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SACD

SACD -- Acronym for Super Audio Compact Disc. A high-quality, audio format promoted by Sony and Philips in competition with DVD-Audio. Typically manufactured as a dual-layer disc, with a CD-Audio layer with a version of the album that can be played in standard CD players. Targeted to

Saddle stitch:

Binding a booklet or magazine with staples in the seam where it folds.

Salvo

The sending of a group of commands at the same time.

Satellite

An orbiting space vehicle containing a set of transponders that retransmit television broadcast signals back to earth receivers.

Satellite downlink

The communications path from a satellite to its ground station.

Satellite uplink

The communications path from a ground station to its satellite.

Saturation (chroma, chroma gain, color)

The intensity of the colors in the active picture. The voltage levels of the colors. The degree by which the eye perceives a color as departing from a gray or white scale of the same brightness. A 100% saturated color does not contain any white; adding white reduces saturation. In NTSC and PAL video signals, the color saturation at any particular instant in the picture is conveyed by the corresponding instantaneous amplitude of the active video subcarrier.

Scan

One sweep of the target area in a camera tube or of the screen in a picture tube.

Scanner:

Device used to make color separations, halftones, duo tones and tri tones. Also a device used to scan art, pictures or drawings in desktop publishing.

Scene Index Menu

Scene Index menu -- A DVD menu screen or linked set of screens that contains thumbnail buttons to link to each chapter or key scene within a video sequence. Commercial movies on DVD typically contain a Scene Index to jump directly to a specific scene; then play from that point to the end. Automated DVD authoring tools typically create Scene Index menus to access each clip included on a DVD. Also called Chapter Index menu.

Schematic

A diagram of the electrical scheme of a circuit with components represented by graphic symbols.

Score

The original-music composition for a motion picture or television production which is generally recorded after the picture has been edited.

Score:

A crease put on paper to help it fold better.

Screen angles:

Frequently a desktop publishers nightmare. The angles at which halftone, duo tones, tri tones, and color separation printing films are placed to make them look right.

Scrim

A metal 'window screen' that can be placed in front of a lighting unit to decrease the lighting intensity by a predetermined amount. (Grip/Lighting)

Script

script -- A list of programming instructions to be executed dynamically by the DVD player to change the playback behavior of the disc. See also navigation command.

Scrub

Moving a piece of tape or magnetic film back and forth over a sound head to locate a specific cue or word.

Scrub Wheel

A mechanical control for scrubbing film or magnetic tape.

SDDS

SDDS -- Acronym for Sony Dynamic Digital Sound. A multichannel, surround-sound audio format used for cinemas. An optional format for DVD-Video. See also Dolby Digital, DTS.

SDDS

Sony Dynamic Digital Sound System. A film sound format which encodes eight tracks of digital audio outside of the sprocket holes on both edges of a film print. (Sound)

Seamless Playback

seamless playback -- Continuous play without noticeable breaks or glitches. The DVD-Video format is designed to permit the user to switch seamlessly between alternate video, audio, and subtitle streams while playing a track because the streams must be authored in compatible formats. See also non-seamless playback.

SECAM

Sequential couleur avec memoire (sequential color with memory). A color television system with 625 lines per frame and 50 fields per second, developed by France and the USSR. Color difference information is transmitted sequentially on alternate lines as an FM signal.

Second Unit

A photographic team that shoots scenes which do not involve the principal cast, such as stunts, car chases, or establishing shots.

Self-cover:

Using the same paper as the text for the cover.

Senior

A 5K fresnel lighting unit. (Lighting)

Senior Stand

A braced junior stand sufficiently rugged for large lights such as a 5K, 10K, or 'Big Eye'. (Grip/Lighting)

Sensitivity

An indication of recording or playback efficiency as might be measure of a microphone or audio tape recorder.

Sequencer

The hardware or software based brain of a MIDI studio. It receives, stores and plays back MIDI information in a desired sequence.

Serial

Time-sequential transmission of data along a single wire. Analogous to a railroad train, where each car (data bit) follows the other in single file.

Serial control panel

A control panel separate from the switcher (for example, a routing switcher) that communicates with the switcher via a serial connection.

Serial digital

Digital information that is transmitted in serial form. Often used informally to refer to serial digital television signals. Serial interface A digital communications interface in which data is transmitted and received sequentially along a single wire or pair of wires. Common serial interface standards are RS232 and RS422.

Set Dressing

Items of decoration which are not designated in the script or by the director as part of specific action. (Production)

Set Up

Each discrete position of the camera, excluding those in which a dolly or crane is used to move the camera during filming. (Production)

Set-Top DVD Player

set-top DVD player -- A consumer electronics hardware product that plays back DVD movies. The player box can connect to a television set, to an advanced digital or widescreen display, and/or to a surround-sound audio system. See also DVD player application, DVD recorder.

Setup Menu

Setup menu -- For set-top DVD players, a menu built in to the player hardware to access global system parameters such as the preferred language and parental controls. For commercial movies on DVD, a menu that typically provides access to alternate audio formats such as Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, alternate audio tracks with different languages, and subtitle text.

Shadow:

The darkest areas of a photograph.

Shiny Boards

A grip reflector used for reaiming sunlight to provide a key or fill light. (Grip/Lighting)

Shotgun Mic

A highly directional microphone, usually with a long, tubular body; used by the production sound mixer on location or on the set for film and television productions.

Showcard

A white artists' cardboard which is used as a reflector or for making other special rigs. It is easily cut and formed. (Grip/Lighting)

Show-through:

Printing on one side of a sheet that can be seen on the other side of the sheet.

Siamese

A splitter that divides a power line into two parts. (Grip/Lighting)

Sibilance

An exaggerated hissing in voice patterns. (Post Production)

Side guide:

The mechanical register unit on a printing press that positions a sheet from the side.

Side stitch:

Binding by stapling along one side of a sheet.

Sider

A device which cuts the light from the side of a lighting unit, usually a flag or a cutter. (Grip/Lighting)

SIF (standard interchanage format)

320 x 240 pixels

Sight Line

An imaginary line that is drawn between a subject and the object that he/she is looking at.

Signal

The form of variation with time of a wave whereby information is conveyed in some form whether it is acoustic or electronic.

Signal generator

A test oscillator that can be adjusted to provide a test signal at some desired frequency, voltage, modulation, and waveform.

Signal to Noise Ratio

This is the ratio of the desired signal to the unwanted noise in an audio or video record/playback system.

Signature:

A sheet of printed pages which when folded become a part of a book or publication.

Silhouette halftone:

A term used for an outline halftone.

Silk

A lighting diffusion or reflective material, formerly real silk. (Grip/Lighting)

Silk Screen Printing

the method used for applying an image on the surface of a CD; can be 1 or more PMS colors or a 4 color process (CMYK) over a white base coat.

Simulate

simulate -- To preview the graphical look and interactive navigation of a DVD project. DVD authoring tools typically provide a built-in simulator to test the design before exporting to DVD format.

Single

A shot with only one subject in the frame. (Production)

Single Sided Disc

single-sided disc -- A DVD disc with data on one side. The second side is typically used for a label, like a CD disc. The storage capacity of DVD formats is 4.7GB (actually billion bytes) per side. Also called DVD-5. See also double-sided disc, dual-layer disc.

Single System

A method of recording sound and picture on the same medium, most typically used in news gathering.

Single-Stripe

Magnetic film that contains a single audio track, which is coated with oxide.

Skid:

A pallet used for a pile of cut sheets.

Skip Frame

An optical printing effect which eliminates selected frames of the original scene to speed up the action. (Laboratory)

Slate

The identifier placed in front of the camera at beginning of a take.

Slave

An audio tape or videotape transport, projector or mag film dubber whose movements follow the movement of a single master transport. Accomplished electronically by using SMPTE time code numbers or mechanically by motor linkage of sprocketed machines.

Slide Show

slide show -- A presentation of a sequence of still images that advance automatically after a specified duration, and can have an accompanying audio track. See also still show.

Slug

A strip of blank leader or image-bearing film used as leader. (Film Editing)

SMPTE

Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.

SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers)

A professional organization that sets standards for American television.

SMPTE Time Code

Also known as Longitudinal Time Code. A high frequency signal that allows the accurate "locking" of film audio and video equipment. Locator information is displayed as numbers.

SMPTE time code

Time code that conforms to SMPTE standards. It consists of an eight-digit number specifying hours:minutes:seconds:frames. Each number identifies one frame on a videotape. SMPTE time code may be of either the drop-frame or non-drop frame type. In GVG editors, the SMPTE time code mode enables the editor to read either drop-frame or non-drop frame code from tape and perform calculations for either type (also called mixed time code).

SMT

Surface-mount technology. See "surface mount."

Snake

A multi-channel audio cable intended for use with microphone level signals and/or line level signals. (Audio/Video/Electronics)

Snow

Video noise.

SNR

Signal-to-noise ratio. The SNR relates how much stronger a signal is than the background noise. Usually expressed in decibels (dB).

SONET

Synchronous optical network. A telecommunications standard.

Sound Designer

A film sound specialist responsible for the development and augmentation of all soundtrack material, or a significant portion thereof, and is ultimately in charge of the entire sound production. Occasionally, it is used to refer to a person who is responsible for creating unique sounds or sound elements which are incorporated into a sound track. (Sound)

Sound Effect

A recorded or electronically produced sound that matches the visual action taking place onscreen.

Sound Master Positive

A sound print on made from the sound negative for producing duplicate negatives of the sound record track for release printing.

Sound Mixer

The person responsible for capturing sound as it plays out live, determining microphone types and placement. (Sound)

Sound Negative

A negative sound image on film which is obtained by exposure through a positive sound image.

Sound Print

Any positive sound track print which is obtained by printing from a sound negative, or direct positive recording. or by the reversal process from another negative.

Sound-on-Sound

A method in which previously recorded sound on one track is rerecorded onto another track while new material is added.

Soundtrack

Generically refers to the music contained in a film, though it literally means the entire audio portion of a film, video or television production, including effects and dialog.

Source

In digital picture manipulators, the origin of picture information applied to the input of a digital effects processor. May consist of a video component and sometimes a key component.

Spacer

A hub placed between reels on rewinders to keep the reels in the proper position to feed into, or take up from, a synchronizer. (Film Editing)

Specifications:

A precise description of a print order.

Spectral bandwidth

In telecommunications, the spectral bandwidth for single peak devices is the difference between the wavelengths at which the radiant intensity is 50% (or 3 dB) down from the maximum value.

Specular

A term used to describe highly directional, focused light. This is often perceived as a very 'hard' light. (Lighting)

Speed of sound

The velocity of sound in air is 770 mi/hr. This speed however, is influenced by temperature and air pressure. (Acoustics)

Spill

Light that is escaping from the sides of a lighting unit, or any light that is falling where it is not wanted. (Grip/Lighting)

Spine:

The binding edge of a book or publication.

Splice

The act of joining two pieces of film by any of several methods. (Film Editing)

Spline

A curve shape produced on a computer or video device by connecting dots or points at various intervals along the curve. In digital picture manipulators, each key frame becomes a point on a curve and the user can control how straight or curved the path of the transformed image is as it travels through the key frame points.

Split fountain:

 Putting more than one ink in a printing fountain to achieve special color affects.

Split Screen

An optical or special effects shot in which two separate images are combined on each frame.

Spoilage:

Planned paper waste for all printing operations.

Spool

A flanged roll on which film is wound for general handling or projection.

Spot

On a lensed light, the smallest beam spread. (Lighting)

Spot colour

Spot colour is the term used when a colour is reproduced by using ink of that particular colour and not created from the four colour process. If you want a specific colour used for an image or text in your publication then it is best to use a spot colour as you are guaranteed to get the colour you want. The four colour process is not exact enough to guarantee colour matching; there will always be slight variances of colour throughout the print run.

Spot varnish:

 Varnish used to hilight a specific part of the printed sheet.

Spotting

Used in scoring and sound effects editing to identify the specific scenes or points where music cues or effects cues will take place. Usually, this will include information on length and style.

Sprocket

A toothed driving wheel used to move film through various machines by engaging with the perforated holes in film stock.

Square-wave

A square or rectangular-shaped periodic wave that alternately assumes two fixed values for equal lengths of time, the transition being negligible in comparison with the duration of each fixed value.

Stage Box

A distribution box with six pockets for stage plug connectors.

stamper

The data-bearing removable "die" used during the injection moulding of a CD to imprint pits and lands into the polycarbonate substrate of the disc. In manufacturing CD-R media, instead of pits and lands, a continuous spiral is pressed into the substrate as a guide to the recorder's laser. The stamper is part of a "disc family" created in the mastering process.

Stamping:

Term for foil stamping.

Standing waves

A deep sound in a small room or booth from low frequency caused by long waves with short reflection patterns. (Post Production)

Stat:

Term for inexpensive print of line copy or halftone.

Step Printer

A printer in which each frame of the negative and raw stock is stationary at the time of exposure. (Laboratory)

Step-and-repeat:

A procedure for placing the same image on plates in multiple places.

Stet:

 A proof mark meaning let the original copy stand.

Still Show

still show -- A presentation of a sequence of still images that must be advanced manually by the viewer by pressing a key on the Remote Control; does not have any audio track. See also slide show.

Stinger

A single extension cord. Most often referred to a single 'hot' extension that is left lying around for occassional use. (Grip/Lighting)

Stochastic screening

Instead of using a regular pattern of different sized dots, as in traditional halftones, stochastic screening uses an irregular pattern of regular sized dots. The dots are extremely small and software groups them to create different levels of grey; more dots closely grouped for dark greys and less dots sparsely placed for light greys. This method works well for fine art work, giving pictures a continuous tone effect, and is less prone to misregistration, but flat tints often suffer from a mottled effect.

Stock

A general term for motion picture film, particularly before it is exposed.

Stock:

The material to be printed.

Stop Frame

An optical printing effect in which a single frame image is repeated in order to appear stationary when it is projected. This may also refer to a camera technique in which only one frame at a time is exposed.

Striking

The breakdown process of a camera position, location, or set.

Stripping:

The positioning of film on a flat prior to platemaking.

Studio

A room designed for recording or broadcasting.

Subcarrier (SC)

In NTSC or PAL video, a continuous sine wave of extremely accurate frequency which constitutes a portion of the video signal. The subcarrier is phase modulated to carry picture hue information and amplitude modulated to carry color saturation information. The NTSC subcarrier frequency is 3.579545 MHz, and the PAL-I frequency is 4.43361875 MHz. A sample of the subcarrier, called color burst, is included in the video signal during horizontal blanking. Color burst serves as a phase reference against which the modulated subcarrier is compared in order to decode the color information.

Submodule

A small circuit board that mounts on a larger module.

Subpicture Stream

subpicture stream -- Each DVD track can have accompanying subpicture streams that display along with the track. These are four-color graphics overlays used for button highlights on menus and for subtitles for video tracks. The DVD-Video format supports up to 32 subpicture streams per track. See also subtitle stream.

sub-QCIF

Video format for H.263 (required) and H.261 (optional) with 128 by 96 pixels.

Substance weight:

A term of basis weight when referring to bond papers.

substrate

The optical-quality, injection moulded optical-quality clear polycarbonate plastic "bottom" of a CD or CD-R. For CD-Rs, this layer does not contain "pits and lands" but has a single spiral groove that guides the recorder's laser.

Substrate:

Any surface on which printing is done.

Subtitle Script

subtitle script -- A timed list of subtitles to be displayed during the playback of track, synchronized to the video and audio streams. Typically contains the subtitle text (actually a graphics file), and the start and stop time within the track timecode.

Subtitle Stream

subtitle stream -- Each DVD track can have accompanying subtitle streams that display along with the track. Intended for uses such as allowing the user to choose from several different text translations of the audio dialog. Subtitles are actually implemented as subpicture streams of overlay graphics, so they can contain images as well as text. See also subpicture stream.

Subwoofer

subwoofer -- Dedicated speaker for low-frequency effects such as rumbles and explosions. See also surround sound.

Super Video CD

Super Video CD. See SVCD.

Surface mount

A method of mounting subminiature integrated circuits and other components directly on the surface of a printed circuit board. Permits greater component density on boards, making the electronic equipment smaller.

Surround Sound

surround sound -- Multichannel audio material designed to provide the effect of being in the middle of a collection of audio sources. Typically designed to be played through four or more speakers - placed to the left, center, and right - and in front and in back of the listener. See also Dolby Digital, Dolby Headphone, virtual surround sound.

Surround Sound

Sound that is reproduced through speakers above or behind the audience.

SVCD

Acronym for Super Video CD. A higher-quality format for video on CD discs than Video CD. The SVCD format uses the same MPEG-2 video compression format as DVD, although at a lower resolution, in order to fit around 35 minutes of "near-DVD" quality material on a CD. Because many set-top DVD players do not support SVCD format, it is also not supported by some DVD authoring tools. See also Video CD (VCD).

Sweeten/Sweetening

Enhancing the sound of a recording or a particular sound effect with equalization or some other signal processing device.

Switcher (production switcher)

Device that allows transitions between different video pictures. May also contain special effects generators.

Sync

The portion of an encoded video signal that occurs during blanking and is used to synchronize the operation of cameras, monitors, and other equipment. Horizontal sync occurs within the blanking period in each horizontal scanning line, and vertical sync occurs within the vertical blanking period.

Sync Beep (sync tone)

In double system shooting with certain cameras, a tone feed into a magnetic tape recorder at the same time that a light in the camera exposes a few frames of film. The fogged section is later aligned with the beep tone to achieve synchronization of the sound to the picture.

Sync generator (Sync pulse generator, SPG)

Device that generates synchronizing pulses need by video source equipment to provide proper equipment or studio timing. Pulses typically produced by a sync generator include subcarrier, burst flag, sync, blanking, H & V drives, color frame identification, and color black.

Sync pulse

Timing pulses added to a video signal to keep the entire video process synchronized in time.

Synching Dailies

Assembling, for synchronous interlock, the picture and sound workprints of a day's shooting. (Film Editing)

Synchronous

In step or in phase, as applied to two or more devices. A system in which all events occur in a predetermined timed sequence.

nals (red minus luminance) of a color difference video signal. The formula for deriving R-Y from the red, green, and blue component video signals is .70R - .59G - .11B.

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