F

facsimile machine -

A functional unit that converts images to signals for transmission over a telephone system or that converts received signals back to images.
fade -
To change the strength or loudness of a video or audio signal, as in "fade up" or "fade down."
fast threads -
Threads created by an application that provide minimal process context, for example, just stack, register, and memory. With the reduced function, fast threads can be processed quickly.
FAX machine -
Synonym for facsimile machine.
file cleanup -
The removal of superfluous or obsolete data from a file.
file compaction -
Any method of encoding data to reduce its required storage space.
file element -
An individual file that is part of a RIFF compound file. An element of a compound file can also be an entire RIFF file, a non-RIFF file, an arbitrary RIFF chunk, or arbitrary binary data. See media element.
file format -
A language construct that specifies the representation, in character form, of data objects in a file. For example, MIDI, M-Motion, or AVC.
file format handler -
(1) I/O procedure. (2) Provides functions that operate on the media object of a particular data format. These functions include opening, reading, writing, seeking, and closing elements of a storage system.
file format IOProc -
(1) An installable I/O procedure that is responsible for all technical knowledge of the format of a specific type of data, such as headers and data compression schemes. A file format IOProc manipulates multimedia data at the element level. A file format IOProc handles the element type it was written for and does not rely on any other file format IOProcs to do any processing. However, a file format IOProc might need to call a storage system IOProc to obtain data within a file containing multiple file elements. (2) See IOProc. (3) See also storage system IOProc.
filter -
A certain type of node that modifies messages and forwards them. Filters are used to perform real-time processing of MIDI data. When a filter receives a message, it may perform some manipulation on it. It will then forward the message. (RTMIDI-specific term)
final script -
The finished script that will be used as a basis for shooting the video. Synonym for shooting script.
first draft -
A rough draft of the complete script.
first generation -
In videotaping, the original or master tape; not a copy.
flashback -
Interruption of chronological sequence by interjection of events occurring earlier.
flush stop -
In data streaming, requests that the source stream handler be stopped but the target stream handler continue until the last buffer held at the time the stop was requested is consumed by the target stream handler.
flutter -
A phenomenon that occurs in a videodisc freeze-frame when both video fields are not identically matched, thus creating two different pictures alternating every 1/60th of a second.
fly-by -
Animation simulating a bird's-eye view of a three-dimensional environment.
fly-in -
A DVE where one picture "flies" into another.
folder -
A file used to store and organize documents or electronic mail.
footage -
The total number of running feet of film used (as for a scene).
foreground image -
The part of a display image that can be changed for every transaction. Contrast with background image.
form overlay -
A pattern such as a report form, grid, or map used as background for a display image.
form type -
A field in the first four bytes of the data field of a RIFF chunk. It is a four-character code identifying the format of the data stored in the file. A RIFF form is a chunk with a chunk ID of RIFF. For example, waveform audio files (WAVE files) have a form type of WAVE.
Format 0 MIDI file -
All MIDI data is stored on a single track.
Format 1 MIDI file -
All MIDI data is stored on multiple tracks.
forward -
To re-transmit a message that was received. Each instance can have any number of links from it. When an instance receives a message, it may decide to send the same message along its links. This is known as forwarding. (RTMIDI-specific term)
four-character code (FOURCC) -
A 32-bit quantity representing a sequence of one to four ASCII alphanumeric characters (padded on the right with blank characters). Four-character codes are unique identifiers that represent the file format and I/O procedure.
FOURCC -
Four-character code.
fps -
Frames per second.
frame -
In film, a complete television picture that is composed of two scanned fields, one of the even lines and one of the odd lines. In the NTSC system, a frame has 525 horizontal lines and is scanned in 1/30th of a second.
frame-step recording -
Refers to the capturing of video and audio data frame by frame, from a computer-controlled, frame-steppable video source device, or a previously recorded AVI file.
frame-accurate searches -
The ability of a videodisc player to play or search to specific frames on the videodisc via software or remote control. This capability is available on all CAV players, but currently only on a few CLV players. Most CLV players can only search or play to within one second (30 frames for NTSC or 25 frames for PAL).
frame animation -
A process where still images are shown at a constant rate. See also cast animation.
frame grabber -
A device that digitizes video images.
frame number -
The number used to identify a frame. On videodisc, frames are numbered sequentially from 1 to 54,000 on each side and can be accessed individually; on videotape, the numbers are assigned by way of the SMPTE time code.
frame rate -
The speed at which the frames are scanned-30 frames a second in NTSC video, 25 frames a second in PAL video, and 24 frames a second in most film.

A complete television picture frame is composed of two scanned fields, one of the even lines and one of the odd lines. In the NTSC system, a frame has 525 horizontal lines and is scanned in 1/30th of a second. In the PAL system, a frame has 625 horizontal lines and is scanned in 1/25th of a second.

freeze -
Disables updates to all or part of the video buffer. The last video displayed remains visible. See also unfreeze.
freeze-frame -
A frame of a motion-picture film that is repeated so as to give the illusion of a still picture.
full-frame time code -
(1) A standardized method, set by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), of address coding a videotape. It gives an accurate frame count rather than an accurate clock time. (2) Synonym for nondrop time code.
full-motion video -
Video playback at 30 frames per second for NTSC signals or 25 frames per second for PAL signals.

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