A complete, professional 'bible' on all aspects of audio and video compression using MPEG technology, including the MPEG-4 standard and, in this second edition, H-264. The clarity of explanation and depth of technical detail combine to make this book an essential and definitive reference work.
THE MPEG HANDBOOK is both a theoretical and practical treatment of the subject. Fundamental knowledge is provided alongside practical guidance on how to avoid pitfalls and poor quality. The often-neglected issues of reconstructing the signal timebase at the decoder and of synchronizing the signals in a multiplex are treated fully here.
Previously titled MPEG-2, the book is frequently revised to cover the latest applications of the technology.
* Benefit from John Watkinson's in-depth understanding of MPEG technology with explanations developed and proven in seminars presented worldwide.
* Comprehensive coverage of the main and latest standards--MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H-264.
* Learn how you can apply MPEG technology to achieve the best quality.
* Coverage of enabling technologies such as interpolation, motion estimation and transforms.
* An invaluable treatment of significant new extensions made available by MPEG-4, such as object coding, mesh coding and animation.
* Essential reading for those involved with the delivery of compressed audio, video, graphics and interactive capability over the Internet and broadband networks.

This guide will give you the know-how you need to be in compliance with U.S. closed captioning mandates through 2012!
THE CLOSED CAPTIONING HANDBOOK gives you what you need to:
* Understand and comply with captioning laws, including the Telecommunications * * Act and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
* Purchase, understand and use captioning equipment
* Select and hire captioning professionals
* Use captioning for broadcast TV, digital TV, DVD, movie theaters, Internet, streaming media and more
* Design standards-compliant captioning software
* Understand the terminology of captioning, broadcasting and deafness
Captioning laws are varied, complex and fluid. THE CLOSED CAPTIONING HANDBOOK provides implementation timetables, exceptions, and up-to-date information on the latest FCC ruling, along with a historical perspective on the U.S. laws--all explained in a clear, simple language with supporting quotes from government documents.
Closed captioning is infiltrating every aspect of the broadcast industry, and THE CLOSED CAPTIOINING HANDBOOK is the only comprehensive handbook that explains what it is, how it works, and how to use it. A pioneer and leader in the field, Gary Robson is a true evangelist for captioning and accessibility for dead and hard-of-hearing people.
Focal Press is a proud sponsor of www.captioncentral.com, your online resource for articles, news and other resources in closed captioning.
*Teaches American broadcasters what they need to do to comply with the law requiring closed captioning by 2006
*Written by a pioneer in the field
*Complete glossary of terms relating to captioning, broadcasting, deafness, and realtime, aswell as appendices of the relevant standards

Fiber Optic Video Transmission: The Complete Guide is the only comprehensive reference to the techniques and hardware required to transmit video signals over optical fiber. As the broadcast industry moves to HDTV and enhanced television standards become the norm, fiber will become the medium of choice for video transmission, and this book is the essential guide to transmitting video over fiber optic cables.
From the most basic video signal to complex multi-channel high definition video, this book details the methods of encoding video signals (including AM, FM, and digital encoding), the advantages and disadvantages of all encoding methods, and the expected performance of each method. A discussion of the the fiber optic components - such as lasers, LEDs, detectors, connectors, and other components - that are best for video transmission applications is also included. A glossary of terms, appendices of standards and publications, and a complete index round out this comprehensive guide.
*A detailed guide to the techniques and hardware required to transmit video over optical fiber
*Covers broad range of applications: cable T.V., studio-to-studio transmissions, medical imaging, distance learning, security and surveillance, and intelligent traffic systems

Covers the essential fundamentals of digital video: from video principles, to conversion, compression, coding, interfaces and output.
Written for television professionals needing to apply digital video systems, equipment and techniques to multimedia and /or digital TV applications, as well as for computer system designers, engineers, programmers, or technicians needing to learn how to apply digital video to computer systems and applications. The text is based on the acclaimed industry bible' The Art of Digital Video, but covers only the essential parts of this larger reference work.
It starts right from the basics from what a digital signal is to the how digital video can be applied.
John Watkinson is an international consultant in Audio, Video and Data Recording. He is a fellow of the AES, a member of the British Computer Society and Chartered Information Systems Practitioner. He presents lectures, seminars, conference papers and training courses worldwide. He is author of many other Focal press books including MPEG2, Art of Digital Video, Art of Digital Audio, Art of Sound Reporduction, Introduction to Digital Audio, Television Fundamentals and Audio for Television. He is also co-author of the Digital Interface Handbook and a contributor to The Loudspeaker and Headphone Handbook.
new edition has more on the computing aspects of videoincludes extra material on digital video broadcasting and video principlescovers more basic colorimetry and picture principles as well as progressive versus interface scanning

Digital TV Over Broadband: Harvesting Bandwith offers a clear overview of how technological developments are revolutionizing television. It details the recent shift in focus from HDTV to a more broadly defined DTV and to the increasing importance of webcasting for interactive television. Digital Television examines the recent industry toward a combination of digital services, including the use of the new bandwidth for additional channels of programming, as well as some high definition television. The book discusses the increasingly rapid convergence of telecommunications, television and computers and the important role of the web in the future of interactive programming. This new edition not only covers the new technology, but also demonstrates practical uses of the technology in business models.

Essential reading for anyone involved in broadcasting. The Business of Digital Television presents an overview or the digital television industry. Chris Forrester examines the key technologies and developments of the marketplace, with comments on the future from leading industry experts.

Written in an accessible style for the non-engineer, Forrester covers the issues that are most pertinent to strategic direction, providing, broadcasting professionals with essential facts, data and commentary in one single source.
You will:
Discover trends in digital TV technology
Gain knowledge about the international marketplace
See an analysis of the financial models
Understand the importance of partnerships
Find out the key drivers for change
Gain an insight into emerging technologies in the future
Gain from the research of a key industry consultant, a complete factual understanding of the digital television industry worldwide in one readable source
See the facts in context, from the key drivers for change through to future applications
Get up to speed quickly on emerging technologies and complex markets

TV Technical Operations is an introduction for new entrants to the broadcast industry and is designed to prepare them for working in mainstream television by discussing essential techniques, technologies and work attitudes.

The author explores:
* the need to develop a professional approach
* the occupational skills needed to meet deadlines, work under pressure and within budget
* the importance of understanding the potential of broadcast equipment in program making
* the need to keep up to date with the technique and technology
* the responsibility to ensure continuity of experience and training in all craft skills that technical operators are required to work with
* the need to maintain a critical appraisal of what and who influences working practices and how these influences affect production and viewers
* an introduction to the basic skills needed to work as a multi-skilling technical operator in television
* an introduction to broadcast equipment in general production use
Peter Ward is a freelance cameraman and camerawork trainer working with international training and television consultancy. He was formerly head of cameras at Television South West.
Basic reference providing all the essentials on tv operations
Benefit from the knowledge and experience of a highly experienced international cameraman
Provides step-by-step operational advice for ease of understanding

The only guide to the art and technique of color correction based on the invaluable knowledge of more than a dozen of the top colorists in the world. This book allows you unprecedented access to the way the masters of the craft approach their work. Containing decades of industry experience and professional colorist know-how, this book provides an understanding of what top-tier colorists look for in an image and how they know what to do to make it great. Featuring techniques performed in a variety of color correction software applications (DaVinci Resolve, Apple Color, Synthetic Aperture's Color Finesse, and more), this book turns what has long been a misunderstood "black art" into a set of skills that any colorist, editor, independent filmmaker, or motion graphics artist can begin to master. Packed with explanations, tips, and concepts that build on each other, you will learn how to: * fix poorly exposed shots and shots with color casts * create looks * match shots * master primary and secondary color correction techniques * use color correction to advance a story This edition includes * Downloadable resources containing two hours of video tutorials using DaVinci Resolve, extended interview transcripts and color correction sessions with the professional colorists featured in the book * A brand new tutorial-based chapter, with companion project files on the downloadable resources, so you can work along with the text * New insight from additional professional colorists, including legendary colorists, Bob Festa, Stefan Sonnenfeld, and Pankaj Baipai, showing you the 'hows' and 'whys' of each grade

Audio for Television outlinines all the relevant principles and practices. Newcomers to the field will find it an invaluable, up to date resource and experienced sound people will gain from the explanations of new technology. The rate of change in the technology of television sound has recently accelerated to such a degree that it is now a sufficiently expansive subject to warrant a book of its own. These rapid changes, from the introduction first of stereo, then multi-channel or surround sound, have made it difficult for those working in this field to keep up with the technology and even harder for those just setting out on a career in television sound. The book considers analog and digital audio as alternatives and stresses the advantages of both. Microphone and loudspeaker technology is also discussed in some detail and audio recording and routing and transmission are also covered.

Basic TV Technology is the essential basic guide to the fundamentals underlying all television and video systems, written for students and nontechnical professionals. You don't need to have a math or science background in order to understand this explanation of how the principal pieces of equipment work, what their functions are, and how they are integrated to form a complex video system. An understanding of this material will be necessary for you to succeed in the real world, where one person often has to perform many different roles and functions within a production. Armed with some basic technical background information, you'll be more effective at figuring out new applications and at problem-solving. The fourth edition of Basic TV Technology has been updated to reflect the industry shift to digital video and includes new information on compression, television standards, LCD displays, HD, and equipment. This book features the accessible Media Manual format, in which every topic is covered in two pages: one of explanatory text and one of figures. Need more information on TV technologies, go to: http://www.insightmedia.info/newsletters.php

Drawn from the pages of his popular |Advanced Television| column in TV Technology magazine, Issues in Advanced Television Technology collects the new television writings of technical author S. Merrill Weiss. Noted for his relaxed, conversational style and easily understood explanations, Weiss leads the reader on an enjoyable trip through the latest developments, making highly complex subjects accessible to those with all levels of experience. His material is of value to business managers making strategic decisions, technical managers forming implementation choices, as well as system designers and operators preparing for future work assignments. Included in the discussion are the interests of broadcasting, cable, wireless cable, telcos, DBS, and packaged media. Covering the broad range of new technologies with a depth not achieved elsewhere short of textbooks, Weiss introduces subjects such as digital video compression, transmission of digital signals, audio compression, adaptive equalizers, packetization, transport and program streams, multiplexing, MPEG-2, serial digital jitter, storage and servers, data broadcasting, and the motivations of the players in the media of the future. Merill's articles are collected by many, but early back issues are no longer available. Now, get all the articles in one place, organized by topic, updated and indexed. Catch up on what you've missed! Take advantage of the easy access. Increase your knowledge. Prepare for your future. Let Issues in Advanced Television Technology take you on an exploration of the marvels of the next generation of video technology. S Merrill Weiss is an award-winning consultant in electronic media technology, technology management, and management. He has nearly three decades of personal experience developing and implementing new television technologies, participating in the writing of standards, and generally thinking about how to move the industry forward. Through his regular monthly series of articles, and now through this, his second book, he shares his understanding of where things are going.

How streaming services and internet distribution have transformed global television culture.

Television, once a broadcast medium, now also travels through our telephone lines, fiber optic cables, and wireless networks. It is delivered to viewers via apps, screens large and small, and media players of all kinds. In this unfamiliar environment, new global giants of television distribution are emerging―including Netflix, the world’s largest subscription video-on-demand service.

Combining media industry analysis with cultural theory, Ramon Lobato explores the political and policy tensions at the heart of the digital distribution revolution, tracing their longer history through our evolving understanding of media globalization. Netflix Nations considers the ways that subscription video-on-demand services, but most of all Netflix, have irrevocably changed the circulation of media content. It tells the story of how a global video portal interacts with national audiences, markets, and institutions, and what this means for how we understand global media in the internet age.

Netflix Nations addresses a fundamental tension in the digital media landscape – the clash between the internet’s capacity for global distribution and the territorial nature of media trade, taste, and regulation. The book also explores the failures and frictions of video-on-demand as experienced by audiences. The actual experience of using video platforms is full of subtle reminders of market boundaries and exclusions: platforms are geo-blocked for out-of-region users (“this video is not available in your region”); catalogs shrink and expand from country to country; prices appear in different currencies; and subtitles and captions are not available in local languages. These conditions offer rich insight for understanding the actual geographies of digital media distribution.

Contrary to popular belief, the story of Netflix is not just an American one. From Argentina to Australia, Netflix’s ascension from a Silicon Valley start-up to an international television service has transformed media consumption on a global scale. Netflix Nations will help readers make sense of a complex, ever-shifting streaming media environment.

The recent demise of the independent television companies and the expansion of satellite and cable networks has led to an explosion in small, independent production facilities. In parallel with this development has been a steady increase in media training and a major expansion in corporate video facilities. The Video Studio is written for everyone contemplating setting-up a professional installation, whether studio or location based. The Video Studio shows how to estimate the scale of investment required and, depending on the nature and frequency of use of the facility, the layout of technical areas and the function of the main items of equipment is described in easy to understand language. In short this is a nuts and bolts approach to planning and operating a studio of 150 square metres or less. Completely updated to take account of all the recent technological advances which have taken place, the book now covers: DAT, timecode, digital compression, non-linear editing and all current digital video formats.

With the milestones of Digital TV and HDTV, there are lots of questions to be asked about television of today... Understanding Digital Television explains complex technical systems and solutions in an easy to comprehend manner along with visual 3D graphics. It helps non-technical individuals such as managers, executives, general media professionals, as well as TV and home cinema enthusiasts gain a practical understanding of the equipment, technical aspects of digital television, and various ways of distributing. Most examples are from a European perspective, but also include comparisons with North American systems. This book answers the confusing questions about new devices and digital formats, what to do when the analog TV transmitters are switched off, watching TV using your broadband connection, and much more.

Learn all about Codecs--how they work, as well as design and implementation with this comprehensive, easy-to-use guide to compression. After reading this book, you will be able to prepare and distribute professional audio and video on any platform including streamed to the web, broadcast on-air, stored in PVRs, Burned onto CD-ROMs or DVDs, delivered by broadband, or viewed in Kiosk applications, PDA devices, and mobile phones.

Essential reading for anyone involved in broadcasting. The Business of Digital Television presents an overview or the digital television industry. Chris Forrester examines the key technologies and developments of the marketplace, with comments on the future from leading industry experts. Written in an accessible style for the non-engineer, Forrester covers the issues that are most pertinent to strategic direction, providing, broadcasting professionals with essential facts, data and commentary in one single source. You will: Discover trends in digital TV technology Gain knowledge about the international marketplace See an analysis of the financial models Understand the importance of partnerships Find out the key drivers for change Gain an insight into emerging technologies in the future

Descriptive Metadata for Television is a comprehensive introduction for television professionals that need to understand metadata's purpose and technology. This easy-to-read book translates obscure technical to hands-on language understandable by real people.

What do we measure and why? Peter Hodges explains the answer to this question in approachable language and with clear illustrations. Newcomers to the video industry, as well as those already established, will find this uniquely readable guide to the basics of a complex subject. Building on the success of the two previous editions of this popular title and covering both analog and digital video, the third edition includes new sections on audio measurement, high definition video, and innovative techniques of test and measurement.

Video Over IP gives you everything you need to know to choose from among the many ways of transferring your video over a network. The information is presented in an easy to read format, with comparison charts provided to help you understand the benefits and drawbacks of different technologies for a variety of practical applications. This new edition is expanded to fully cover HD and wireless technologies and new case studies. Whether your background is video, networking, broadcast, or telecommunications, you will benefit from the breadth of coverage that this book provides. Real-life application examples give readers successful examples of a variety of Video over IP networks that are up and running today.

Learn how to compress video and audio with optimal quality and minimal hassles. Renowned expert Ben Waggoner teaches you to improve the quality of your final content and develop effective workflows. Understand the basic concepts of vision and hearing, apply that knowledge in the context of compression, then move onto practical, applicable information for creating, editing, and compressing the best video and audio, whether you're delivering for the web, DVD, Blu-ray, phones, or beyond.

• Clear examples of how to make the best choices in real-world projects
  
• Covers Mac and Windows products for a complete look at today's compression technologies: all the different tools, codecs, and formats for different kinds of deliverables are described, focusing on how to pick the right options for particular projects, players, and sources

Formats

• Windows Media
• QuickTime
• Flash FLV and F4V
• MPEG-4 and H.264
• MPEG-2
• Ogg Vorbis and Theora
• Silverlight and Smooth Streaming

Devices

• iPod and iPhone
• Zune HD
• Playstation Portable
• Playstation 3
• Xbox 360
• DVD and Blu-ray

Visit the companion website at http: //www.taylorandfrancis.com/cw/waggoner-9780240812137/.

With the milestones of Digital TV and HDTV, there are
lots of questions to be asked about television of today...
Understanding Digital Television explains complex technical systems and solutions in an easy
to comprehend manner along with visual 3D graphics. It helps non-technical individuals such as
managers, executives, general media professionals, as well as TV and home cinema enthusiasts
gain a practical understanding of the equipment, technical aspects of digital television, and various
ways of distributing. Most examples are from a European perspective, but also include comparisons
with North American systems. This book answers the confusing questions about new devices and
digital formats, what to do when the analog TV transmitters are switched off, watching TV using your
broadband connection, and much more.
*Describes the four major platforms of digital TV: satellite, cable, terrestrial transmitters
and broadband
*Uses an extensive collection of illustrations to explain the technical solutions
*Includes detailed illustrations and full-color section
*Contains an appendices dedicated to North American systems

Metadata is data about data, or information known about the image in order to provide access to the image. It can be as simple as the subject of an e-mail, but as new technologies emerge and the media world continues to globalize it is getting more and more complex. Metadata is key to today's IT-centric television production environment and this is the first book approaching the subject end to end, from shooting the footage to archiving to consumer set top box.

Learn all about Codecs--how they work, as well as design and implementation with this comprehensive, easy-to-use guide to compression. After reading this book, you will be able to prepare and distribute professional audio and video on any platform including streamed to the web, broadcast on-air, stored in PVRs, Burned onto CD-ROMs or DVDs, delivered by broadband, or viewed in Kiosk applications, PDA devices, and mobile phones.
Key benefits:
* Learn from an award-winning technologist for a top media company who knows how to explain codecs in terms you can understand
* This entry-level guide contains clear explanations and hundreds of diagrams--no math background needed! Also includes a comprehensive glossary which serves as a useful reference to many technical terms and jargon you will encounter
* Learn how to choose the right technique to get the most out of your compression system--saving both storage space and money

For any digital TV developer or manager, the maze of standards and specifications related to MHP and OCAP is daunting-you have to patch together pieces from several standards to gather all the necessary knowledge you need to compete worldwide. The standards themselves can be confusing, and contain many inconsistencies and missing pieces. Interactive TV Standards provides a guide for actually deploying these technologies for a broadcaster or product and application developer.
Understanding what the APIs do is essential for your job, but understanding how the APIs work and how they relate to each other at a deeper level helps you do it better, faster and easier. Learn how to spot when something that looks like a good solution to a problem really isn't. Understand how the many standards that make up MHP fit together, and implement them effectively and quickly. Two DVB insiders teach you which elements of the standards that are needed for digital TV, highlight those elements that are not needed, and explain the special requirements that MHP places on implementations of these standards.
Once you've mastered the basics, you will learn how to develop products for US, European, and Asian markets--saving time and money. By detailing how a team can develop products for both the OCAP and MHP markets, Interactive TV Standards teaches you how to to leverage your experience with one of these standards into the skills and knowledge needed to work with the critical, related standards.
Does the team developing a receiver have all the knowledge they need to succeed, or have they missed important information in an apparently unrelated standard? Does an application developer really know how towrite a reliable piece of software that runs on any MHP or OCAP receiver? Does the broadcaster understand the business and technical issues well enough to deploy MHP successfully, or will their project fail? Increase your chances of success the first time with Interactive TV Standards.
* A practical, real-world introduction to the technical elements of the OCAP and MHP standards.
* Get everything you need without wading though thousands of pages of standards- many of which don't apply to digital TV!
* Get inside concrete problems that have been found by the authors and other users - issues not generally known outside of the standards committees.

The Practical Guide to MPEG 4 offers an up to date introduction to this important interactive and multimedia compression standard (including MPEG-4 Part 10), with real examples and information as to how and where this new technology should be used. All aspects of MPEG-4 that are relevant in today's technical landscape are described in this book, including video and audio creation, production, distribution, reception and consumption environment. This book explains everything you really need to know in jargon-free language: interactive systems, content management, deployment, licensing and business models.
* Jargon-free explanation of media compression technology and it's impact on business objectives by MPEG 4 insiders
* Get a grip on MPEG-4 technology without wading through thousands of pages of specifications and details.
* Navigate through the jungle of digital media business opportunities and pitfalls.