Apple Final Cut Pro X (10.0.9) - Manual (Page 462)

Glossary 462
compound clip You can use compound clips to group any combination of clips in the Timeline
or the Event Browser, and nest clips within other clips. You can open any compound clip, edit
its contents in the Timeline, and then close it. Compound clips can contain video and audio clip
components, clips, and other compound clips. Effectively, each compound clip can be considered
a mini project, with its own distinct project settings. Compound clips function just like other
clips: you can add them to your project, trim them, retime them, and add effects and transitions.
compression The process by which video, graphics, and audio files are reduced in size. “Lossy”
compression refers to a process of reducing video file sizes through the removal of redundant
or less noticeable image data. Lossless compression reduces file sizes by mathematically
consolidating redundant image data without discarding it.
connected clip Connected clips are attached to clips in the primary storyline in the Timeline.
They are useful for cutaway shots, superimposed or composited images, and sound effects.
Connected clips remain attached and synchronized until you explicitly move or remove them. A
sequence of connected clips is a storyline.
contrast The difference between the lightest and darkest values in an image. High-contrast
images have a large range of values from the darkest shadow to the lightest highlight. Low-
contrast images have a more narrow range of values, resulting in a “flatter” look.
cross dissolve A common type of video transition, in which the first shot fades out while the
second shot simultaneously fades in. During the cross dissolve, the two shots are superimposed
as they fade.
crossfade A common type of audio transition, in which the first shot’s audio fades down while
the second shot’s audio simultaneously fades up. During the crossfade, audio from both shots
is heard.
cut An edit in which one clip immediately follows another, with no transition effect. This is the
simplest type of edit.
cutaway shot A shot that is related to the current subject and occurs in the same time frame
(for example, an interviewer’s reaction to what is being said in an interview). Often, a cutaway
shot is used to eliminate an unwanted visual section of another shot. The audio usually remains
continuous during the cutaway, helping to make the edit less noticeable.
Dashboard The Dashboard appears in the center of the toolbar and provides a timecode display
as well as icons showing audio levels and the status of background tasks.
data rate The speed at which data can be transferred, often described in megabytes per second
(MB/sec.) or megabits per second (Mbps). The higher a video file’s data rate, the higher quality it
is, but the more system resources (processor speed, hard disk space, and performance) it requires.
Some codecs allow you to specify a maximum data rate for a movie during capture.
decibel (dB) Unit of measurement for sound levels; a logarithmic scale used to describe the
loudness of sound as perceived by the human ear. (1 dB corresponds to approximately the
smallest volume change that the average human ear can perceive.) For digital audio, dBFS is the
standard decibel unit of sound level measurement.