ian

   File Formats & Codecs

PAL

PAL (Phase Alternating Line) is the colour encoding conversion standard that is used in much of Europe for television, video and DVD playback.  PAL uses a screen resolution of 720 x 576 pixels and has a refresh rate of 25 frames per second. Due to the way in which PAL signal conversions occur, it usually has better colour quality and reliability than NTSC, while the actual colour range is somewhat less.

Reference- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAL

HDMI

HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. HDMI is a type of digital connection that's capable of transmitting high-definition video and high-resolution audio over a single cable. To do the same thing with analog cables, you'd need to join three component-video cables plus six analog audio cables. HDMI is typically used to connect a high-definition device such as an HD DVR to an HDTV.

Reference- http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11276_7-6845988-2.html

Widescreen Formats

Digital Editing

Formats

.mov - The .mov format was created for Apple computers. The .mov file was created specifically for Apple's QuickTime software. .mov is high quality and is also a video format that is used in a lot of digital cameras. The most common player is QuickTime.

.Avi – AVI is a common container file format used for watching standard definition video on the PC and is the container used by DivX video versions 3 through 6. AVI files can hold different types of video and audio streams inside, and with the help of DivX® video compression technology, they can display incredible video quality while upholding a small file size. .divx files are also based on the AVI container, but can contain extra features like XSUB subtitles and chapters. Both AVI and DIVX videos will play on all DivX Certified devices—from tablets to TVs.

.mpg (Moving Picture Experts Group) - MPEG also refers to a type of multimedia file, which is the file extension ".mpg" or ".mpeg." These files are compressed movies that can contain audio and video. Even though they are compressed, MPEG files keep most of the original quality of the uncompressed movie. This is why many videos on the Web, such as movie trailers and music videos, are available in the MPEG format.

.mp4 - MP4 is a digital multimedia format most commonly used to store video and audio, but can also be used to store other data such as subtitles and still images. Like most modern container formats, it allows streaming over the Internet. The only official filename extension for MPEG-4 files is .mp4, but many have other extensions, most commonly .m4a and .m4p. M4A (audio only) is often compressed using AAC encoding (lossy), but can also be in Apple Lossless format.

Codecs

Apple Pro Res - This codec conserves visual quality at the same high level as Apple ProRes 4444, but for 4:2:2 image sources. Offers visually lossless protection of the highest-quality professional HD video. This codec supports full-width, 4:2:2 video sources at 10-bit pixel depths, while staying visually lossless many generations of decoding and re-encoding. The target data rate of Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) is approximately 220 Mbps at 1920 x 1080 and 29.97 fps.

h.264 - H.264 is a video codec standard which can attain high quality video in moderately low bitrates. Also known as AVC (Advanced Video Coding, MPEG-4 Part 10), H.264 is actually defined in an identical pair of standards maintained by different administrations. H.264 is usually a lossy compression, but it is likely to create lossless encodings with H.264.

Photo-Jpeg - The Photo JPEG codec gears image density. It is usually used for storage of still images. It can also be used for editing and storage of high-quality video files. Picture quality is usually good enough for use in desktop publishing applications. This codec is great for compressing high-resolution, photographic images. It works very well for slide show movies that have a very low frame rate. The Photo-JPEG codec requires significant amounts of CPU power and is not well suited to CD-ROM or higher data rates, except when assisted by hardware capture card. Large image and/or high frame rate movies usually don't play smoothly.

Source of info for Formats -

http://www.fileinfo.com/filetypes/video

Terrestrials - Terrestrial broadcasting is a technique used in transmission of TV signals based on a technology that allows several channels to be transmitted concurrently over a single frequency, in a digitally encoded form. It is form of television broadcasting that does not need satellite transmission or cables, and it uses radio waves through conveying and getting antennas.

Apple Pro Res - This codec preserves visual quality at the same high level as Apple ProRes 4444, but for 4:2:2 image sources. Offers visually lossless preservation of the highest-quality professional HD video. This codec supports full-width, 4:2:2 video sources at 10-bit pixel depths, while remaining visually lossless through many generations of decoding and re-encoding. The target data rate of Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) is approximately 220 Mbps at 1920 x 1080 and 29.97 fps.

h.264 - H.264 is a video codec standard which can achieve high quality video in relatively low bitrates. Also known as AVC (Advanced Video Coding, MPEG-4 Part 10), H.264 is actually defined in an identical pair of standards maintained by different organizations. H.264 is typically a lossy compression, but it is possible to create lossless encodings with H.264.

Photo-Jpeg - The Photo JPEG codec implements image compression. It is generally used for storage of still images. It can also be used for editing and storage of high-quality video files. Picture quality is generally good enough for use in desktop publishing applications. This codec is great for compressing high-resolution, photographic images. It works very well for "slide-show" movies that have a very low frame rate. The Photo-JPEG codec requires significant amounts of CPU power and is not well suited to CD-ROM or higher data rates, except when assisted by a hardware capture card.Large image and/or high frame rate movies usually don't play smoothly.

Sources of info for Formats and Codecs:

Hardware requirements for Final Cut Pro

Your computer must have a minimum of 4GB of RAM.

Broadcasting

"Cable" means you receive your TV signal via an underground cable.
"Terrestrial" means you receive your TV signal via an aerial.
"Satellite" means you receive your TV signal via a satellite dish. 

Weather is a major factor when dealing with satellite TV. A lot of rain, snow or even wind can cause a satellite signal to go in and out. Even trees and tall buildings can cause a satellite signal to go out. The technician who installs the satellite should check if any objects are in the way before beginning installation.

Cable TV is mainly limited to non-rural areas because of the buried wires. It’s very expensive to have cable buried under the ground in places where very few people can tap into. Most non-rural residents are limited to satellite TV. Cost and contracts for channels is quite expensive also.

Satellite TV is usually cheaper when comparing cost per channel but prices change time to time and has great accessibility to a vast number of channels and you are also benefited with picture quality.

Cable TV has a lot more variety to channels and is very reliable thanks to the direct feed into homes and television.