SAA -

      Systems Application Architecture.
    safety -
      An extra shot of a scene that is taken as a backup after an acceptable shot (the buy) has been acquired.
    saturation -
      The amounts of color and grayness in a hue that affect its vividness; that is, a hue with high saturation contains more color and less gray than a hue with low saturation. See also hue.
    sampler -
      A device that converts real sound into digital information for storage on a computer.
    scan backward -
      To display the video and optionally play the audio while the medium is advancing in the backward direction rapidly.
    scan converter -
      A device that converts digital signal to NTSC or PAL format.
    scan forward -
      To display the video and optionally play the audio while the medium is advancing in the forward direction rapidly.
    scan line -
      (1) In a laser printer, one horizontal sweep of the laser beam across the photoconductor. (2) A single row of picture elements.
    scanner -
      A device that examines a spatial pattern, one part after another, and generates analog or digital signals corresponding to the pattern.
    SCB -
      Subsystem control block.
    scene -
      A portion of video captured by the camera in one continuous shot. The scene is shot repeatedly (each attempt is called a take) until an acceptable version, called the buy, is taken.
    scheduler -
      The code responsible for passing messages to instances. The scheduler has two queues, one for normal real-time MIDI messages (Q1), and the other for low-priority SysEx messages (Q2). (RTMIDI-specific term)
    scheduler daemon -
      A small executable program, MIDIDMON.EXE, which is used to provide deferred-interrupt processing for the scheduler. The daemon is a super high-priority thread which gets blocked in ring 0. When the scheduler needs to run, this thread is unblocked. When the scheduler is finished, it re-blocks itself. When the unblocking occurs during an interrupt, the OS/2 kernel runs the daemon thread immediately after the interrupt handler has exited. This approach guarantees that the scheduler runs at task time.
    scripting -
      Writing needed dialog.
    scroll bar -
      A window component that shows a user that more information is available in a particular direction and can be scrolled into view. Scroll bars should not be used to represent an analog setting, like volume. Sliders should be used.
    SCSI -
      Small computer system interface.
    SECAM -
      Sequential Couleurs a Memoire. The French standard for color television.
    secondary window -
      A window that contains information that is dependent on information in a primary window and is used to supplement the interaction in the primary window.
    secondary window manager -
      A sizable dialog manager that enables application writers to use CUA-defined secondary windows instead of dialog boxes.
    second generation -
      A direct copy from the master or original tape.
    selection -
      The act of explicitly identifying one or more objects to which a subsequent choice will apply.
    selection technique -
      The method by which users indicate objects on the interface that they want to work with.
    semaphore -
      (1) A variable that is used to enforce mutual exclusion. (T) (2) An indicator used to control access to a file; for example, in a multiuser application, a flag that prevents simultaneous access to a file.
    sequencer -
      A digital tape recorder.
    set -
      In videotaping, the basic background or area for production.
    settings -
      Characteristics of objects that can be viewed and sometimes altered by the user. Examples of a file's settings include name, size, and creation date. Examples of video clip's settings include brightness, contrast, color, and tint.
    settings view -
      A view of an object that provides a way to change characteristics and options associated with the object.
    SFX -
      Script abbreviation for special effects.
    shade -
      To darken with, or as if with, a shadow; to add shading to.
    sharpness -
      Refers to the clarity and detail of a video image. A sharpness value of 0 causes the video to be generally fuzzy with little detail. A sharpness value of 100 causes the video to be generally very detailed, and may appear grainy.
    SHC -
      Stream handler command.
    shoot -
      To videotape the needed pictures for the production.
    shooting script -
      Synonym for final script.
    shot list -
      A list containing each shot needed to complete a production, usually broken down into a schedule.
    simple device -
      A multimedia device model for hardware which does not require any additional objects, known as device elements, to perform multimedia functions.
    sine wave -
      A waveform that represents periodic oscillations of a pure frequency.
    single plane video system -
      Refers to when video and graphics are combined into one buffer. This may appear the same as a dual plane video system, but since all the data is in one buffer, capture and restore operations will obtain both graphics and video components in one operation. See also dual plane video system.
    single selection -
      A selection technique in which a user selects one, and only one, item at a time.
    slave stream -
      A stream that is dependent on the master stream to maintain synchronization.
    slave stream handler -
      In SPI, regularly updates the sync pulse EVCB with the stream time. The Sync/Stream Manager checks the slave stream handler time against the master stream time to determine whether to send a sync pulse to the slave stream handler.
    slider -
      A visual component of a user interface that represents a quantity and its relationship to the range of possible values for that quantity. A user can also change the value of the quantity. Sliders are used for volume and time control.
    slider arm -
      The visual indicator in the slider that a user can move to change the numerical value.
    slider button -
      A button on a slider that a user clicks on to move the slider arm one increment in a particular direction, as indicated by the directional arrow on the button.
    slide-show presentation -
      Synonym for storyboard.
    slot -
      A distinct position in an instance from which links can be attached. The same message is sent along all links on a slot, but an instance can determine at run-time on which slots the message should be sent. An instance can support multiple slots if it wants to be able to send different messages to different targets. (RTMIDI-specific term)
    small computer system interface (SCSI) -
      An input and output bus that provides a standard interface between the OS/2* multimedia system and peripheral devices.
    SMH -
      Stream manager helper.
    SMPTE -
      Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.
    SMPTE time code -
      A frame-numbering system developed by SMPTE that assigns a number to each frame of video. The 8-digit code is in the form HH:MM:SS:FF (hours, minutes, seconds, frame number). The numbers track elapsed hours, minutes, seconds, and frames from any chosen point.
    SMV -
      Software motion video.
    socketable user interface -
      An interface defined by multimedia controls that enable the interface to be plugged into and unplugged from applications without affecting the underlying object control subsystem.
    sound track -
      Synonym for audio track.
    source node -
      An instance which can generate a compound message. Hardware nodes generate messages from data received from Type A drivers. Application nodes generate them from data sent from an application. (RTMIDI-specific term)
    source rectangle -
      An abstract region representing the area available for use by a video capture adapter. This window is displayed in the monitor window of the digital video device. A subset of the maximum possible region to be captured can be defined; such a subset is shown by an animated dashed rectangle in the monitor window.
    source window -
      See source rectangle.
    SPCB -
      Stream protocol control block.
    special effects -
      In videotaping, any activity that is not live footage, such as digital effects, computer manipulation of the picture, and nonbackground music.
    SPI -
      Stream programming interface.
    split streaming -
      A mechanism provided by the Sync/Stream Manager to create one data stream source with multiple targets.
    SPP -
      A time format based on the number of beats-per-minute in the MIDI file.
    sprite -
      An animated object that moves around the screen without affecting the background.
    sprite graphics -
      A small graphics picture, or series of pictures, that can be moved independently around the screen, producing animated effects.
    squeeze-zoom -
      A DVE where one picture is reduced in size and displayed with a full-screen picture.
    SSM -
      Sync/Stream Manager.
    standard multimedia device controls -
      These controls provide the application developer with a CUA compliant interface for controlling audio attributes, video attributes, and videodisc players. These controls simplify the programming task required to create the interface and handle the presentation of the interface and all interaction with the user. They also send the Media Control Interface (MCI) commands to the Media Device Manager (MDM) for processing.
    standard objects -
      A set of common, cross-product objects provided and supported by the system. Examples include folders, printers, shredders, and media players.
    standard palette -
      A set of colors that is common between applications or images. See also custom palette and color palette.
    static resource -
      A resource that resides on any read-and-write or read-only medium. Contrast with dynamic resource.
    status area -
      Provides information as to the state of the medium and device, or both. It should indicate what button is currently pressed and what modes (for example, mute) are active.
    step backward -
      To move the medium backward one frame or segment at a time.
    step forward -
      To move the medium forward one frame or segment at a time.
    still -
      A static photograph.
    still image -
      See video image.
    still video capture adapter -
      An adapter that, when attached to a computer, enables a video camera to become an input device. See also motion video capture adapter.
    stop -
      Halt (stops) the medium.
    storage system -
      The method or format a functional unit uses to retain or retrieve data placed within the unit.
    storage system IOProc -
      A procedure that unwraps data objects such as RIFF files, RIFF compound files, and AVC files. IOProcs are ignorant of the content of the data they contain. A storage system IOProc goes directly to the OS/2 file system (or to memory in the case of a MEM file) and does not pass information to any other file format or storage system IOProc. The internal I/O procedures provided for DOS files, memory files, and RIFF compound files are examples of storage system IOProcs, because they operate on the storage mechanism rather than on the data itself. See also file format IOProc.
    storyboard -
      (1) A visual representation of the script, showing a picture of each scene and describing its corresponding audio. (2) Synonym for slide-show presentation.
    storyboarding -
      Producing a sequence of still images, such as titles, graphics, and images, to work out the visual details of a script.
    stream -
      To send data from source to destination via buffered system memory.
    stream connector -
      A port or connector that a device uses to send or receive. See also connector.
    stream handler -
      A routine that controls a program's reaction to a specific external event through a continuous string of individual data values.
    stream handler command (SHC) -
      Synchronous calls provided by both ring 3 DLL stream handlers as a DLL call and by ring 0 PDD stream handlers as a IDC call. The stream handler commands are provided through a single entry point, SHCEntryPoint, which accepts a parameter structure on input. This enables the DLL and PDD interfaces to the stream manager to be the same.
    stream manager -
      A system service that controls the registration and activities of all stream handlers.
    stream manager helper (SMH) -
      Routines provided by the stream manager for use by all stream handlers. The stream handlers use these helper routines to register with the manager, report events, and synchronize cues to the manager to request or return buffers to the manager. They are synchronous functions and are available to both ring 3 DLL stream handlers as a DLL call and to ring 0 PDD stream handlers.
    stream programming interface -
      A system service that supports continual flow of data between physical devices.
    stream programming interface (SPI) -
      A system service that supports continual flow of data between physical devices.
    stream protocol control block (SPCB) -
      The system service that controls the behavior of a specified stream type. This enables you to subclass a stream's data type, change data buffering characteristics, and alter synchronization behavior and other stream events.
    strike -
      In videotaping, to clear away, remove, or dismantle anything on the set.
    subchunk -
      The first chunk in a RIFF file is a RIFF chunk; all other chunks in the file are subchunks of the RIFF chunk.
    subclassing -
      The act of intercepting messages and passing them on to their original intended recipient.
    super -
      Titles or graphics overlaid on the picture electronically. See also superimpose.
    superimpose -
      To overlay titles or graphics on the picture electronically.
    S-video -
      (1) Separated video or super video. (2) A signal system using a Y/C format. (3) See also Y/C, composite video, and component video.
    S-Video input connector -
      A special connector that separates the chrominance from the luminance signal.
    sweetening -
      (1) The equalization of audio to eliminate noise and obtain the cleanest and most level sound possible. (2) The addition of laughter to an audio track.
    switching -
      Electronically designating, from between two or more video sources, which source's pictures are recorded on tape. Switching can occur during a shoot or during an edit.
    symmetric video compression -
      A technology in which the computer can be used to create, as well as play back, full-motion, full-color video.
    sync -
      Synchronization or synchronized.
    synchronization -
      The action of forcing certain points in the execution sequences of two or more asynchronous procedures to coincide in time.
    synchronous -
      Pertaining to two or more processes that depend upon the occurrence of specific events such as common timing signals.
    sync group -
      A master stream and all its slaves that can be started, stopped, and searched as a group by using the slaves flag on each of the following SPI functions:

      • SpiStartStream
      • SpiStopStream
      • SpiSeekStream
      sync pulse -
        A system service that enables each slave stream handler to adjust the activity of that stream so that synchronization can be maintained. Sync pulses are introduced by transmission equipment into the receiving equipment to keep the two equipments operating in step.
      sync signal -
        Video signal used to synchronize video equipment.
      synthesizer -
        A musical instrument that allows its user to produce and control electronically generated sounds.
      system message -
        A predefined message sent by the MMIO manager for the message's associated function. For example, when an application calls mmioOpen, the MMIO manager sends an MMIOM_OPEN message to an I/O procedure to open the specified file.
      Systems Application Architecture (SAA) -
        A set of IBM software interfaces, conventions, and protocols that provide a framework for designing and developing applications that are consistent across systems.


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