AAF

Advanced Authoring Format is a digital file format used to allow cross-platform exchange in professional video post-production.

AIFF

Audio Interchange File Format is a standard audio file format used in most computers. It is a lossless, or uncompressed format developed by Apple in 1988 and is pulse code modulation (PCM) format. It does not carry timecode metadata, but can contain an embedded sync point to be used in programming loops for music or sound design. There is a compressed version called AIFF-C or AIFFC, which should not be confused with and used instead of AIFFs, especially in professional productions.

Ambisonic

Ambisonic audio is fully 360 spherical sound. First Order ambisonic audio carries 4 channels of audio information for w, x, y, and z or the omni, left to right, front to back, and height. Higher level of ambisonics carry more channels and greater detail of the x, y, and z channels.

ASCAP

The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers is a nonprofit Performing Rights Organization (PRO) of songwriters, composers, and music publishers that manages royalties, among other services for its members.

Audio post

Audio post refers to the audio finishing process that occurs in post-production. Post production refers to the stage after the actual shooting of the production is finished, and typically after video editing has taken place. Audio post can include sound edit, sound design, and final mix.

Binaural

Binaural audio is two channels, but not stereo. It replicates how we hear sound all around us with our two ears.

BMI

Broadcast Music, Inc. is a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing music composers, songwriters, and publishers, and handles royalties, among other roles.

B-Roll

Video footage or stills that is rolled under a primary story line to support what the audio is portraying, usually narration or interview.

DAW

Digital Audio Workstation is a digital audio recording, editing, and mixing system that is usually computer based and is non-linear and non-destructive (meaning, it prevents generation loss of the material during the edit). Popular formats include Avid Pro Tools, Adobe Audition, and Steinberg Nuendo.

Decibel

Decibel, or dB, is a unit of measurement of the energy of audio. There are many different methods of measuring, especially between analog vs. digital. For instance, dBvu is decibel measured in volume unit which is analog and dBFS, is decibel full scale which is decibels measuring in digital full scale.

Dolby Atmos^®

An object-based sound mixing software and delivery format.

DP

Director of Photography.

Dynamic range

The range of volume from the softest to the loudest. For example, an orchestral piece usually has greater dynamic range then a pop rock tune. Theatrical Mixes have greater dynamic ranges then television programming. Dynamic range in media is most seen in the voice. Voice heavy documentaries have less dynamic range then show specials of concerts.

EDL

Edit Decision List. A text, csv, or excel sheet that contains all the video and audio edit decisions in a list fashion. Search and filter functions are often used. EDLs are often plugged into other software for conforms and online.

EQ

Equalization. The boosting or attenuation of frequencies enhancing the sound quality.

Foley

Foley is the art of performing or recreating sound effects to picture that are recorded to enhance or replace the original effects of a sound track. Jack Foley, working for Universal, had radio experience and volunteered to help turn the silent film Show Boat, not yet released, into a musical. His ability to perform and recreate everyday sounds for the film started the art of Foley. Foley used to be reserved for everyday sounds that could be blended into the sound track. Today Foley often takes on larger roles as sounds are created, recorded, and designed for special roles in films, such as Star Wars’ R2D2, created by Ben Burtt.

FPS

Frames per second.

Hertz

Hertz or Hz is the standard unit of measurement for sound where one cycle of sound equals one second. So 1 Hz is one cycle per second, where 1,000 cycles per second is 1,000 Hz. Hertz often refers to frequency or pitch.

International System of Units (SI)

SI is an international system of standard scientific measurements. There are seven base units from which other units of measurements are based on: meter for length, second for time, Ampere for electric current, Kelvin for temperature, candela for luminous intensity (brightness), and mole for amount of substance.

Linear PCM Recorder

PCM or Pulse Code Modulation refers to the analog to digital conversion of analog audio that includes the sound wave in three steps: sampling, quantization, and coding. PCM is binary and lossless. A linear PCM recorder makes analog audio digital in the order in which it is received in to the recorder. A WAV file is an example of PCM audio. A zoom recorder is a good example of a linear PCM recorder.

LFE

Low Frequency Effects is a dedicated audio channel to carry frequencies usually from 3 to 120 Hz with 80 Hz being a common crossover point. The channel is fed to a speaker called the sub-woofer, or sub, which is designed to replicate those low frequencies.

LUT

Look Up Table refers to a precise set of numbers that allow an editing system to convert one set of RGB values to another, thus changing the hue, saturation or brightness of the original footage. LUTs are often camera-specific sets of information so that footage decodes correctly. They can also be used to simulate film stocks and allow for the communication of color and tone decisions between different post-production tools.

LTO

Linear Tape Open is a magnetic tape technology typically used for data back-up. When introduced in 2000 one “tape” could hold 100 GB, now the equivalent tape for LTO 8 can contain 12 TB of data. LTO tapes are known for their long-lasting durability and encryption.

Metadata

Metadata is data that provides information about other data. Often metadata is embedded into the file itself. For instance, an audio file recorded properly on set can have timecode, character name, mic, and scene and take information all embedded into the file as metadata.

MPEG

An international standard for compressing and transmitting audio and video images, set by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG).

mp3

A coding format for digital audio. Originally part of the MPEG-1 standard, it was upgraded to support more audio channels for the MPEG-2 standard.

NLE

Non-Linear Editing system. Digital editing systems that are computer rather than tape based, allowing for non-destructive editing in non-sequential order. Popular NLE platforms include AVID’s Media Composer, Adobe’s Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve from Blackmagic Design, and Apple’s Final Cut Pro.

NTSC

NTSC refers to the National Television System Committee. NTSC as a format refers to the analog color system used primarily in the United States from 1953 to roughly 2011, when digital transmission took over. It is based on 29.97 frames per second for content under 60 seconds and 29.97 DF (every minute ending in zero drops two frames). The NTSC was established in 1940 to help control and develop standards for black and white television broadcasts and was refreshed in 1950 when color was introduced. Instant fighting and drama between manufacturers caused all color broadcasts to be banned, under the guise of defense during the Korean War by the Department of Defense. Finally, in 1953 the NTSC was approved for analog color transmissions and was phased out for the ATSC and digital transmission in 2011.

OMF

Open Media Framework. Sometimes known as OMFI or Open Media Framework Interchange. A platform independent file format that allows the transfer of digital media between different video, audio, and image editing systems. For example, OMF is often used to replicate audio tracks from an NLE timeline in a DAW.

OTT

OTT refers to Over the Top, meaning those media content distributors that stream content over the internet and not through the broadcast system. Netflix is an example of an OTT network.

Picture lock

When the picture is approved and no more editorial changes will be made to the images or length. Footage and images are often conformed or swapped out after picture lock for identical high-resolution files, but editorial remains the same.

Primary Audio

Sound that is considered essential to the story and is primary to the story. For example, an interview sound byte over on camera audio of b-roll. Both are important, but one tells the story and is critical to the message and the other reinforces the story.

PRO

Performing Rights Organizations represent music composers and copyright holders. The largest PROs are ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.

RAID

Redundant Array of Independent Disks is a data storage technology that uses drives and drive partitions to create logical units. RAID technology automatically duplicates data across the units in a way that protects against loss if a drive fails. There are different levels of RAID providing different levels of protection. A common choice is RAID 5 because of speed and redundancy.

RAW

Footage that is unprocessed data from a camera’s image sensor, and must be converted into video for viewing. Shooting RAW allows for high image quality as well as flexibility in post-production, where one can add color grading to a project’s specific requirements.

RF Interference

RF Interference, also called RFI, is caused when there is a disturbance in the radio spectrum of frequencies. These disturbances are caused by electromagnetic radiation or electrostatic. All electronic devices cause some electromagnetic radiation or noise. Today, RF or RFI is also called EMI or electromagnetic interference. That buzzing noise on your cellphone or in your recording can be avoided by using RF detection software or data flagging software or by switching frequencies. Because of the proliferation of personal electronic devices, such as smartphones, the government has started regulating how much electromagnetic radiation can be released from electronics.

Sample Rate

The rate in which a sound wave is sampled during recording in order to convert it from analog to digital audio.

SAP

Second Audio Program or Secondary Audio Program is an auxiliary audio program or channel that is used to carry alternative language choices or descriptive audio for video. Because the SAP usually carries Spanish in English-speaking programming, it is often erroneously referred to as “Spanish Audio Program.”

SESAC

Formerly the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers, this Performing Rights Organization (PRO) manages royalties for its members. It has simply used the letters as its name since 1940.

Sound Imaging

Sound image is how the sound is placed and played back spatially. When capturing sound attention to sound image, not just the signal is crucial. When sound is placed spatially, its perceived placement, movement, and depth is the sound image. A car going from left to right on screen has a sound of car going by from left to right to match. The image of that sound coming from a distance and travelling across us and leaving to the right is matched with that sound. As the sound travels it becomes louder and fuller as well as travelling closer to us and then passes by and gets softer and less full as it travels into the distance. This is more of an example of imaging for a stereo mix (immersive audio has more information in it) but the same principals follow through. Since we listen with our ears in the space, the placement of the speakers and our bodies/ears effect sound image. The optimal location for our ears when listening to sound in regards to imaging is the “sweet spot.” In some instances the sweet spot is extremely tight and even the slightest nod of our head can color and change the sound.

Sound Blankets

Large blankets that are made out of thick sound absorbing material and used to deaden sound.

Stem

A Stem is an audio file that contains a specific element that, combined with other stems, can reconstitute the full mix. Stems can be made for an entire soundtrack, just one music cue, or a particular audio element such as the voiceover track. Stems can also refer to files that combine mixed sound elements, such as a stem for the music and effects track, known as “M and E.” Music Stems are essential to sound mixing, because they allow mixers to isolate elements that might interfere with one another, to make the best possible audio mix. Stems are typically required deliverables for any final mix.

Storyboard

An illustration or sketch of how a video may progress according to the script and intent of the story, to better understand the flow of story for the shoot and creative decisions. More often used in short form.

TRT or Total Run Time

The total length of a piece from first frame to last frame, not including academy leader, 2 pop, or End Pop.

Verité

In its purest form, verité documentaries are observational, without commentary from a narrator. The idea is for the film to be “truth.” The range of approaches for modern documentary films and docu-style productions is broad, and beyond the scope of this book. Here, we use “verité” to mean any approach that brings the audience into a real-world story or situation.

Walla

Sounds layered to imitate the murmur of a crowd in the background.

WAV

Developed by Microsoft and IBM and introduced in 1991 but is used across all computer formats today. Pronounced wave, it’s a linear Pulse Code Modulation format and is a lossless codec. BWAV (Broadcast WAV) is preferred in media as it contains timecode metadata. Higher resolution WAV files now support multichannel files, such as 5.1.

Wild Sound

Wild Sound is sound that is recorded wild, or not in sync with camera footage on location or in the field. Wild sound is used to enhance sound design for a piece, especially for ambiances. Capturing wild sound is often overlooked but is one of the best ways to improve sound design and ensure authenticity.