# interleave
A method of storing video and audio data together in a video file, such that a segment of video data is followed by a segment of audio data. By interleaving video and audio data, Video for Windows can maintain a smooth transfer of audio/video information while playing a video sequence from a hard disk or CD-ROM drive.	

# track
A linear depository of information within a video sequence. All video sequences have at least two tracks: a video track storing frames of video data, and an audio track storing segments of audio.	

# frame
A single unit of information within a video sequence. A video sequence consists of many frames of video and audio data; when the frames are played in sequence, you see an unbroken video sequence with accompanying audio playback.	

# palette
A collection of color information for a picture or video sequence. 
Video for Windows can use an 8-bit palette format. With this format, up to 256 color values can be stored in a table. Images within the video sequence reference the entries in this table; each pixel has an 8-bit value identifying which palette color to draw. The 8-bit palette format uses less storage space than the 16-bit and 24-bit formats, which do not use a palette (rather than reference a value in a table, they store color information directly with the pixel).	

# bitmap
An image format commonly used for scanned photographs and artwork. A bitmap divides a picture into a grid of pixels, with each pixel assigned a specific color. Bitmaps usually have .BMP or .DIB extensions.	

# waveform audio
A technique of recreating an audio waveform from digital samples of the waveform. The sound track for a video sequence is stored as waveform audio data.	

# insert mode
One of two VidEdit editing modes. In insert mode, space is provided for data added to the video sequence; existing data is retained and pushed later in the sequence. When data is removed from a video sequence, data following the deletion is shifted back to cover the empty area.	

# overwrite mode
One of two VidEdit editing modes. In overwrite mode, data added to the video sequence replaces any existing data at the insertion point. When data is removed from a video sequence, the frames storing the deleted data are retained (leaving an empty frame).	

# frame rate
The number of frames recorded for each second of video playback. Higher frame rates can provide smoother motion than lower frame rates.	

# dithering
A technique for simulating an unavailable color by combining two or more available colors.	

# sampling frequency
The rate at which digital-audio samples are taken. Higher sampling frequencies provide better fidelity but require more storage space.	

# sample size
The amount of storage space used for each digitized portion of the audio track. Larger sample sizes provide greater dynamic range and, therefore, better audio reproduction (but they also require more storage space).	

# stereo (audio)
Audio format in which two channels are used. Stereo audio can provide better sound reproduction, but it also requires twice the storage space as monaural (mono) audio.	

# mono (monaural audio)
Audio format in which a single channel is used. Monaural audio requires half the storage space as stereo audio, which uses two channels of audio information.	

# codec, or Compressor/Decompressor
A software component that provides compression services (while creating a video sequence) and decompression services (while playing a video sequence). The Video for Windows architecture provides for the use of multiple codecs, so you can choose the one that's most appropriate for your application.	

# data-transfer rate
The speed at which data is transferred from a storage device to the processing hardware of the computer. Devices with higher data-transfer rates can provide better playback quality.	

# key frame
A fully-drawn frame stored as a reference point for successive frames. Most video sequences store only the changes from frame to frame (they don't store a complete image for each frame). A key frame stores a complete frame image, so an application can jump to the key frame and obtain a fully drawn image for that point in the video sequence.	

# mark
A position marker defining the beginning or end of a selected range of frames.