Quick Start

to the
Audiovisual
Industry
Employee's Guide

Chapter Three

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Academy
INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNICATIONS
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A S S O C I A T I O N , I N C ®.

© 2002 ICIA. All rights reserved. Information contained herein is valid at time of printing.
Table of Contents
Chapter Three: Video in AV Applications…....................……………………..……..….2
Lesson One: What Video Isn’t………………….………..………………….……...…3
Lesson Two: Lights, Camera, Signals………...…………………………………...…4
Lesson Three: Specialized Signals……………….…..………………………………5
Lesson Four: Signal Combo…………………….......................................…………6
Lesson Five: History and Evolution…………………………..……………...............7
Lesson Six: Digital Revolution………………………..…………….…………………8
Lesson Seven: Video Display………………………..……………….……………….9
Lesson Eight: Video Recording Session…………….……..……………………….10
Lesson Nine: Input This Output…………………….………..………………………11
Lesson Ten: Video System Integration………………….…..……………………...12
Lesson Eleven: That’s A Wrap……………………………………………………....13

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Chapter Three – Video in AV Applications
26 minutes of online instruction

Summary Objective
♦ Identify and explain applications of video recording and playback in the AV
industry.
♦ Identify and explain the types of video signals and their distribution in AV
applications.
♦ Identify and explain the typical video equipment that is commonly used in AV
applications.
♦ Demonstrate the proper setup and operation of video equipment in AV
applications.

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Chapter Three: Video in AV Applications
Lesson One: What Video Isn’t
Lesson Objective
Preview chapter objectives.

Background
The following points are illustrated in this lesson:
♦ Video is not restricted to television.
♦ Video does not always include sound information.
♦ A video camera is different than a camcorder.
♦ Video is not always recorded.

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Chapter Three: Video in AV Applications
Lesson Two: Lights, Camera, Signals
Lesson Objective
Summarize the process of video signal creation.

Background
The following points are illustrated in this lesson:
♦ A video camera needs light to see, and whatever it “sees” is turned into a video
signal.
♦ Video signals are electrical representations of an image.

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Chapter Three: Video in AV Applications
Lesson Three: Specialized Signals
Lesson Objective
Name the video signals that are the building blocks of an image.

Background
The following points are illustrated in this lesson:
♦ In the camera, the light focused on the imager is separated into color signals.
♦ The combination of synchronizing information and color signals creates a
complete video image.

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Chapter Three: Video in AV Applications
Lesson Four: Signal Combo
Lesson Objective
Describe three of the most common signal combinations: S -video, composite video, and
RF.

Background
The following points are illustrated in this lesson:
♦ C-signal, short for chroma signal, contains the color information for an image.
♦ Sync information is combined with signals for color brightness, called luminance.
This signal is abbreviated “Y.”

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Chapter Three: Video in AV Applications
Lesson Five: History and Evolution
Lesson Objective
Identify the primary video standards used today.

Background
The following points are illustrated in this lesson:
♦ Video professionals in different parts of the world established standards for color
video display.
♦ The industry is moving to new standards supporting digital video and digital
broadcasting.

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Chapter Three: Video in AV Applications
Lesson Six: Digital Revolution
Lesson Objective
Discriminate between analog and digital technology.

Background
The following point is illustrated in this lesson:
♦ In the audiovisual industry, you may work with some analog equipment, more
digital equipment, and some that combine both technologies.

Activities
Tips and Techniques
We understand that the relationship between digital and analog is not an easy concept.
You don’t have to define analog and digital in scientific or mathematical terms right now.
For the purpose of getting acquainted with the AV industry, you should understand that
there is a difference between analog and digital. Analogies may help you visualize a
difference. If the light switch analogy worked for you, here are some other analogies
that compare digital and analog.

Digital Analog

Analog

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Chapter Three: Video in AV Applications
Lesson Seven: Video Display
Lesson Objective
Identify video display equipment.

Background
The following points are illustrated in this lesson:
♦ A tuner is an electronic device used to detect, select, and process RF signals at
specific radio frequencies.
♦ In professional AV, video monitors are more common than televisions.
♦ ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, developed a universally
adopted standard for measuring brightness of light.

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Chapter Three: Video in AV Applications
Lesson Eight: Video Recording Session
Lesson Objective
Identify and describe analog and digital video recording equipment.

Background
The following points are illustrated in this lesson:
♦ Analog recording is easily susceptible to noise, a disturbance in the signal.
♦ Compared to tape, Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs) are a more economical
distribution method for video.

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Chapter Three: Video in AV Applications
Lesson Nine: Input This Output
Lesson Objective
Discriminate between input and output signals.

Background
The following point is illustrated in this lesson:
♦ Outputs always connect to inputs - not other outputs.

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Chapter Three: Video in AV Applications
Lesson Ten: Video System Integration
Lesson Objective
Diagram the signal flow of a video system.

Background
The following point is illustrated in this lesson:
♦ Before connecting an AV system, first list all the equipment involved and analyze
the inputs and outputs.

Activities
Independent Activity: 10 minutes
Here are some helpful hints for getting the most out of the online activity.

♦ Click the gray circles to drag them to the desired spot, and carefully align them
before releasing.
♦ To undo a connection, click its originating spot.
♦ The switcher has numbered inputs. Click a number to displa y that signal.

♦ What happens when you connect a camera directly to the monitor?

♦ The cameras send signals to a switcher.

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Chapter Three: Video in AV Applications
Lesson Eleven: That’s A Wrap
Lesson Objective
Test chapter objectives.

Background
This lesson helps you measure your success at meeting chapter objectives.

Activities
Practical Application Activity: 20 minutes
This activity gives you the opportunity to apply the information in this chapter. Work
with your manager to demonstrate the setup and operation of video equipment in AV
applications. In order to achieve this objective:

1. Ask your manager if you may have access to a VCR or DVD player, a video
monitor and appropriate cables and connectors.
2. Follow the manufacturers’ instructions for setup and connection of the
equipment.
3. Use the information you learned in the online course and this guide for tips on the
proper signal flow.
4. Operate the video source to ensure successful signal flow to video display.
5. Practice manipulating the video monitor’s contrast and brightness controls for a
realistic image.
6. Estimate appropriate seating boundaries for the screen size (closest viewer and
farthest viewer).
7. Congratulations! You have successfully setup and operated a video display.

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