Audio Visual Hire Glossary of Terms

16x9: Widescreen projection or display format at a ratio of 16 across by 9 high. The Widescreen shape (16:9) allows a greater picture size to that of traditional 4:3 ratio.
4x3: A traditional projection or display format ratio of 4 across by 3 high.
ADSL: Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line. (Also known as Broadband). Providing high-speed internet access.
AGARAS: Anti-Glare Anti-Reflection Anti-Static. A coating applied to some TVs and other screens which actively suppresses reflected light.
Amplifier: A device that amplifies sound so that it can be heard through speakers. An amplifier is required when using a sound desk.
Amplitude: Relating to sound waves: The maximum displacement from the zero position of a periodic wave.
ANSI Lumen: American National Standards Institute Lumens - Standard for measuring light output or brightness. The more ANSI Lumens the brighter the picture.
Anti Virus: Computer software program used to detect and combat viruses, worms and Trojan horses.
AV: Audio Visual
AVI: Audio Visual Interleaved. Sound and vision movie file. Small movies can be created in AVI and embedded into PowerPoint or played using a media player on a computer.
Betacam SP: An older analogue professional series metal tape format. DV Cam Pro is preferable to this format.
Bluetooth: Technology that allows Bluetooth enabled devices to communicate wirelessly.
BNC: Bayonet Network Connector, used to connect video sources, such as from video cameras and video playback equipment.
Broadband (BB): A high speed 'always on' digital internet connection which features fast bandwidth
CD: Compact Disc - a disk used widely for playback of music.
CD-R: CD-Recordable disc that can written on once only, but when finalised can be played on most CD players.
CD-RW: Re-writeable CD disc that can be written on over and over, but can only be played back on some standard CD players.
Component Video: Used to send high quality signals from a video player to projection equipment. Higher quality than SCART.
CRT: Cathode Ray Tube - the heart of a TV or computer monitor. Generally large in size.
dB: Decibel - a relative unit of measure between two sound or audio signal levels. A difference 1 dB is considered to be the smallest that can be detected by the human ear.
Delay: The postponement of an audio signal for a specific amount of time, usually measured in milliseconds. This is used to ensure an even sound distribution throughout a large venue.
Desktop: A computer that includes a base unit (CPU), monitor, keyboard and mouse, not as portable as a laptop / notebook.
DMX: Also known as DMX 512 is an addressing and communication protocol used for professional grade lighting. It was designed to allow equipment from different companies to be used together easily.
DV: Digital Video. Recording format adopted on most newer video cameras & camcorders provides better images and sound quality than traditional analogue formats such as 8mm and VHS-C.
DV-CAM: ProA professional grade digital tape format, used for recording onto and playing back video with audio
DVD: Digital Versatile Disk. The DVD-Video format is used for movies. It has around 540 lines of horizontal resolution on a standard TV that produces a sharper image than VHS that has around 240.
DVI: Digital Video Interface - this is a newer (Digital) technology to VGA. Some new desktop computers can output to DVI and using a special DVI cable can connect to projectors or plasma screens at higher resolutions, with increased screen quality.
GB (also Gb, GiB): Gigabyte. Measurement of size of a computer file. A gigabyte is equal to 1000 megabytes.
Graphic Equaliser: An electronic device for adjusting the frequency response of an audio system selectively altering the level of sound allowed in discreet frequency bands from bass to treble.
IEEE1394: Also known as fire wire or i-link. This is a high speed data link for computers to communicate with devices such as digital video cameras. It supports data transfer rates of up to 400 Mbps.
Infra-Red: A wireless communication technology generally used to control equipment. Has a very short range and requires 'line of sight'.
ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network - a way of moving digital information over existing telephone networks, and providing internet access.
JackAn: Audio connector to connect audio equipment. Available in stereo or mono, regular or mini jack.
JPEG: Joint Picture Experts Group. A file format that stores digital images enabling large data files to be stored and save disk space.
Kbps: Kilobits per second. Used as a measure of data transmission rates.
Keystone: Correction for vertical or horizontal offset between a projector and the screen. Very useful when aligning a projector!
Laptop: A small portable PC that has a keyboard and screen all built into one unit. Also known as a notebook PC.
LCD: Liquid Crystal Display. Flat display technology which is more energy efficient than a standard CRT.
MB: Megabyte. Measurement of size of a computer file. A megabyte is equal to 1000 kilobytes.
MIC: Microphone - A device that converts power in the form of sound waves into electrical power.
Mini Disc: Similar to CD but smaller and slightly lower quality.
MP3: Shorthand for MPEG Audio Layer 3 a set of standards for storing and compressing digital audio files. Typically a 1 minute music track take 1MB of disk space.
MPEG: Motion Picture Experts Group. A method of compressing moving pictures and audio to make them smaller thus making them easier to transfer, store and embed into PowerPoint.
MPEG2: Motion Picture Experts Group. The compression standard for digital video.
Multi-Core: A long cable, made up of lots of other cables.
NTSC: American and Japanese Television picture format. Any TV with this capability can receive NTSC signals from VCR or DVD. Video Recorders with this function allow playback of NTSC video tapes.
OSD: On Screen Display - graphic displays which appear on the TV screen to guide through the various settings and controls.
PA: Abbreviation of public address system: one or more speakers connected to an amplifier to amplify sounds from microphones or other audio equipment.
PAL: TV broadcast system used in the UK and some other countries.
Phono: Cable Used to send analogue sound from one component to another.
Plasma: Technology that uses electrical impulses that react with gases contained to produce pixels. Plasma screens are increasing in demand due to their relative light weight and positioning flexibility as opposed to traditional CRT television sets.
PowerPoint: A software application developed by the Microsoft Corporation, that enables displaying of text, images, videos and other content into a slideshow.
Radio Mic: A wireless lapel or hand held microphone
RF: Radio Frequency - A technology that allows devices to communicate with each other on a specified frequency.
RGB: Transmission system that splits the red, green and blue signal to provide a clearer and more defined picture.
SCART: A SCART (also known as an Euroconnector) cable, containing 21 pins, carries the video, audio and system control signals to and from audio visual equipment (such as DVD Players, VHS Video Players, and TV's).
Subwoofer: Used for the reproduction of low sound frequencies, typically from 20Hz to 200Hz.
S-VHS: Super VHS is a higher quality video cassette format giving better picture resolution than a standard VHS tape.
S-Video: Carries picture signals only from a component to a TV. Superior to SCART or composite connection but inferior to component or RGB SCART. Carries picture only so a separate connection must be used for audio signals.
TFT: Thin Film Transistor - A type of LCD flat-panel display screen where each pixel is controlled by transistors. This technology provides the best resolution of all the flat-panel techniques. Also sometimes called active-matrix LCDs.
UHF: Ultra High Frequencies. UHF refers to the frequency range 300-3000 MHz (preferred frequency).
USB: Universal Serial Bus. A 'port' used to connect devices such as printers, scanners and digital cameras to a computer. A USB device can be plugged in without having to restart the computer.
VGA: Video Graphics Array. A cable used to carry analogue signals from a computer to a projector or switching equipment.
VHF: Very High Frequencies. VHF refers to the frequency band 30-300 MHz.
VHS: Video Home System, a tape (or device using such tapes) used for recording and playing domestic grade video. Relatively low quality.
WAV: Wave file. An uncompressed digital computer sound file. Very large in size (aprox 10 Megabytes per 1 minute of music).
Wi-Fi: A radio frequency standard used for wireless computer networking and internet access.
XGA: Extended Graphics Array. A display resolution of 1024x768 pixels - this is the most common resolution for use with projectors, switchers etc.
XLR: A type of connector used for balanced lines. Used for microphones and other audio components.