Understand the principles of video technology:
Television Standards:
PAL (Phase Alternation Line); PAL is a colour encoding system used for analog TV, this is a standard definition mode of TV.
SECAM (Séquentiel Couleur Avec Mémoire); SECAM is very similar to PAL as they are both colour encoding system designed for Analog TV, however what makes them different is the way that colour is transmitted and decoded. PAL, SECAM AND NTSC (Japan based and also a colour Encoding system), have what is called a Sub-carrier which carries the colour information to where it needs to go.
Standards Conversion; This is where a standard definition (720p) can be converted into a HD definition (1080i) to make the resolution or standard of product better. This can also be done the other way, when you have a HD file of 1080i but its too big for your hard drive, or to be uploaded, so you down grade the definition to 720p. I use standard conversion a lot due to editing as editing software usually has the option to export the video in HD, this is really helpful as i can make the most of the video that has been edited.
Broadcasting Systems:
Terrestrial Broadcasting; This is where a television broadcast is received by antennas on the TV, or aerials rather than satellite transmission or cable. This is less likely now that most TVs are on cable of Satellites. this type of broadcasting has ceased in the UK and now relies on satellite, digital or cable t.v.
Satellite Broadcasting; This is where visuals and sound are sent via a communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna (like the picture below). the satellite signals offer a wide range of channels and services, but these are often found in areas that are not supported by cable providers or who do not have access to Terrestrial signals. Although there are two types of satellite, known as Analog and Digital – Digital is now becoming increasingly popular and outdating Analog TV because Digital TV offers a better standard of Television and HD 1080i. These are not so good as the signals can be interrupted by weather or other things which might affect the t.v picture.
Digital Recording:
Domestic; This is something that you will use to record things from the comfort of your own home. If you know you’re going to be out and miss your favourite program, why not record it? Most cable boxes that you have will give you the option to click ‘R’ on your remote, for record, and you will be able to access this from your guide menu.
-DVDr - Record-able Disk
-Tivo
-Hard Disk Drive/Memory Sticks
-Windows Media Player
Professional and Broadcast formats; Are different types of equipment used for different types of media purposes. Examples of this would be a HD / SD professional cinematography / movie camera, or HD decks, Recorders, VTR’s, switchers and IP live
Domestic; This is something that you will use to record things from the comfort of your own home. If you know you’re going to be out and miss your favourite program, why not record it? Most cable boxes that you have will give you the option to click ‘R’ on your remote, for record, and you will be able to access this from your guide menu.
-DVDr - Record-able Disk
-Tivo
-Hard Disk Drive/Memory Sticks
-Windows Media Player
Professional and Broadcast formats; Are different types of equipment used for different types of media purposes. Examples of this would be a HD / SD professional cinematography / movie camera, or HD decks, Recorders, VTR’s, switchers and IP live
Digital Editing:
File Types; There are different file types for Audio and Visual, I will include both below. When editing you will be introduced to many different file types and sometimes need to convert them using software available online, however this can ruin resolution. Below formats are recognized in most editing or graphic software’s (Photoshop for example).
(Video) MOV — MOV is a QuickTime format that is only supported on Apple products, this is also an issue when you try to upload your work to distribution sites such as YouTube, because a MOV file is often to large and isn’t supported.
(Video) FLV – If you were to make something in Flash Player and exported it so that you can put your work online or save it to your computer (compressed), Flash will export the material to an FLV file.
(Video) AVI — AVI was made by Microsoft. AVI is the most common format for audio/video data on the PC
Quicktime — Quicktime comes with any Mac/Apple make, it’s the equivalent to Windows Media Player. When you export a file to Quicktime it will export the file to a .MOV codec so that when you play it back in Quicktime, it will recogise the codec so you won’t have to convert it to other formats etc. The problem with exporting using a .MOV/Quicktime File/Format is that most internet sites do not support this file as it’s usually a big file.
WMV — This is used for windows computer, but is supported on many sites such as YouTube and Vimeo.
MPEG/MPEG 4 - Shortened for mp4 – this is a video and audio file.
File Types; There are different file types for Audio and Visual, I will include both below. When editing you will be introduced to many different file types and sometimes need to convert them using software available online, however this can ruin resolution. Below formats are recognized in most editing or graphic software’s (Photoshop for example).
(Video) MOV — MOV is a QuickTime format that is only supported on Apple products, this is also an issue when you try to upload your work to distribution sites such as YouTube, because a MOV file is often to large and isn’t supported.
(Video) FLV – If you were to make something in Flash Player and exported it so that you can put your work online or save it to your computer (compressed), Flash will export the material to an FLV file.
(Video) AVI — AVI was made by Microsoft. AVI is the most common format for audio/video data on the PC
Quicktime — Quicktime comes with any Mac/Apple make, it’s the equivalent to Windows Media Player. When you export a file to Quicktime it will export the file to a .MOV codec so that when you play it back in Quicktime, it will recogise the codec so you won’t have to convert it to other formats etc. The problem with exporting using a .MOV/Quicktime File/Format is that most internet sites do not support this file as it’s usually a big file.
WMV — This is used for windows computer, but is supported on many sites such as YouTube and Vimeo.
MPEG/MPEG 4 - Shortened for mp4 – this is a video and audio file.