E to E mode
This stands for Electronic to Electronic mode. What it means is the mode of operation where a video signal comes into the VCR and then goes out again, as opposed to a signal coming off tape. i.e. Video and audio signals are supplied to the VTRs internal circuits, but not to the recording heads.
ED Beta
This stands for Extended Definition Betamax and is an improvement on both standard and Super-Betamax formats. The format was released in PAL format but never established itself. It surpases the rival Super VHS system.
EDL Edit Decision List
A list of edit decisions made during and edit session and usually saved to floppy disk. Allows an edit to be redone or modified at a later time without having to start all over again.
Editing Equipment
Equipment used to compile a finished programme from tapes and other sources.
End Sensor
This a device which detects the end of the tape.
EFP
Electronic Field Production.
ENG
Electronic News Gathering.
Erase head
Used to erase the video, hi-fi and linear tracks of the tape. It is not used if insert editing is being used. See also the Full erase head page.
External synchronisation
Synchronisation of the signals and tape transport of a VTR with those of a reference VTR. IRE A unit for expressing video level as determined by the Institute of Radio Engineers (now called the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers).
Field
One half of a complete interlaced video picture (frame), containing all the odd or even scanning lines of the picture.
Frame
One complete video image, containing two fields. There are 30 frames in one second of NTSC video and 25 frames in one second of PAL video.
Frame Code
Absolute address system for each frame from 0 to 29,999 recorded in the vertical blanking interval.
Guard Band
Space between adjacent recorded tracks (fields) to eliminate crosstalk.
Gigabyte
1 Billion bytes.
HDTV High Definition Television
A TV format capable of displaying on a wider screen (16x9 as opposed to the conventional 4x3) and at higher resolution.
Hi-Fi Sound
This is a sound system whereby the audio signal is recorded by the video heads producing superior sound reproduction and quality. Not all Betamax VCR's have such a system. See also Hi-Fi on the Betamax.
High Band
Recording in which the luminance FM deviation is from 4.8 to 6.4 MHz and the colour under frequency is 924 kHz.
Hooking
Term which refers to the playback picture tearing at the top of the screen. See also the Tape Skew Control on the U-matic system which shows an example of picture hooking.
Horizontal Resolution
This is the resolution of the video picture measured across a horizontal line.