Apple Final Cut Pro HD (4.5): New Features - Manual (Page 103)

103
Ap
pendix
High Definition Video
Fundamentals
Television is undergoing a radical change—the most fundamental redesign since its
invention nearly 100 years ago. Everyone working in television, video, and even film
production has heard the news: The switch from analog to digital television is
underway. Television is being shot, edited, and even broadcast all in the digital domain.
All-digital television requires new production formats, transmission guidelines,
broadcasting equipment, television receivers, post-production workflows, and display
devices. As more digital television services become available from major TV networks,
more people are purchasing digital television receivers and display devices for home
viewing. To understand how the industry has arrived at the digital formats of today, a
historical perspective can be useful.
A Brief History of Film, Television, and Audio Formats
The timeline below helps to illustrate the constantly evolving list of media formats as
well as developmental peaks and valleys.
Year Event
1826 First photograph is taken.
1877 Thomas Edison makes the first sound recording of “Mary had a little lamb.”
1888 Heinrich Hertz shows that electricity can travel through space and that radio waves are
physically identical to light.
1889 35mm film is invented by splitting Eastman Kodak 70mm in half (1.33 aspect ratio).
1895 Marconi develops radio transmitter and receiver.
1895 Lumière brothers demonstrate combination camera/projector (16 fps).
1918 First color motion picture appears.
1920 Commercial radio broadcasts begin.
1923 16mm film is introduced.
1927 First major motion picture with sound is released (1.37 aspect ratio), ending the silent
movie era.
1932 BBC begins official monochrome, 30-line video broadcast.
UP01022.Book Page 103 Tuesday, March 23, 2004 7:32 PM