Grass Valley Dictionary

Dictionary of Technical Terms - F

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Fahrenheit. Also farad.

The gradual disappearance of a picture to black (fade, fade-out, fade-to-black), or the gradual appearance of a new picture from black (fade-in, fade-up).

A transition (dissolve) of the video picture to black.

fader arm (lever arm, fader bar)

Typically a "T" shaped handle that is used for video transitions on a production switcher. Moving the fader arm between two limits of an arc creates a change in voltage or digital data that is used to control the transition.

The length of time during which a pulse decreases from 90 to 10 percent of its maximum amplitude.

false colors effect

A digital picture manipulator effect that permits user adjustment of colors in the picture.

fan-out (fanout)

(noun) The number of parallel loads within a given IC logic family that can be driven by a single output of a logic device.

(verb) To drive a number of parallel loads from a single output.

Unit of measure of capacitance.

In telecommunications, the remote end of a communications link.

In digital telecommunications transmissions, a framing bit, or sometimes only those framing bits used for synchronization.

Federal Communications Commission. The executive body that regulates communication in the US.

Fiber distributed data interface.

Frequency division multiplexing.

A television signal source, typically from a remote location, such as a network feed or a satellite feed.

Television cables that distribute signals to various locations.

A group of parallel optical fibers contained within a common jacket. A bundle may contain from just a few to several hundred fibers.

Use of optical cable to transmit images or signals in the form of light around corners and over distances with extremely low losses.

Half of the interlaced horizontal lines (262.5 in NTSC, 312.5 in PAL) needed to create a complete picture. Two interlaced fields create a complete monochrome frame or picture.

A distribution amplifier designed for use in adverse conditions typically found in remote applications. GVG field DAs incorporate clamping and the ability to equalize exceptionally long cable runs.

field programmable

Capable of being programmed at the customer's site.

field-time linear distortion

An unwarranted change in video signal amplitude that occurs in a time frame of 16 ms.

A product upgrade that takes place at the customer's site.

In video keying, the fill is the video signal that is inserted into the "hole" cut in the background video by a key signal. See key.

An arrangement of a film projector and a video camera to convert a film image into a video signal. A telecine.

Videotape editing done without time code.

An electrical circuit that passes certain frequencies and blocks other frequencies.

filter artifacts

Defects in the video picture caused by filtering. Most commonly appear as ringing and loss of resolution.

A fine horizontal phase control.

Programs or instructions that are stored in read-only memories; firmware is analogous to software in a hardware form.

first generation

The first copy of a videotape. A copy of that copy is termed second generation.

flare, camera flare

Color flashes or halos in the video picture caused by too much light shining directly into or reflecting into the camera lens. An adjustment called Flare on some GVG chroma keyers helps remove camera flare from the chroma key foreground.

Interference or breakup during one field of video or less.

A programmable memory IC that can be reprogrammed while it remains in a circuit. Flash memory can usually be reprogrammed many times.

A signal that has an equal amplitude response for all frequencies within a stated range.

flat panel display

A display device sometimes used in GVG switchers and picture manipulators for displaying menus.

Output signal amplitude of a system is a faithful reproduction of the input amplitude for some range of specified input frequencies.

1. A video transition where the sources selected on the program and preset buses exchange places at the end of the transition. 2. A digital logic circuit whose output follows the signal present on the input at the time that a clock signal occurs.

A digital picture manipulator trans-formation which appears to turn the picture around its Y axis.

The person who directs the cameras and the talent during a live broadcast. The floor director stands in the studio beside the cameras.

Images that have been compressed and transformed in some way using a digital picture manipulator and which are then keyed over a background scene. The compressed image can be moved around on top of the background, giving the impression that the image is flying over the background.

flyback (retrace)

The electron beam movement of the camera or television monitor back to the starting point for the next line or field.

The movement of a keyed insert through a composite image. See flown images.

A key mask that is flown with the key. See flown images.

Frequency modulation.

Unit of measure of length. One foot equals 12 inches or 0.3048 meter.

forced foreground

A feature of some keyers. Uses a mask to force key fill video to appear wherever the mask occurs and completely inhibit background video. Useful for correcting the poor quality key (mixed background and fill) that results when the keying image is poorly differentiated from other images in the key source picture.

1. In television, the specific form of the signals that make up the video signal. For example, component versus composite format. 2. The organizational method of a particular electronic medium, such as videotape in C format or D1 format. 3. To prepare or pre-program a storage medium, such as a floppy disk, so that it can receive and store data.

format conversion

The process of both encoding/decoding and resampling digital rates to change a digital signal from one format to another.

1. A complete video picture composed of two fields (two complete interlaced scans of the monitor screen). A frame consists of 525 interlaced horizontal lines of picture information in NTSC, 625 in PAL. 2. A metal cabinet or chassis (also known as a tray) which holds circuit boards.

Memory used to store a complete frame of video.

Synchronization of the video signal with SMPTE time code.

frame synchronizer

A digital buffer that, by storage, comparison of sync information to a reference, and timed release of video signals, can continuously adjust the signal for any timing errors.

Condition in which a sync generator is not locked to any outside source but is providing sync on the basis of its own internal clock.

free-run stability

The accuracy of a sync generator's output during free-run.

In digital picture manipulators, the ability to stop or hold a frame of video so that the picture is frozen like a snapshot.

The storing of a single frame of video.

The number of complete cycles of a periodic waveform that occur in a given length of time. Usually specified in cycles per second (Hertz).

frequency division multiplexing

A method of transmitting two FM carriers of different center frequencies by combining them and transmitting them as a composite.

frequency modulation (FM)

Modulation of a sine wave or "carrier" by varying its frequency in accordance with amplitude variations of the modulating signal.

frequency response

A measure of how effectively a circuit or device passes signals of different frequencies applied to it.

frequency response rolloff

A distortion in a transmission system where the higher frequency components are not conveyed at their original full amplitude.

The blanking signal portion which lies between the end of the active picture information and the leading edge of horizontal sync.

In video editing, to calculate a clock time by adding running times of the edits to the show start time.

full field color bars

A test signal using color bars which extend from the top to the bottom of the raster.

A means of joining optical fibers together.

Foreign Exchange Service.

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