Authored by Robert L Hartwig, Basic TV Technology: Digital and Analog from Focal Press is an essential basic guide to the fundamentals underlying all television and video systems, written for students and nontechnical professionals. You don't need to have a math or science background in order to understand this explanation of how the principal pieces of equipment work, what their functions are, and how they are integrated to form a complex video system. An understanding of this material will be necessary for you to succeed in the real world, where one person often has to perform many different roles and functions within a production. Armed with some basic technical background information, you'll be more effective at figuring out new applications and problem solving.
The fourth edition of Basic TV Technology has been updated to reflect the industry shift to digital video and includes new information on compression, television standards, LCD displays, HD, and equipment. This book features the accessible Media Manual format, in which every topic is covered in two pages: one of explanatory text and one of figures.
Contents
Introduction
Acknowledgements
The Atom & Electricity
The parts of the atom
The flow of electrons through metals
The parts of the atom
The flow of electrons through metals
Basic Circuits
Direct current (DC)
Alternating current (AC)
Direct current (DC)
Alternating current (AC)
Units of Measurement (1)
Voltage
Current
Power
Resistance and impedance
Mathematical symbols and formulas
Voltage
Current
Power
Resistance and impedance
Mathematical symbols and formulas
Units of Measurement (2)
Frequency
AC frequency
Capacitance
Frequency
AC frequency
Capacitance
Fields (Induction) and Noise
Induction
Noise
Signal-to-noise ratio
Induction
Noise
Signal-to-noise ratio
Abbreviations
Kilo
Mega
Giga
milli
micro
nano
Conversions
Kilo
Mega
Giga
milli
micro
nano
Conversions
Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs)
Interlace Scanning
Progressive Scanning
Interlace Scanning
Progressive Scanning
Need for interlace scanning
Blanking
Horizontal blanking
Vertical blanking
Horizontal blanking
Vertical blanking
Waveform Display
Charge Coupled Devices
CCD layout and operation
Broadcast-quality requirements
CCD layout and operation
Broadcast-quality requirements
An Introduction to Digital (1)
What is digital?
What Computers do
What is digital?
What Computers do
An Introduction to Digital (2)
Bits & Bytes (binary numbering system)
Bits & Bytes (binary numbering system)
Analog and Digital
A to D conversion
Sampling and quantizing
D to A conversion
A to D conversion
Sampling and quantizing
D to A conversion
Color system
Color verses black and white
Additive and subtractive colors
Complementary colors
Color verses black and white
Additive and subtractive colors
Complementary colors
How the Eye Sees Light (1)
Color temperature
Color temperature
How the Eye Sees Light (2)
Filters
Black Balance
White balance
Filters
Black Balance
White balance
Digital Encoding Ratios
From black and white to color
Digital responses to this situation
From black and white to color
Digital responses to this situation
CODECs
Composite Encoding
Home video cameras
Home video cameras
Color CRTs
Convergence
Convergence
Plasma Display Screens
How it works
How it works
LCD Screens
Analog Sync Generators
Analog Sync Generator Signals (1)
Drive pulses
Blanking pulses
Sync pulses
Color burst
Drive pulses
Blanking pulses
Sync pulses
Color burst
Analog Sync Generator Signals (2)
Combining sync with video
Combining sync with video
Vectorscope
Reading the vectorscope
Color bar display
Reading the vectorscope
Color bar display
PAL
Analog Sync Flow Diagrams (1)
Distribution amplifiers
Distribution amplifiers
Camera Flow Diagram
Combining Sync and Camera Flow Diagrams
Out-of-phase cameras
Timing the system
Out-of-phase cameras
Timing the system
Video Switchers
Vertical interval switchers
Component switchers
Digital switchers
Special effects
Vertical interval switchers
Component switchers
Digital switchers
Special effects
Switcher Applications
Production and editing switchers
On-air switchers
Routing switchers
Production and editing switchers
On-air switchers
Routing switchers
Production Switcher Flow Diagram
Switcher buses
Switcher outputs
Switcher buses
Switcher outputs
Switcher Transitions and Special Effects
Wipes
Wipes
Special Effects Keys--Luminance Keys
Linear or transparent keys
Linear or transparent keys
Special Effects Keys--Chroma Keys
Composite Versus Component Video
Problems of composite video
Component video
Y/C
Problems of composite video
Component video
Y/C
Color Difference Component Video
Digital Special Effects
Compressions
Pushes
Flips
Rotations
Other special effects
Compressions
Pushes
Flips
Rotations
Other special effects
Digital Interpolation
Manipulation
Interpolation
Manipulation
Interpolation
Analog Videotape Recording Technology
Recorders
Videotape
Recording heads
Recorders
Videotape
Recording heads
Analog Video Recording Standards & Formats
Audio versus video recording
Helical video recording
Audio versus video recording
Helical video recording
Other Tracks and Lockup (1)
Sound and control tracks
VTR Lockup
Capstan lock
Sound and control tracks
VTR Lockup
Capstan lock
Other Tracks and Lockup (2)
Vertical lock
Frame lock
Horizontal lock
Vertical lock
Frame lock
Horizontal lock
Time Base Error
External Causes of Time Base Error
Gyroscopic time base error
Gyroscopic time base error
Time Base Error Correction
Time Base Correctors (1)
What a time base corrector does
How a TBC works
Horizontal sync as a clock
What a time base corrector does
How a TBC works
Horizontal sync as a clock
Time Base Correctors (2)
D-to-A conversion
Video proc amp
Window of correction
D-to-A conversion
Video proc amp
Window of correction
Larger Analog Sync Problems & Solutions
Nonsynchronous sources
Frame synchronizer
Nonsynchronous sources
Frame synchronizer
Other Advantages of TBCs & Frame Synchronizers
Dynamic tracking heads
Freeze frames
TBCs, VTRs, and production
Dynamic tracking heads
Freeze frames
TBCs, VTRs, and production
Digital Videotape Recorders
DV video
DV video
Digital Video Servers
Problems of videotape
Video servers
Problems of videotape
Video servers
Disc Based Recorders
Editing Analog Videotape
Physical cutting and splicing
Electronic editing
Physical cutting and splicing
Electronic editing
The Editing Process (1)
The Editing Process (2)
Types of Edits 117
Assemble edits
Insert edits
Assemble edits
Insert edits
Editing Methods-Manual editing
Editing Methods-Control track counters
SMPTE Time Code Editing
SMPTE Time Code Editing
Off-Line and On-Line Editing
Off-line editing
On-line editing
Off-line editing
On-line editing
Editing by Computers
Drop frame/non-drop frame editing
Drop frame/non-drop frame editing
Problems of Traditional Editing
Problems of Traditional Editing
Non Linear Editing
Video Compression
Spatial Compression
Entrophy reduction
Entrophy encoding
Entrophy reduction
Entrophy encoding
Temporal Compression
MPEG Compression Standard
Computer Graphics for Video
Originating computer graphics
Interface between people and machines
Originating computer graphics
Interface between people and machines
Character Generators
Creating Imagery & Effects
Computer-generated imagery (CGI)
Digital Video effects
Computer-generated imagery (CGI)
Digital Video effects
The Digital Studio
Open Architecture vs. Dedicated Equipment
Drawbacks of Open Architecture Equipment
High-Definition TV
Production HDTV standards versus broadcast HDTV standards
Production HDTV standards versus broadcast HDTV standards
ATSC High Definition Broadcast Standard
Standard Definition Digital Television (SDTV)
Audio for Video
The early years
Mono and stereo
The early years
Mono and stereo
Surround Sound
5.1 Stereo
5.1 Stereo
Professional and Consumer Audio
Impedance
Balanced and unbalanced audio
Impedance
Balanced and unbalanced audio
Combining Audio Components
Line and mic levels
Analog and digital
Professional and consumer equipment
Line and mic levels
Analog and digital
Professional and consumer equipment
Microphones, Mixers, and Loudspeakers
Microphones
Mixers
Loudspeakers
Microphones
Mixers
Loudspeakers
Sound Recording for Video
DAT
Solid State Recorders
DAT
Solid State Recorders
Digital Audio Workstations
Further Reading
Glossary