ABSTRACT

Basic TV Technology is the 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 at 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. 

For more information on TV technologies, go to: https://www.insightmedia.info/news/

chapter |2 pages

The Atom and Electricity

Electrons create the flow of electricity

chapter |2 pages

Basic Circuits

All complete circuits are loops of flowing electrons

chapter |2 pages

Units of Measurement (1)

When you're dealing with electricity, you need to be able to measure it

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Units of Measurement (2)

These are also other measurements you need to know

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Fields (Induction) and Noise

Induction and noise are disruptions in an electrical circuit

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Abbreviations

Now you need to learn some abbreviations that are frequently used

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Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs)

Cathode ray tubes show the TV picture

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Need for Interlace Scanning

The CRT converts the video signal into visual images.

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Blanking

The electron beam needs to get back to its starting point

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Waveform Display

A waveform monitor diagrams the scanning movement of the electron

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Charge-Coupled Devices

CCDs are the heart of the camera

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An Introduction to Digital (1)

Using computer technology gives us better pictures

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An Introduction to Digital (2)

A computer can only deal with one of two values

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Analog and Digital

Digital technology can solve many video problems.

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Color Systems

The color system is similar to black and white but is more complex.

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How the Eye Sees Light (1)

Cameras and eyes see light differently.

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How the Eye Sees Light (2)

Cameras need help.

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Digital Encoding Ratios

Encoding more information produces better pictures.

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CODECs

Digital equipment must be able to talk to each other.

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Composite Encoding

Encoding combines many signals into one.

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Color CRTs

CRTs convert color signals to video images.

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Plasma Display Screen

Thin video displays are here now.

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LCD Screens

There is another type of flat screen that is often used with computers.

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Analog Sync Generators

The system needs to have a standard beat.

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Analog Sync Generator Signals (1)

Every picture needs certain information.

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Analog Sync Generator Signals (2)

The picture and sync must be combined.

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Vectorscopes

The vectorscope enables you to monitor the color signals.

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PAL

Some countries use a different system.

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Analog Sync Flow Diagrams

The electrical paths can be diagrammed.

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Camera Flow Diagrams

Camera flow diagrams illustrate video signal paths.

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Combining Sync and Camera Flow Diagrams

Signals can be combined – but carefully.

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Video Switchers

Switchers allow you to choose among video sources.

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Switcher Applications

Different uses need different switchers.

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Production Switcher Flow Diagram

The switcher is the heart of the studio.

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Switcher Transitions and Special Effects

Transitions: cuts, fades, dissolves, and wipes.

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Special Effects Keys — Luminance Keys

Keys are “holes” that need to be filled.

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Special Effects Keys — Chroma Keys

Chroma keys use a special color to cut a video hole.

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Composite versus Component Video

A studio usually has one of several video signal systems.

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Color Difference Component Video

RGB uses a lot of bandwidth.

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Digital Special Effects

The possibilities for special effects are endless with digital technlogy.

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Digital Interpolation

A computer is needed to figure out some effects.

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Analog Videotape Recording Technology

Recorders store video images

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Analog Video Recording Standards and Formats

Recording audio and video have different bandwidth requirements.

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Other Tracks and Lockup (1)

Videotape records more than pictures.

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Other Tracks and Lockup (2)

Lockup determines how stable a VTR will be.

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Time Base Error

The VTR cannot play back at a constant speed.

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External Causes of Time Base Error

Field conditions can make precision playback more difficult.

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Time Base Error Correction

A time base corrector can fix time base error.

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Time Base Correctors (1)

A time base corrector turns unstable video into stable video.

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Time Base Correctors (2)

The digital information must be changed back to analog.

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Larger Analog Sync Problems and Solutions

What do you do when sources are seriously out of sync?

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Other Advantages of TBCs and Frame Synchronizers

Slow motion and freeze frames are also possible.

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Digital Videotape Recorders

Digital videotape gives you high-quality recordings.

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Digital Video Servers

Video servers are replacing videotape machines.

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Disc-Based Recorders

Disc-based recorders are starting to replace tape-based recorders.

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Editing Analog Videotape

Editing gives you flexibility.

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The Editing Process (1)

The basis of editing is putting two shots together.

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The Editing Process (2)

An edit decision list is crucial to the process.

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Types of Edits

Assemble and insert edits to give you more creative options.

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Editing Methods — Manual

To be edited, video must have a structure.

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Editing Methods — Control Track Counters

Control track counters give more accuracy and speed editing.

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SMPTE Time Code Editing

In order to get broadcast-quality tape, edit with SMPTE time code.

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Off-Line and On-Line Editing

High-quality tape editing.

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Editing by Computer

Computers help coordinate the editing process.

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Problems of Traditional Editing

Traditional editing limits flexibility.

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Nonlinear Editing

Nonlinear editing allows greater flexibility and creativity.

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Video Compression

Information can be squeezed into a smaller space.

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Spatial Compression

Compression starts within an individual video frame.

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Temporal Compression

Compression takes place between frames as well.

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MPEG Compression Standard

MPEG is the standard.

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Computer Graphics for Video

Computer graphics allow you to create complex effects simply.

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Character Generators

How to create letters and numbers by computer.

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Creating Imagery and Effects

Draw and paint on video.

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The Digital Studio

Digital is pushing analog out of studios.

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Open Architecture Equipment versus Dedicated Equipment

A whole new world of desktop video is opening up.

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Drawbacks of Open Architecture Equipment

Open architecture equipment is not perfect.

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High-Definition TV

HDTV … The ultimate television viewing experience.

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ATSC High-Definition Broadcast Standard

Broadcast can be different from production.

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Standard Definition Digital Television (SDTV)

Standard definition digital allows more channels.

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Audio for Video

Sound adds a lot to the picture.

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Surround Sound

Sound can come from anywhere.

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Professional and Consumer Audio

Big differences – home and professional audio equipment.

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Combining Audio Components

Different kinds of equipment can be used together.

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Microphones, Mixers, and Loudspeakers

The beginning, middle, and end of the audio system.

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Sound Recorders for Video

The sound must be recorded.

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Digital Audio Workstations (DAW)

Sound editing is done on computers.