| T.B.C. (TIME BASE CORRECTOR) |
A device to correct timing errors which can cause unstable edits. These errors are caused by the slight mechanical defects inherent in the playback of video tape machines. Essential for online editing and duplication. This device can "clean up" a consumer VHS video so that it meets F.C.C. "broadcast quality" standards. |
| Take |
An individual shot. When time and budgets permit, many takes may be filmed of the same shot. |
| Talent |
Generic term for the people or creatures assuming primary on-screen roles in a videotaping. |
| Tally light |
Automatic indicators on camera front and within viewfinder that signal recording in progress -- seen by both camera subject(s) and operator. |
| Target Audience |
The intended viewers. Successful business videos must define and address this audience. |
| TBC |
See time base corrector. |
| Telecine Converter |
Imaging device used in conjunction with a movie projector and camcorder to transfer film images to videotape. |
| Telephoto |
Camera lens with long focal length, narrow horizontal field of view. Opposite of wide-angle, captures magnified, closeup images from considerable distance. |
| Teleprompter |
(prompter) Mechanical device that projects and advances text on mirror directly in front of camera's lens, allowing talent to read their lines while appearing to maintain eye contact with viewers. |
| Test pattern |
Any of various combinations of converging lines, alignment marks, and gray scales appearing on screen to aid in video equipment adjustment for picture alignment, registration, and contrast. Often viewed on broadcast television in off-air hours. [See color bars.] |
| Three-point lighting |
Basic lighting approach employing key, back, and fill lights to illuminate subject with sense of depth and texture. Strategic placement imitates natural outdoor lighting environment, avoids flat lighting. [See back light, fill light, key light.] |
| Three-quarter-inch |
(U-matic) Most popular professional/industrial video format employing larger cassettes and three-quarter-inch tape, as opposed to the half-inch width of VHS and Beta "consumer" formats. Related equipment is generally larger and sturdier, format's recording considered superior. U-MATIC - Trade name for the 3/4 inch video format developed by Sony. ¾ SP is an enhanced version. Formerly the standard for broadcast-quality, still used at many cable TV stations. |
| Three-shot |
Camera view including three subjects, generally applicable to interview situations. |
| three-to-one rule |
A microphone placement principle that states if two mics must be side by side, there should be three times the distance between them that there is between the mics and the people using them. |
| Tilt |
Camera "pan" move in a vertical direction, down or up, from a stationary position. Follows movement, contrasts differences in size between two subjects, or gives viewer point-of-view sense of a subject's height. |
| time base corrector |
(TBC) Electronic device that corrects timing inconsistencies in a videotape recorder's playback, stabilizing the image for optimum quality. Also synchronizes video sources, allowing image mixing. [See sync] |
| Time Code |
A system of numbering each frame of video with a unique address divided into hours, minutes, seconds and frames. There are 30 video still frames per second. See also DROP FRAME, NON-DROP FRAME, VITC, LTC. |
| Time Line Editing |
A computer-based method of editing in which video and audio clips are represented on a computer screen by bars proportional to the length of the clip. These bars can be moved and resized along a grid whose horizontal axis relates to the time of the program. Compare EDL. |
| Time-lapse recording |
Periodically videotaping a minimal number of frames over long durations of actual time. Upon playback, slow processes such as a flower blooming may be viewed in rapid motion. |
| timeline editing |
A computer-based method of editing, in which bars proportional to the length of the clip represent video and audio clips are represented on a computer screen. |
| Titling |
Process or result of incorporating on-screen text as credits, captions, or any other alphanumeric communication to video viewers. [See character generator.] |
| TiVoed, PVRed |
To record content onto a personal video recorder, either by manual or automatic means. |
| TOC |
Table of Contents. Located in the area of the disc before track 1 called the lead-in, the TOC contains information such as the number of tracks, the location of each track, the length of each track, etc. on the CD. |
| Torque |
The amount of twisting force that makes the wheel turn. |
| Tracking |
[1] Lateral camera movement aligned with moving subject; background appears to move. Camera should maintain regulated distance from subject. [2] Positioning of video and/or audio heads over a videotape's recorded signals. [See head.] |
| transcode |
To convert analog video to a digital format, or vice-versa. |
| Trap |
See bleeding |
| Tripod |
Three-legged camera mount offering stability and camera placement/movement consistency. Most are lightweight, used for remote recording. [See monopod.] |
| Trucking Shot |
A camera move which films the subject from side to side. |
| Tuner |
Television and VCR component that receives RF signals from an antenna or other RF sources and decodes into separate audio and video signals. |
| turnkey DVD authoring system |
Any computer system designed to author (and usually burn) DVDs right out of the box, needing only trivial changes in its configuration. |
| turnkey nonlinear editing system |
Any computer system designed to edit video right out of the box, needing only trivial changes in its configuration. |
| turnkey system |
Any computer system which is considered ready-to-use right out of the box, needing only trivial changes in its configuration. |
| Two-shot |
Camera view including two subjects, generally applicable to interview situations. |
| Type C |
SMPTE standard for 1-inch non-segmented helical video recording format. |
