Compression
Definition
Compression, in the context of digital video, refers to the process of reducing the size of a video file by removing redundant or less important data. Video compression algorithms (codecs) exploit the fact that adjacent pixels in an image are often similar (spatial redundancy) and that adjacent frames in a video are often similar (temporal redundancy) to reduce the amount of data needed to represent the video. Compression can be "lossless" (no data is discarded, and the original file can be perfectly reconstructed) or "lossy" (some data is discarded, resulting in a smaller file but potentially lower quality).
Contextual Usage
The post-production supervisor explains the deliverable specifications: "The broadcast master needs to be delivered with minimal compression — we'll use the XDCAM 50 codec, which is a relatively light compression. For the streaming delivery, we'll use H.264 with a much higher compression ratio to reduce the file size for online distribution. The streaming version will be smaller and slightly lower quality, but it will be perfectly acceptable for online viewing."
About this section
Post-production management is the administrative and logistical backbone of the entire post-production process. It encompasses the roles, tools, and workflows that ensure the project is delivered on t...
View all 32 terms