AGC-Automatic gain control. Regulates the volume of the audio or video light levels automatically within a camcorder.

Analog-An analog signal that fluctuates exactly like the original stimulus (examples, sweep second-hand clock, phonograph player).

Ambient Sound-Background sound or wild sound. Sound that surrounds the scene or location, received by the microphone and recorded onto magnetic tape.

Aspect Ratio-The ratio of the height to the width of the film or television frame. Three units high to four units wide (3:4).

Audio Track-The area of a videotape that is used for recording audio information.

Beam Splitter-An optical device within a color camera that splits the white light into three primary colors: red, green, and blue.

Camcorder-A portable video camera with videotape recorder (VTR) and a microphone attached to form a single unit.

Capstan -An electrically driven roller that rotates and transports the videotape past the recorder heads at precise and fixed speeds.

CCD-Charged-coupled device, also called a chip. A small, solid state (silicon resin) imaging device used in a video camera instead of camera pickup tubes. Inside the chip, image sensing elements translate the optical image into a video signal.

Character Generator-An electronic device used to create words or graphics that may be electronically inserted or keyed over the video picture.

Color Bars-A color standard used by the television industry for the alignment of cameras and videotape recordings.

Component -The processing of RGB (red, green, blue) channels as three separate channels.

Composite Signal (Y/C)-(Also called NTSC signal) The video signal in which luminance Y (black and white) and chrominance (red, green, blue) and sync information are encoded into a single signal.

Control Track-The area of the videotape used for recording the information necessary to synchronize the all elements during playback.

Digital VTR-A videotape recorder that translates and records the analog video signal in digital form.

Dub-Duplication of an electronic recording. Dub is always one generation away from the original recording.

Dropout-A loss of part of the video signal, which appears as white glitches. Caused by dirty VTR heads or poor quality videotape.

Field-Scanning lines in one-half of one video or television frame. There are two fields (one odd and one even) in a frame. One field equals 262.5 scanning lines, which create a total of 525 standard television lines or one frame. Also known as the NTSC signal (U.S. TV system).

Frame-The smallest unit in television or film, a single picture. A complete scanning cycle of the two fields occurs every 1/30 second. A frame equals 525 scan lines.

Gain-The level of amplification for a video or audio signals. Increasing the video gain increases the picture contrast.

Generation-The number of dubs or copies away from the original recording. The greater the number of generations, the greater the loss of picture quality.

Heads-A small assemble within an audio or video recording system, which can erase, record or playback the signal in electromagnetic impulses.

Helical Scan, or Helical VTR-(Also called slant track). A videotape recording or a videotape recorder in which the video signal is put on tape in a slanted, diagonal way. Because the tape wraps around the head drum in a spiral-like configuration, it is called helical.

Noise-Unwanted sounds or electrical interference in a audio or video signal. In the audio track, there is a hiss or humming sound. In the video picture the interference appears as snow.

NTSC-National Television Standards Committee. U.S. standards for television or video signal broad-casting. Also known as the composite signal (Y/C).

Pickup Tube-The imaging device in a video camera that converts light into electrical energy (video signal).

Pixel-The smallest single picture element with which an image is constructed. The light-sensitive elements in a CCD (chip) camera.

Preroll-To start a videotape and let it roll for a few seconds before it is put in the playback or record mode so that the electronic system has time to stabilize.

RGB-The separate red, green, and blue color (chrominance), or C, video signals.

Slant Track-Same as helical scan.

Time Base Corrector (TBC)-An electronic accessory to a videotape recorder that helps make playbacks or transfers electronically stable. A TBC helps to maintain picture stability even in dubbing-up operations.

Video Cassette-A plastic container in which a videotape moves from a supply reel to a take-up reel. Used in all but the 1-inch VTRs.

VTR-Videotape recorder or recording. Includes video cassette recorders.

Y/C-The separate processing of the luminance (Y) and chrominance (C) signals.