AV & Video Streaming Glossary

Plain-English definitions of the terms that come up before you've even picked a product category — what they mean, why they matter, and where to read the full explanation.

Capture & Encoding

Capture card vs hardware encoder
A capture card gets video into a PC; a hardware encoder is a standalone box that needs no PC at all. Read → Multiview
A single output showing several sources at once in a grid — for monitoring, not switching. Read → HDR10 vs HLG
Two HDR formats — HDR10 for on-demand content with metadata, HLG for live broadcast. Read → Genlock
Locking multiple cameras to the same timing reference so switching between them doesn't glitch. Read →

Network & Streaming Protocols

NDI
A protocol for moving professional video and audio over a standard Ethernet network in real time. Read → SRT vs RTMP vs RIST
Three internet streaming protocols, each suited to a different destination and link reliability. Read → PoE vs PoE+
Two power-over-Ethernet standards — PoE+ supplies roughly double the wattage of standard PoE. Read →

Signal & Audio

EDID
The handshake a display sends a source describing which resolutions and formats it supports. Read → AES67
An open standard for sending uncompressed digital audio over a standard IP network. Read →

Buying Guides

What PC do I need for 4K capture?
USB vs PCIe bandwidth requirements, and what storage/CPU actually matters. Read → How much does a capture card or encoder cost?
What actually drives price up or down, without a published price list. Read →

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