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ASCII
The American Standard Code for Information Interchange is a commonly-used format for saving files.
Beta/Betamax
Similar to VHR, Sony produced Betamax as a recording technology that utilizes magnetic tape.
Break apart text
Dividing up a program’s text into smaller sentences of 1 or 2 lines.
Bug
Found in the corner of the screen, it is a graphic that indicates which network you’re on.
Bumper
The brief section that announces that the program will be going to or is returning from a break.
Cap file
Referred to as a ‘Packet Capture’ file, the cap file is an extension used to collect raw data.
Caption editor
A caption editor or writer is the person who takes a transcript and transforms it into captions.
CG
An abbreviation for character generator.
Captioning credit
A caption that generally appears at the end of the production to announce the name of the agency that did the captioning work.
Client approval tape
A tape, generally open-captioned, created for the explicit purpose of obtaining a client’s approval before beginning the process of encoding.
Closed-captioned
Captions that can be turned on and off at the click of a button by the viewer.
Close captioned master
A master tape sent to the client with the original master that contains the encoded data.
CRR
Abbreviation for Certified Realtime Reporter. A person who can type as a person is speaking.
Cut
The point of editing or change in the shot that results in a move from one segment to another.
Decoder
A device that simply displays closed captions. Previously, it used to be an external device but decoders are not built into TVs as chips.
Digital beta
A digital version of Sony’s Beta/Betamax.
Donut
An empty section of a tape that is meant to be filled with commercial breaks. It generally appears as a black screen with no sound.
Drop frame/non-drop frame
Due to the difference in the frames per second displayed in videos and TVs (differ by 0.03 frames per second), the Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers came up with a way to bridge this gap. Editors drop 2 frames per minute (except those minutes ending in 0) to compensate for the extra frames. Non-drop frames are videos in which frames aren’t dropped.
Dub
Often referred to as a ‘clone’, a dub is a copy of an existing video on videotape.
EIA-608
A standard of captioning employed by the Electronic Industries Association in conjunction with captioning companies, captioning hardware providers, and television manufacturers to ensure that all captions on TV are similar in appearance.
Encoder
A device used to embed captions onto a Vertical Blanking Interval.
Encoding
The process by which captions are embedded onto a Vertical Blanking Interval by an encoder.
Funding credit
A caption that gives credit to the financers of the production.
Integrity
A set of tests performed on captions to make sure that they are ready for broadcasting.
Line 21
Refers to a specific line of information in which captioning information is embedded.
Load time
The time that it takes for the characters of a pop-on caption to be transmitted is generally 2 characters/frame. The load time measures how long it takes for the pop-on caption to appear on the screen.
Master
The video sent by the client which has to be captioned. From this, a worktape can be made.
Move to cuts
The moving captions that appear on the screen at the precise moment of a screen change.
Non-linear
Video stored on tape is linear. Everything aside from tape is non-linear. This generally refers to videos on a hard disk, allowing video editors to skip and skin through the video and make changes wherever needed with ease.
Off-line captioning
A broad term used to describe the captioning of any production which is pre-recorded.
Open-captioned
Unlike closed captions, open captions cannot be turned on or off. They are burned into the screen.
Pop-on
A particular style of captions. As the audio goes on, the caption ‘pop’ on and off the screen.
Project Manager
A particular designation for the person who oversees every stage of the captioning process.
Proofer
An expert who generally reviews the work done by caption editors to make sure that it is consistent and correct.
Realtime captioning
This refers to the captioning of real-time or live broadcast productions.
Research
Offline research is the part of the captioning process in which spellings are verified for accuracy. Realtime research is when names and specific terms in the program are reviewed.
Review
The phase of the captioning process in which the caption editor himself reviews the work completed by him.
Roll-up
Contrary to pop-on captions, roll-up captions ‘roll’ up the screen.
Slate
Before the show begins, the slate is displayed to show the name and other details of the production.
SMPTE
Abbreviation for the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.
SoT
Abbreviation for sound on tape. It can include any natural sounds or background audio.
Subtitle
Translation of the verbal audio of a production to a foreign language (in text form) for the benefit of foreign audiences.
S-VHS
Abbreviation for Super-VHS. An improved version of the VHS, with better resolution and color handling.
TDCA
Abbreviation for the Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990, which stipulated that most TVs had to be built with caption decoders.
Timecode
Measures the hours, minutes, and seconds of a production to help editors keep track of captions.
Transcription
The process in which a written version of a production’s audio is made for the purpose of captioning.
Vertical Blanking Interval
This is the 21st line on which captioning is contained. It is the topmost part of a video and cannot be seen by most TVs.
Wrap
A short segment which summarizes a production, usually played at the beginning and/or end of the show.