U

U-matic®

The 3/4-inch videotape format named because of its U-shaped tape path around a helical head.

Trade name for 3/4-inch video cassette system originally developed by Sony. Now established as the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) Type F video tape format.

Ultricon

A quality, low-cost, pickup tube commonly found on cameras used in CCTV applications. The Ultricon is similar in design to the original Vidicon tube.

Unavailable Event

An event that cannot play because the material (ID) cannot be located in a device.

Underscan

The process of displaying a TV picture on an area smaller than the TV picture tube size permitting view of the entire video picture, including sync and blanking. Many professional TV monitors have an underscan button or switch to allow for viewing the entire TV picture.

Unicast

Point to point transmission of content. For example, on-demand streaming content being viewed by users

Unit Interval (UI)

The period of one clock cycle. It corresponds to the nominal minimum time between the transitions of the bit-serial signal.

UNIX™

An operating system developed by AT&T and used by the LMS™ applications controller. Widely acclaimed in the computer industry, UNIX is recognized for its powerful multi-user and multi-tasking capabilities.

Unmodulated

Refers to filtered video test signals that no longer possess the addition of the chrominance signals information.

Up Converting (up-rezing)

The process which increases the number of pixels and/or frame rate and/or scanning format used to represent an image by interpolating existing pixels to create new ones at closer spacing. Despite its name the process does not increase the resolution of the image. Up converting is done from standard definition to high definition.

See also: Down converting, side converting.

Up Count

A primary event type that is used for counting time on live events of unknown length.

Up Counter

A type of event which has an indeterminate length. After counting down to 0, this type of event counts up indefinitely unless terminated by pressing PLAY on the control panel.

Updates

This represents a small change to a program. Denoted as a change in the right-side digit of a version number (ex: version 3.0 to 3.1).

Upfront

During the summer of each year, networks make available to buyers their inventory of advertising time for the coming season. The money pledged to buy this time is called upfront.

Upgrades

This represents a large change to a program. Denoted as a change in the left-side digit of a version number (ex: version 3.0 to 4.0.).

Upload

To copy a file from your computer to a remote server, the reverse process of download.

Upwardly Compatible

When an older format may be played on a newer generation of the same format. U-matic® is upwardly compatible with U-matic® SP in that tapes recorded on the first format may be played on an SP deck. Other upwardly compatible formats include 8mm to Hi8™, VHS to S-VHS, and Betacam® to Betacam SP®.

Usenet

An Internet-based bulletin board that allows reading and posting of "news" in various "newsgroups." There are thousands of newsgroups covering a myriad of topics.

User Bits

1. Data written on a tape. The userbit information is readable by the VTR playing the tape. A tape's user bits often contain the tape's ID. 2. Part of the SMPTE time code signal containing thirty-two bits of information which can be used to program identifying slate information on the tape’s time code . Special track on an electromagnetic tape that allows you to put down a data stripe which can contain a reel number or barcode.

UTC (Universal Time, Coordinated)

Greenwich mean time or time and date with indication of local time offset. .

UUENCODING

A method for converting binary information into ASCII text. It can be used for posting to Usenet and or e-mailing with non-MIME compliant mail readers.