Glossary

Bandwidth: A network's capacity for transferring an amount of data in a given time.

Bit rate: The number of bits transferred per second.

Capture: To record audio, video, or still images as digital data in a file.

Capture device: Hardware that transfers audio and video from an external source, such as a VCR or camcorder, to a computer.

Clip: Small segment of a larger video file.

Codec: An abbreviation for compressor/decompressor. Software or hardware used to compress and decompress digital media.

Compression: A process for removing redundant data from a digital media file or stream to reduce its size or the bandwidth used.

Cross-fade: A method of smoothly moving from one video clip or photo to another. With a cross-fade transition, the frames in the playing clip fade out as the frames in the new clip fade in. In the film industry, the same process is called a dissolve.

Depth of field: The measurement of the area in front of and behind the subject that is in focus.

Digital video (DV): Video images and sound stored in a digital format.

Frame: One of many sequential images that make up video.

Frame rate: The number of video frames displayed per second. Higher frame rates generally produce smoother movement in the picture.

IEEE 1394: A high-speed serial bus standard that provides enhanced computer connectivity for a wide range of devices, including consumer electronics audio/video (A/V) appliances, storage peripherals, other computers, and portable devices.

Project file: The file that contains information about the files that have been imported into or captured in the current project, and how files or clips have been arranged.

Source: Audio and video content that can be captured and encoded from devices installed on your computer or from a file.

Split: To divide an audio or video clip into two clips.

Storyboard: A view of the workspace that displays the sequence of your clips.

Timeline: The area of the user interface that shows the timing and arrangement of files or clips that makes up a project.

Trim: To hide parts of a file or clip without deleting them from the original source. Files and clips can be trimmed by adjusting the start or end trim points.

Trim points: The points where playback of a file or clip begins and ends. There are two trim points: start trim point and end trim point.

Windows Media file: A file containing audio, video, or script data that is stored in Windows Media Format. Depending on their content and purpose, Windows Media files use a variety of file name extensions, such as: .wma, .wme, .wms, .wmv, .wmx, .wmz, or .wvx.