Post Production Flashcards
1
Q
Frame rate for NTSC colour video
A
29.97 fps
2
Q
USA colour video rate
A
59.94 fields per second
3
Q
CRT meaning
A
Cathode Ray Tube
4
Q
PAL video frame rate
A
25 fps
5
Q
Film’s width to height ratio is called
A
Aspect Ratio
6
Q
4:3 is also known as
A
1.33:1
7
Q
What does ‘i’ stand for in 480i?
A
Interlaced or Interleaved
8
Q
What does ‘p’ stand for in 480p?
A
Progressive
9
Q
‘High Definition’ is used to describe video quality ____ and higher
A
1280x720
10
Q
Wordclocks clock sample rate. What do black burst and tri-level sync clock?
A
Frame rates
11
Q
Black burst & tri-level sync
A
Video references because they are well-clocked analogue video signals
12
Q
Luminance
A
Varying brightness of the screen of the CRT and is determined by amount of voltage sent to the electron gun
13
Q
Vertical retrace
A
0V dropout rate signals that are the clocking pulses for video that happen at 29.97 fps or 59.94 fields per second
14
Q
How is tri-level sync more accurate than black burst?
A
It adds one voltage level to the black + retrace equation
15
Q
Sync word
A
Identical information message that lets the synchroniser know ‘you have reached the end of the frame, start reading the next,’ similar to a period at the end of a sentence
16
Q
Synchroniser
A
A device that reads the timecode playing from two or more tape machines, compares the codes, and adjusts the machines’ tape positions and speeds to match them
17
Q
Cables affect on clocking
A
No matter how good your clock source, the cable used can greatly affect its timing
18
Q
Cable normally used for clocking
A
75Ω coaxial cable
19
Q
T-connectors are used for
A
Parallel distribution; connecting devices to function like a parallel circuit
20
Q
Serial clock distribution
A
Uses the ‘thru’ port and connects devices in series
21
Q
Signal degradation
A
As signal is passed from one device to another, quality can degrade further down the chain
22
Q
Clock Skew
A
In some cases, signal may not split directly from the input to the output, and may first go thru additional circuitry - and this can cause small delay to the output signal. As this happens from device to device, the clock edge may become progressively misaligned, potentially introducing clocking errors
23
Q
Audio arriving ____ ms early is within noticeable threshold of ‘subconscious disturbance’
A
20 - 40 ms
24
Q
Subconscious disturbance
A
The point at which the audience notices audio out of sync
25
Tri-level sync is a _______ reference
Pace
26
Blackburst is a ______ reference
Speed
27
Timecode is a _______ reference
Position
28
Wordclock is used to control ______
Audio sample rate
29
What must be used on the last device in the chain when configuring a serial or parallel clock distribution?
A terminator
30
Dialogue (DX)
Recordings of voices. Humans, robots, cats, anything with a voice is dialogue, including breathing, laughing, coughing, and other sounds related to the mouth
31
Music (MX)
Used to guide the viewer's experience throughout the film. In some cases, music is chosen and licensed, while in others, original music is written and performed in sync with picture
32
Sound Effects (SFX)
Almost everything that isn't dialogue or music is likely to be considered a sound effect: explosions, laser blasts, background sounds like wind through a field, urban streets in a city. These sounds are either purchased and licensed or captured during field recording or sound design.
33
Foley
AKA. Sync Effect Acting: the process of performing sound effects in sync with, and while watching the picture, and recording them to be used in the soundtrack. Footsteps, clothing rustles, typing, and other sounds with specific timing and velocity
34
The biggest difference between SFX and Foley
Foley is performed and recorded in sync with picture, while SFX are gathered/created and edited after the fact
35
2-Pop
A 1kHz tone, one frame in duration which occurs in the audio track, coinciding with visual cue in the picture.
36
What is 2-Pop used for?
It is used to create a sync point between the sound mix delivered as audio-only, and the picture itself.
37
When does 2-Pop typically occur?
It usually occurs two seconds prior to picture start, thus the name 2-Pop
38
Flash frame
The visual sync point that 2-Pop aligns with, which is one frame of white screen followed by two full seconds of black screen
39
3:2 Pull Down
When converting 24 fps to interlaced 29.97 fps, each odd frame of film is copied to two video fields, while each even frame is copied to three video fields. This produces 60 fields of video (30 frames) from 24 film frames
40
AAF
Advanced Authoring Format
41
What is AAF
Originally designed to be an alternative to OMF, it is a universal file format used to transfer projects between different DAWs and NLEs
42
What does AAF store?
File track names, clip definitions and references to media files, volume, panning automation, and clip gain.
43
ADR
Alternative Dialogue Recording
or
Automated Dialogue Replacement
44
What is ADR?
The process of recording dialogue while lip-syncing with previously recorded video. It is used to replace problematic (noisy, roomy, distorted, etc.) production sound recordings, or to introduce new dialogue that didn't exist during the original shoot
45
ADR Stage
Studio designed specifically for recording ADR and are acoustically treated to be very dead and free of reverberations or resonances
46
Aspect Ratio
Width-to-height ratio of an image, motion picture, or screen
47
What does aspect ratio affect when scaling up or down?
Program material can be scaled to different resolutions without stretching or distorting the image
Ex. 1920x1080 res can scale perfectly down to 1280x720
48
B-Roll
A term used to describe alternate footage, shot to intercut with the primary shots used in a program
49
How is B-Roll often shot?
MOS - shooting picture without audio
50
Backgrounds
AKA. ambience
Sound effects which recreate the background noise of the space seen on screen. Usually several different layers fill the surrounds and screen channels.
51
Room Tone
Recording ambient noise in a shooting location, used to fill in gaps in the dialogue track. Room tone is often mono, and is capture with the same boom mic used to record dialogue
52
Black Burst
AKA. House sync, video sync, video reference
| Synchronisation pulse that matches the refresh rates (frame rates) of different video devices and platforms
53
Blimp
AKA. Zeppelin
A large pill-shaped basket whose surfaces are a grill of light plastic, lined internally with foam. It provides diffusion for microphones
54
BNC
AKA. Bayonet Nut Connector
A professional connector for wide-bandwidth coax cable and is the standard connector type for SDI video, and is used for component and composite video in professional applications.
55
Standard connector type for cables carrying clocking signals such as wordclock, Black Burst, and tri-level sync
BNC
56
BWAV
AKA. Broadcast Wave File (BWF)
An extension of the WAV file format that includes additional metadata such as timecode, scene, shot and take number, and other useful production information
57
Cueing
Documenting the specific timecode start and end times when a dialogue line, Foley element, piece of music, or any specific clip of audio needs to be placed in the soundtrack. This is done using slugs
58
Slugs
Blank clips created and used in Pro Tools to cue when dialogue, Foley, music, or any specific clip of audio needs to be placed in the soundtrack
59
Cue Sheet
A document that identifies at what specific timecode start and end time that each sound will, or currently does happen. They are sometimes displayed as vertical columns, per track, with events arrayed chronologically from the top of the page to the bottom
60
Dailies
AKA. Rushes
Refers to the workflow when shooting film in which the reels are sent to the lab at the end of each shooting day, developed overnight, and returned to the set for review in the morning - daily
61
DCP (Digital Cinema Package)
A set of the final data-compressed files including picture, sound, subtitles and other metadata, packaged on a hard-drive for playback in a digital theatre
62
Digital equivalent of a 'release print'
DCP
63
Release Print
The final copy of a film to be played in theatres
64
DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives)
Sets guidelines to ensure compatibility with all digital cinemas
65
Dead Cat
AKA. Wind jammer, wind sock
| An artificial fur covering that wraps around a blimp or foam microphone windscreen to add extra wind diffusion
66
Decca Tree
A T-shaped microphone bracket designed to suspend three widely-spaced omni-directional microphones over a large musical ensemble or orchestra. The mics are arrayed in an obtuse, isosceles triangle, with the two mics at the base typically being 2 meters apart, and the 3rd mic extending out 1 meter from the centre of the base
67
Deliverables
The final audio files that will be returned to the production company, studio or network. The recipient will usually dictate their required channel layout for multichannel mixes as well as requirements for alternate dubs, down-mixes, and stems
68
Diegetic Music
AKA. Source music
Music that seems to be audible within the environment pictured on screen. In other words, it is part of the characters' experience, not just part of the viewers' experience.
69
Drop Frame Timecode
A type of timecode that selectively skips over specific frame numbers (not the frames themselves)
70
Dub Stage
A control room for mixing films and tv programs which is built to mimic the condition of an actual movie theatre
71
Dub
A mix of a film soundtrack
72
EDL (Edit Decision List)
A document that is generate by an NLE which contains documentation regarding every clip in a particular sequence's timeline. It usually includes the timecode start and end time of each clip's current timeline position
73
Edit Bays
Small office-sized rooms designed to house non-linear editing systems for video and audio. Acoustically treated and have high quality monitoring; typically tied to the facility's data network so files can be quickly sent to any of the stages
74
Foley Stage
Studio designed specifically for recording Foley. Typically large rooms that look like a warehouse full of props. Part of the floor will house "Foley pits" which are compartments containing different surfaces, such as sand, gravel, cement, grass, wood, tile, etc.
75
Frame
A single image in a motion picture sequence. On film, it is literally a single image on the reel. In progressive scan video, it is a single capture or rendered image. In interlaced video, it is one complete scanning cycle containing both fields
76
Frame Rate
In video: the number of frames that are captured or played within one second
In timecode: the number of frame numbers that a whole real-time second is divided into
77
Futz
Processing audio to make it sound like it is playing out of a device or object, such as a cell phone, walkie talkie, boom box, etc.
78
Gaffer
The head of the electrical department on a film set
79
Grip
A skilled person who is part of the team that provides, sets up, adjusts and tears down the majority of the tech equipment on a film set. Deals with lighting, camera mounting, rigging, etc.
80
Group Walla
AKA. walla
| Audio that is used to recreate background conversation of a group of people
81
Hard Sound Effect
A sound effect that is edited to synchronies with a specific event that in seen on screen
82
Head Pop
a 2-Pop which occurs two seconds before the first frame of the picture
83
Interlaced Video
AKA. interleaved video
A method of capturing or playing video in which each frame is split into 2 'fields.' One field is comprised of the odd rows of pixels (scan lines in analogue) and the other of even rows
84
Jam Sync
A technique used to synchronise a timecode generator to another running timecode, by momentarily connecting the two together
85
Keyframe
The video-editing equivalent of an automation break-point in a DAW. Can be used to automate effects, colour, contrast, audio volume, and other parameters
86
Lavalier Mic
AKA. lav or lapel mic
A miniature condenser mic that can either be clipped onto the talent's wardrobe visibly, or concealed within their wardrobe using a variety of techniques
87
Layback
Adding a sound dub or print master to picture so that it can be review or released
88
Line Up Tones
Reference tones recorded for level matching and calibration. Typically 1 kHz sine waves representing the level of a known calibration (0 dBVU in analogue/ -20 dBFS in digital)
89
LTC
AKA. longitudinal timecode or linear timecode
| SMPTE timecode information encoded in binary coded decimal (BCD) and stored on a standard audio track
90
M&E's (Music & Effects)
An alternate dub which contains all of the audio from the print master MINUS any dialogue elements
91
What are M&E's typically used for?
Used to 'revoice' a soundtrack, meaning to re-record the ADR in another language
92
Master Use Licence
Licence(s) required from copyright owners of BOTH the music and and original recording of that music
93
Metadata
Additional data about a media file that is stored inside of that file
Ex. mp3: song title, artist name
BWAV: timecode, scene and take numbers, etc.
94
MOS
Shooting picture without capturing audio. Also slang for any instance of missing or muted audio.
95
MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)
An organisation dedicated to standardising digital multimedia
96
MTC (MIDI Timecode)
Equivalent to SMPTE timecode, but transmitted thru a MIDI cable within the MIDI protocol
97
Music Supervisor
The person in charge of all the music elements in a film, including diegetic music as well as original score. Ultimately responsible for making sure all licensing is obtained
98
Nat Sound
A slang term meaning 'natural sound'
99
NLE (Non-Linear Editor)
Generally refers to software for video editing - think DAW for audio
100
NTSC (National Television Systems Committee)
One of 3 major analogue television systems (with PAL and SECAM) widely used throughout the world.
Uses 59.94 fields per second (29.97 fps)
101
OMF (Open Media Framework Interchange)
Designed to be a universal file format that could carry projects between different DAWs and NLEs
102
Optical Sound
Audio waveforms printed on the edge of a film print which can be played by a system that shines light through them and measures the variations
103
PAL (Phase Alternating Lines)
One of 3 major analogue television systems (with NTSC and SECAM) widely used throughout the world.
Uses 50 field per second (25 fps)
104
Picture Lock
A verbal agreement between the director, editor, and producers that the current edit of the film will not change in terms of timing
105
PFX (Production Sound Effects)
Any potentially usable non-dialogue sound from the production sound that doesn't overlap with any dialogue in the production sound is cut out of the dialogue tracks and moved to PFX tracks
106
Poly WAV
Multi-channel, interleaved broadcast WAV (BWAV) files containing mono channels of audio that have likely been recorded with different mics on set
107
Pre-Dub
A time when rerecording mixers assemble all of the edited elements and prepare for the supervised final dubbing sessions that will follow - done on the dub stage
108
Print Master
The final dub of all sound and music for a project, ready to be laid back to picture
109
Production Sound
AKA. Production audio
| The audio recorded on the set or location, in sync with the picture while filming
110
Render
AKA. Bake in
To create a new file which permanently represents the current state, including effects and transitions, of selected piece of media
111
Rerecording Mixer
A member of the team of typically two or three mixers who prepare the final dub of a film or TV show on the dub stage
112
Reshape
To correct the rise time of a SMPTE timecode signal
113
Resolution
Image res refers to the number of pixels of an image, and is expressed in terms of width and height
Ex. 1920 x 1080
114
Ripple Edit
The NLE equivalent of 'shuffle' mode in Pro Tools. If anything is cute or removed from the timeline, all clips will slide left to fill in the space
115
Roll Edit
A type of NLE edit that adjusts the position of a cut between two clips without affecting the rest of the overall timeline
116
Scene
A collection of shot which are all set in a common time and location
117
Score
Music specifically written and performed to coincide with a particular piece of visual media. Non-diegetic: only part of the viewer's experience, and is not heard by the characters
118
Shot
A designation given to any piece of footage which is captured using a particular setup and covering the same portion of the script
119
Slate
Capturing information about a recording onto the visual and/or audio medium itself, making it easier to label and organise the files at a later time
120
Information typically included on a clapperboard slate
Scene, shot, take number
121
Slide Edit
An edit, usually in an NLE in which an entire clip is moved, along with the edit points on its left and right
122
Slug
A clip in a DAW or NLE that contains no video or audio, and is a 'blank' clip that is used as a placeholder, maker, or cue
123
Spotting Session
A meeting attended by the director and the supervising sound editor during which each locked reel of the project is watched and sound is discussed in great detail
124
Stem
AKA. Splits
A submix that contains certain layers of a finished mix
Ex. a submix of dialogue, or of the music, or the sound effects, etc
125
Supervising Sound Editor
The person in charge of all of the elements of audio in a film, except for the music
126
Sync Licence
Licence for a song or piece of music to be performed and included in a soundtrack, synchronised to a piece of visual media. This only covers the SONG to be used, and would need a cover to be done. To use the Sound Recording, a Master Use Licence is needed
127
Synchroniser
A device that compared timecode from multiple machines and by taking over their clocking and transport control, maintains accurate synchronisation across their timecode positions
128
Take
Sometimes refers to a single performance, but on a technical level it generally means whatever happens between starting and stoping the equipment one time
129
Tail Pop
A 2-Pop which occurs two seconds after the last frame of picture
130
Telecine
The process, or a machine that performs the process, of transferring film to video
131
Temp Dub
A rough mix to support a picture edit that is not yet locked. Used during the editing, screening, and approval process to smooth out the audio
132
Tri-Level Sync
A timing reference for synchronising the refresh rate of multiple HD video devices. Pulses operate at a higher frequency than Black Burst and considered more accurate
133
Wild Tracks
Audio that is recorded independently from picture, and could refer to sound effects and dialogue lines recorded on set when cameras are not rolling
134
Wordclock
An extremely stable clocking pulse that is used to distribute an accurate representation of the digital audio sample rate between multiple devices in a system, ensuring digital audio to be perfectly aligned and free of errors and jitter
135
Primary objective in ADR session
Re-record portions of the dialogue that was not useable from the production recordings on the sound stage of film set. Actors would perform to picture in a recording studio
136
Pro Tools: Option to create alternate takes on the same audio track is known as
Playlist
137
Term for an empty clip created in an ADR session in Pro Tools
Cue/Slug
138
Cue sheets are _____________
Vertical time-based track sheets
139
Audio the actor needs in their headphone mix to perform properly in the ADR session
Cueing beeps and the production audio
140
Device that generates a 29.97 frame rate speed reference to all audio devices in Studio C
Blackburst Generator
141
Microphone used on an ADR session
Shotgun
142
Visual references the actor needs to perform on an ADR session
Streamers and video playback
143
3 reasons why it's beneficial to have a separate video playback system on a different computer than the DAW
1. Modifications to the video can be done without having to affect the audio recording
2. Optimises the CPU for the system that is recording audio
3. Video software may use CPU power that could cause overload errors
144
T/F: Are cue sheets created in an ADR session?
False: Cue sheets would have been created in a spotting session and then sent with other documents to the recording studio for reference
145
T/F: Do audio post production studios use templates for ADR in their DAWs?
True: Template increase efficiency
146
T/F: Group Walla is recorded during the ADR session
True: This is considered a dialogue element
147
T/F: The Video Slave 4 software can create cueing beeps, streamers, and other audio and visual references for post production session
True: Video Slave 4's main objective is to allow the studio or user to create cueing references for any post production audio recording session
148
4 audio elements in Post Production
1. Dialogue
2. Foley
3. Music
4. SFX
149
Where Cue Sheets are created
Spotting Session
150
Where the final audio mix for a film is completed
Dub stage
151
ADR
Automated Dialogue Replacement
152
EDL
Edit Decision List
153
SFX
Sound Effects
154
Audio that is recorded out of sync with the picture on a film set
Production sound effects
155
Audio that is recorded on the film set in sync with the picture or film
Production audio
156
Sync Effects Actors are __________
Foley Artists
157
Frame rate for film
24 fps
158
Frame rate for American Colour TV
29.97 fps
159
Frame rate for Broadcast TV
29.97 drop fps
160
Frame rate for Europe
25 fps
161
Frame rate for B&W TV
30 fps
162
Amount of fields of video for one frame of film
2
163
Process of converting film to video
Telecine
164
Process of merging the final audio mix to film or picture
Layback
165
If you had 300 frames of film and converted these into video fields - how many video fields will you have?
600
166
Blackburst is ____________
Standard Def Video Reference
167
What is wordclock?
Digital Sample Rate Synchronisation Reference
168
Person responsible for how the orchestra is arranged on the Scoring Stage
Conductor
169
The process of applying an effect to audio/video and creating a stored file
Render
170
Dialogue corrections or overdubs are recorded on a ______________
ADR stage
171
Starting a timecode generator from an already running timecode
Jam Sync
172
Most common sample rate used in Post Production audio recording
48 kHz
173
Best placement for microphone when recording dialogue for film
Above the actor
174
Best microphone is best for recording dialogue on a film set
Shotgun
175
Most widely used polar pattern for recording with a "Decca Tree" configuration
Omnidirectional
176
Where the orchestra is recorded for film
Scoring Stage
177
Person in charge of recording the audio on set and hiring the sound team
Sound Mixer
178
A set of criteria for finished film and audio elements for delivery to the production company
Delivery Requirments
179
Submixing tracks of audio and recording them into an audio file
Stems
180
Title of the person who is in charge of the audio in post production
Sound or Post Production Supervisor
181
Tri Level Sync
High Definition Video Reference
182
Reasons why a boom operator still use a windscreen indoors for recording
1. Handling noise
2. Plosives
3. Wind noise
183
MOS meaning
Minus Optical Sound
184
A multi-channel audio file that can hold unique meta data for Post Production is called _________
Poly WAV file
185
Creator of the THX audio calibration standard for Film Theatres
Tomlinson Holman
186
What does the Sync I/O generate from an external video references to all connected interfaces?
Wordclock
187
2 EQ curves used in Cinema for reducing unwanted frequencies in movie theatres
1. X Curve
| 2. Academy Curve
188
4 unique information that can be stored on a Poly Wav for production audio
1. Scene
2. Shot
3. Take
4. Camera
189
Final audio mix that will be merged with the final film or video
Print Master
190
First film with audio including dialogue
The Jazz Singer
191
First film with Stereophonic sound
Fantasia
192
Recording the audio and video with the same device is _________
A single sound system
193
The final mix for a film or TV show is performed in a studio called a _______, which could be described as ______________________
Dub stage
| Movie theatre with a large mixing console in it
194
The process of marrying a completed soundtrack to the finished picture
Layback
195
2-Pop
A 1 kHz tone, one frame in duration which occurs in the audio track, coinciding with a visual cue in the picture
196
A technique used to sync a time code generator to another running time code
Jam Sync
197
After the shoot of a scene is complete, we continue to record extra door slams in that same location, without shooting picture. What are these recordings called?
Wild Tracks
198
Audio that is recorded on set, in sync with the picture being shot
Production sound
199
Microphones frequently used for recording audio on film sets other than boom mics
Wireless lavalier mics
200
Interleaved Broadcast Wave files containing multiple mono channels of audio with metadata identifying the channels
Poly WAV
201
Position title of the person who oversees all of the audio post departments
Supervising Sound Editor
202
Type of session the director is least likely to attend
Foley Recording Session
203
T/F: Post production audio work cannot begin until the final visual effects for a film are completed
False
