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Glossary
Platform
In our somewhat narrower defini-
tion, a platform is the combination
of processor and operating system
with which a computer or a worksta-
tion operates.
In postproduction, the term "plat-
form" mostly relates to the operating
system only. The operating systems
Windows, MacOS and Unix are
widely used.
Most of the manufacturers offer
their interface systems on one of the
three specified standard platforms.
Hence, a normal computer from the
Intel family, a Macintosh or a silicon
graphics computer is used and
extended to form a non-linear sys-
tem with hardware (mostly plug-in
cards), software and standard
peripheral devices (SCSI hard
disks).
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Plug-In
A plug-in is a software extension
which can change, expand or update
the scope of performance of editing
or compositing software in partial
areas. Plug-ins are frequently used in
postproduction to expand the effects
capabilities of a system.
Postproduction
The work processes used by the
motion picture and video industry
can be divided into several phases.
Postproduction describes the pro-
duction phase of post-editing the
recorded material. It therefore com-
prises work steps such as cutting,
effect editing, post-addition of
sound to the film and graphical edit-
ing.
Postroll
The period required by a video
recorder to bring the tape to a stand-
still and to change over from play-
back or recording to pause. This also
applies to linear cuts with video
recorders which do not stop
abruptly upon completion of the
cutting, but run slightly past the cut
end.
Precoding (Striping)
Generally the recording of a black-
burst signal, a timecode and a
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SIGNAL to a magnetic tape. A record-
ing tape must be precoded so that
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The precoding of tapes also offers
advantages in terms of quality, as the
roughness of unplayed tapes is ini-
tially more pronounced and is then
smoothed out during precoding
which, in turn, improves recording
quality.
Preread
The preread function allows a video
recorder to play a video signal and to
record this video signal at precisely
the same tape point at which it was
played, in the same work step. This
function makes it possible to achieve
effects such as dissolves with a linear
two-machine editing workstation
(for example for
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DITING). Normally three or more
machines are required to produce
such effects.
Preroll
1) The period required by a video
recorder for the run-up from the
pause function and switching into
the play or recording mode is
referred to as preroll.
2) For linear cuts with video record-
ers, preroll is also understood to
mean the rewinding of the tape to a
defined point before the actual cut-
ting point. The tape is parked at that
point and also runs up from there
during editing, such that playback is
allowed to stabilize until the cutting
point.
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