's or company's best video work for the purposes of marketing. |
| Sampling rate |
The sampling rate for all Compact Disc recordings is 44.1KHz. This means that every second of information is comprised of 44,100 individual samples. |
| 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.] |
| SDI |
(Serial Digital Interface) Describes a video format that is a fully digital signal. Because of its fully digital nature, an SDI signal can survive any number of generational steps in production and broadcast and remain utterly free of extraneous noise artifacts. |
| Sealed Lead-Acid Battery |
The battery has a special mat material located between the plates so that no free liquid exists. |
| SECAM |
(sequential color and memory) 625-line 25-frame-per-second television signal standard used in France, former communist-block countries and a few other areas including parts of Africa. 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. |
| Series Drivetrain |
Includes a fuel converter, a generator, batteries and a motor. The motor moves the vehicle and the fuel converter converts mechanical energy into electrical energy through the generator. |
| 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.] |
| Slate |
A board on which script information, such as scene and shot numbers, is written. The slate is then filmed at the beginning of each shot to make the editor's job easier. |
| 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.] |
| snake |
A connector box that contains a large number of microphone input receptacles. |
| 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. |
| Soft Light |
Light which is diffused and creates very soft shadows. |
| 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.] |
| Spatial and Temporal Metadata |
This could be creation dates, ingestion date, modification dates, durations, event times, delays, screen position of objects, layer of object, etc. |
| 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.] |
| Specific Energy |
The rated energy per unit weight of a battery in watt-hours per kilogram. |
| Specific Power |
The rated power per unit weight of a battery in watts per kilogram. |
| 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. |
| Stacking ring |
A circular ridge used to separate the discs during the processing to stop them sticking. |
| 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] |
| 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.] |
| STB |
Abbreviation for Set-Top Box. |
| Stereo |
Sound emanating from two isolated sources, intended to simulate pattern of natural human hearing. |
| Still Store |
Device which stores individual video frames, either in analog or digital form, allowing extremely fast access time. |
| 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.] |
| Streaming |
Playing sound or video in real time as it is downloaded over the internet as opposed to storing it in a local file first. Avoids download delay. |
| 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.] |
| 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] |
| 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. A video format developed by JVC which has largely replaced the 3/4 inch format for low budget productions. [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 |
Audio postproduction where audio is corrected and enhanced. Music, narration and sound effects are mixed with original sound elements. |
| Swish pan |
See whip pan. |
| swish pan |
Extremely rapid camera movement from left to right or right to left, appearing as image blur. Two such pans in the same direction -- one moving from, the other moving to a stationary shot -- edited together can effectively convey passage of time or change of location. |
| 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.] |
