Preproduction


Capturing


Basic Editing


Effects


Output


Terms & Tools









Preproduction


Capturing


Basic Editing


Effects


Output


Terms & Tools








Preproduction


Capturing


Basic Editing


Effects


Output


Terms & Tools









Preproduction


Capturing


Basic Editing


Effects


Output


Terms & Tools










Preproduction


Capturing


Basic Editing


Effects


Output


Terms & Tools









Preproduction


Capturing


Basic Editing


Effects


Output


Terms & Tools

Terms and Tools used in The Big Picture

Note: Audio/video editing programs are shown in red italics.

CD Player

CD Player can be found on the Media Tools page of your Icon Catalog. CD Player has two primary functions for systems with CD-ROM drives:

  • Allows you to play audio compact discs over your workstation.
  • Provides convenient CD capture for audio production.

CD Player diplays each track on a CD as an individual AIFF file, which you can copy to your system disk by dragging to a new location on your desktop. You can also select any range of audio on the CD and save the selection as a new file.


compression scheme

Compression is the coding of data to save storage space or transmission time. Although data is already coded in digital form for computer processing, it can often be coded more efficiently (using fewer bits). Compression schemes are standardized compression formats.


filters

Filters are effects that, after you create them, can be applied to entire or partial audio or video clips. An example of a video filter is a spinning logo in the corner of a screen. A fade out is an example of an audio filter.


flicker filter

You can apply a flicker filter to your movie by using Media Convert. Flicker filter eliminates the TV monitor flicker that may occur when a movie includes computer-generated graphics, such as those created by including a 3D filter in your movie.


frame rate

Video is made up of a series of frames, like a filmstrip. The frame rate is the number of frames displayed per second in a movie. A lower frame rate produces a less fluid motion and saves disk space. A higher setting results in a more fluid image and a larger movie file. A movie's frame rate is described in fps (frames per second). Different types of output typically use different frame rates. For example, NTSC television plays at 29.97 fps, and motion-picture film plays at 24 fps.

To find out the frame rate of a movie:

  • Select the movie file icon.
  • Hold down the right mouse button to display a menu.
  • Choose "Get Movie Info." A window appears that lists a number of parameters, including the frame rate.
    
    

FX Builder (Plug-in)

FX Builder is plug-in tool that you can use to edit and build 3D filters and transitions for desktop movie production. The effects you create or edit can be saved as your own custom transitions, or filters or applied to the movie you are currently working on. To create these filters or transitions, you can animate 3D objects, and also texture them with movies or images. When using Movie Maker, you can access this tool from the Effects menu. Choose Effects > Custom 3D Effect... . When the dialog appears, click the New button to open FX Builder.


Icon Catalog

Access the icon catalog from your main desktop Toolchest menu. For example, to go to the Media Tools page, select Find > Media Tools to bring up the Media Tools page in the Icon Catalog. The icon catalog is the place to find most of the software programs that are bundled with your workstation.


ImgView

ImgView can be found on the Media Tools page of your Icon Catalog. ImgView is what launches when you double-click an image icon. It allows you to view an image file, and when you select File > Save you can choose a new format for the image.


Media Convert

Media Convert can be found on the Media Tools page of your Icon Catalog. Media Convert offers many conversion possibilities. For example, you can use it convert a movie or audio file from one format and/or compression scheme to another, or to convert a movie file into a numbered sequence of images. You can also specify video or audio parameters, such as the frame rate or sample rate.


Media Recorder

Media Recorder can be found on the Media Tools page of your Icon Catalog. Media Recorder records movies, images, and sounds--a key feature is the ability to record action on your computer screen (such as the demonstration of software). It includes smart controls that can automatically set options like frame size, image quality, sample rate, and compression scheme, according to the medium in which you want to use the media file (so all you need to know is how you plan to use it). And when you need to, you can also manually specify recording settings.


Movie Maker

Movie Maker can be found on the Media Tools page of your Icon Catalog. Movie Maker is an application that enables you to compose and edit multitrack movies using video, images, and/or audio clips. It also includes a title/annotation palette and a plug-in for creating 3D filters. Movie Maker has an intuitive interface, similar to a basic text editor--so you do not need any specific knowledge of audio/video editing techniques to yield polished results.


sample rate

The speed at which audio samples are recorded and played back. This is analogous to video and film frame rates. Higher sample rates give higher audio quality at the expense of larger audio file size. Lower sample rates save disk space but result in poorer audio quality. Typically, 8 kHz is fine for human voice recording. Audio CDs are recorded at 44.1 kHz, and audio DATs are recorded at 32, 44.1, or 48 kHz.

To read the sample rate of a movie:

  1. Select the audio file icon.
  2. Hold down the right mouse button to display a menu.
  3. Choose "Get Sound Info." A window appears that lists a number of parameters, including the sample rate.
    
    

sample width

The number of bits used to represent a single sample of audio data, typically expressed in multiples of 8-bits (8, 16 or 24). Larger widths allow for greater dynamic range and precision, both of which influence audio quality.

To read the sample width of a movie:

  1. Select the audio file icon.
  2. Hold down the right mouse button to display a menu.
  3. Choose "Get Sound Info." A window appears that lists a number of parameters, including the sample rate and sample width. Sample width is the first listing next to "Data Format."
    
    

Showcase

Showcase is a drawing and presentation program you can find on the Applications page of your Icon Catalog.


Sound Track

Sound Track can be found on the Media Tools page of your Icon Catalog. Sound Track is a program for creating and editing audio files and multitrack audio compositions. It is designed to be used in the creation of audio elements for movies, commercials, audio CDs, computer games, Web pages, and presentations. It allows you to create multiple tracks to which can you assign labels for your composition purposes.


title palette

Movie Maker's title palette (shown on the right) allows you to easily add text and graphics to your movies, so that you can create titles or annotate a range of frames in your movie. The title in Kam's movie was done with this title palette, which is accessible in the Movie Maker Title menu.


WebMagic

WebMagic can be found on the Web Tools page of the Icon Catalog. Use WebMagic to create HTML documents that can be viewed on the World Wide Web by any HTML browser. WebMagic is easy to use and works like many basic text editors. You can create new documents or edit existing HTML files.


Copyright © 1997 by Silicon Graphics, Inc.