CTS EXAM STUDY

Term: MP3 Bit Rate Format

128 kbps to 160 kbps.

Term: CD Bit Rate Format

1.41 Mbps.

Term: DVD Bit Rate Format

8 Mbps.

Term: HDTV Bit Rate Format

27 Mbps.

Term: Blu-ray Bit Rate Format

54 Mbps.

Term: UHD 4k Bit Rate Format

22.3 Gbps (requires more bandwidth).

Term: Lossless Compression

No loss of accuracy after compression (examples: ZIP, FLAC, MPEG-2, PNG, JPEG 2000)

Term: Lossy Compression

Reduces detail to save space (examples: MP3, JPEG, HEVC, H.264/AVC).

Term: Digital Media Process Chain

Encode → Decode → Codec.

Term: Container (Digital Media File)

Holds metadata describing data arrangement and codecs used.

Term: Codec (Digital Media File)

Provides the method for encoding and decoding the file.

Term: Soundwaves

Continuous cycles of compression and rarefaction (decompression).

Term: Wavelength

Distance between two points that occur in the same place in a cycle (measured across zero-reference line)

Term: Analog vs. Digital Signal

Analog signals are continuous; digital are an on/off state of 1's and 0's.

Term: Sample Rate

How often samples are taken from an analog waveform.

Term: Bit Depth

Number of states available to describe sampled voltage level. In video, determines how many shades can be displayed

Term: Bit Rate

Flow of information over time in a digital signal, measured in bits per second (bps).

Term: Bit Rate Calculation Formula

Sample rate × bit depth = x bps (bits per second).

Term: Bit Rate Conversion (bytes to bits)

bps = Bps × 8 (Bytes per second to bits per second).

Term: Frequency

Number of wave cycles occurring in a single second.

Term: Wave Formula Triangle

Velocity (v) over Frequency (f) and Wavelength (λ).

Term: Decibel

Measure of logarithmic ratios between two quantities of the same property.

Term: Pascal (Pa)

Standard metric unit used for measuring pressure.

Term: Decibel Power Difference Formula

dB = 10 × log10(P1/P2)

Term: Decibel Current or Voltage Comparison Formula

dB = 20 × log(V1/V2)

Term: Decibel Field Property Comparison Formula

dB = 20 × log(D1/D2)

Term: Audio Signal Bandwidth Formula

Sample Rate × Bit Depth × # of Channels.

Term: Unicast Streaming

One-to-one connection between server and client; sends to individuals and requires more bandwidth

Term: Multicast Streaming

One-to-many connection; cannot be sent over the public internet.

Term: Acoustics

Branch of science that focuses on the qualities and characteristics of sound waves.

Term: Sound Reflections

Can be direct (specular/mirror-like) or diffused (scattered).

Term: Reverberation

Numerous persistent reflections of sound waves in a space.

Term: Impedance

The opposition to the flow of electrons in an AC circuit (measured in ohms, Ω).

Term: Low vs. High Impedance Thresholds

Low impedance is 200 Ω or less; high impedance is 25k Ω or more

Term: Incident Meters

Measure the light coming directly from the source.

Term: Reflected Meters

Measure light that bounces off an object.

Term: Candela

Basic standard unit of luminous intensity.

Term: Lumen

Measure of the amount of photons emitted from a 1 candela light source.

Term: Lux

Standard metric unit of illuminance.

Term: Foot-candle

Imperial unit of illuminance, equal to 1 lumen per square foot.

Term: Candela per square meter

Unit of luminance, also called a Nit (nt).

Term: Inverse Square Law (Light)

2x distance = 1/4 intensity; 3x distance = 1/9 intensity; 5x distance = 1/25 intensity

Term: Hue

The underlying spectrum or base category of color.

Term: Value/Brightness

The greyscale value or lightness/darkness of a color.

Term: Saturation/Chroma

The absolute amount or intensity of a hue present.

Term: Additive Mixing

Mixing individual colors of light directly together.

Term: Subtractive Mixing

Mixing colors or pigments that absorb specific light wavelengths.

Term: Color Temperature Range

1900K represents warm light; 9500K represents cool light.

Term: Color Rendering Index (CRI)

Scale up to 100; closer to 100 means it shows colors more accurately on illuminated objects

Term: Ambient Light

Any light in a presentation environment other than light coming from the display image

Term: Focal Length

Distance between the lens and the image sensor when the subject is in sharp focus.

Term: Aperture

Total amount of light that is permitted to get through to the image sensor.

Term: Scan Rate

How many horizontal and vertical lines are completely displayed per second.

Term: 720p Resolution & Frame Rate

1280 × 720 at 25 fps.

Term: 1080p Resolution & Frame Rate

1920 × 1080 at 25 fps.

Term: UHD TV 4k Resolution & Frame Rate

3840 × 2160 at 30 fps.

Term: Lower Frequency Video Component (Hz)

Handles Vertical synchronization.

Term: Middle Frequency Video Component (kHz)

Handles Horizontal synchronization.

Term: High Frequency Video Component (MHz)

Handles detailed picture information.

Term: DVI Connection

The first widely accepted digital connection standard for computers.

Term: HDMI Connection

Adds audio, EDID device control, HDCP encryption, and Ethernet over a single digital cable

Term: DisplayPort Connection

Uses a similar but not completely compatible digital format to send audio and video data

Term: SDI Connection

BNC-terminated cord used to carry professional digital/analog video (looks physically like RCA/coax)

Term: USB Connection

Universal connection capable of carrying any form of digital data.

Term: Ethernet Connection

Capable of carrying processed digital data formats over a standard data network

Term: Signal Bandwidth Formula (Video)

[(TP × FR) / 2] × 3 = signal bandwidth (TP = total pixels in one frame, FR = frame rate)

Term: Transmissive Screen

Light transmits through the screen element from behind.

Term: Reflective Screen

Light is reflected off the front surface of a screen.

Term: Emissive Display

Self-contained light-emitting display element.

Term: LCD Flat Panel

Light passes through a polarizer and chemical layer to create individual pixels with defined edges.

Term: LED Flat Panel

Matrix of RGB pixels that emit light natively; does not require a backlight.

Term: OLED Flat Panel

Carbon-based organic display with shorter lifespan, thinner screens, and superior color.

Term: First Consideration for Display Placement

Must first consider display size and maximum audience distance.

Term: Aspect Ratios (HDTV and UHDTV)

Standard ratio is 16:9 for both formats.

Term: Primary Optic

The primary lens that focuses the final image onto the viewing screen.

Term: Refraction

Bending of light rays when passing through a boundary between different mediums.

Dispersion

Separation of white light passing through a prism (causes chromatic aberration: colored fringes around images).

Term: Spherical Aberration

Image distortion caused by light rays leaving different physical points of a lens.

Term: Curvature of Field

Lens defect that results in a blurry edge appearance of an object that is otherwise in focus.

Term: Tungsten Halogen Projector Lamp

Light produced by passing electrical current through tungsten filament in halogen gas.

Term: Metal Halide Discharge Projector Lamp

Light produced by a specialized tungsten arc immersed in metal-halide gasses.

Term: Xenon Arc Projector Lamp

Light produced by a high-intensity tungsten arc discharge immersed in pressurized Xenon gasses.

Term: LCD Projection Technology

Light from the source lamp is split into 3 primary colors, passed through panels, then recombined.

Term: DLP Projection Technology

Uses microscopic mirrors on a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) chip to display images.

Term: 3DLP Projection

Split light pathway into 3 separate primary color streams handled by individual DMD chips.

Term: Single-Chip DLP Projection

A single individual DMD chip handles color generation sequentially to produce the image.

Term: Passive Viewing Category

Content does not require fine detail or text recognition, but general shapes/actions need to be understood.

Term: Basic Decision Making (BDM) Category

Viewer can comprehend presentations/classrooms/boardrooms but info isn't dependent on seeing every pixel.

Term: Analytical Decision Making (ADM) Category

Viewer must see every pixel to make critical decisions (examples: medical imaging, engineering drawings).

Term: Full Motion Video Category

Ability to discern key moving elements from video; standard contrast ratio requirement is 80:1.

Term: BDM Display Height Rule

Top of image should be no more than 30° above eye level for the closest seated viewer.

Term: %EH (Percent Element Height)

Element height divided by total image height; determines how small text or detail can be to remain legible.

Term: ADM Viewer Placement Rule

All critical viewers must be located within a 60° arc measured from the far edge of the display.

Term: Max Throw Distance Calculation (SW = Screen Width)

Max Throw = (5.05 × SW) + 0.2.

Term: Min Throw Distance Calculation (SW = Screen Width)

Min Throw = (3.2 × SW) + 0.26.

Term: Offset Calculation (SW = Screen Width)

Offset = 0.03 × SW.

Term: Centering

The digital alignment and centering of a digital incoming signal onto an imaging device matrix.

Term: Projector Lumens Output Formula

L = SH × SW × AI (Lumens = Screen Height × Screen Width × Average Illuminance).

Term: Screen Gain

Ability of a screen to redirect light rays into a narrower viewing area; higher gain means narrower angle but brighter image.

Term: Local Area Network (LAN)

Connects devices in a confined local area (buildings), short distance, fully controlled by end user.