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Numbers
Glossary "S"
SACD Super Audio CD. New CD format, likely competitive with DVD-Audio, at least in the consumer market.
Sample Rate Number of times a digital sample is taken, measured in samples per second or Hz. More often equals better quality (and larger file size); less often equals smaller file size (but less quality!). related: Audio CD, CD-ROM has a sample rate of 44.1kHz.; DVD PCM audio uses sample rates of 48 and 96 kHz.
Scheme sort The distribution of mail to its destination according to a systematic plan determined by the mail processing functional area. Typically, a scheme sort allows mailers to combine pieces addressed to two or more 5-digit or 3-digit ZIP Code areas.
Scheme Systematic plan for the distribution of mail to its destination.
Science-of-Agriculture rate A Periodicals rate that is available to an authorized mailer of agriculture publications.
Screens Used in the silk screen printing process to lay ink onto the disc. Created from the film. Created from mesh ranging from 85 to 133 lpi. Industry standard screens are 85-100 lpi.
SCSI Small Computer Systems Interface. Pronounced “Scuzzy”. An inter system for connecting peripheral equipment to computers through a buss (scsi buss).
SDDS Sony Dynamic Digital Sound. Audio coding system for multi-channel theatre audio. A competitor to Dolby Digital, and available as an additional audio track format for DVD.
Seamless Playback A feature of DVD-Video that allows for uninterrupted program playback, while also providing random access.
SECAM Sequential Color and Memory. 625 line broadcast television standard used mainly in eastern European countries.
Sectional center facility (SCF) A postal facility that serves as the processing and distribution center (P&DC) for post offices in a designated geographic area as defined by the first three digits of the ZIP Codes of those offices. Some SCFs serve more than one 3-digit ZIP Code range.
Shipper paid forwarding (SPF) An address change service (ACS) fulfillment vehicle. It allows mailers of Standard Mail machinable parcels and most Package mailers to find the correct address.
Shortpaid mail Mail on which additional postage is collectable on final delivery.
Signature Confirmation A service that provides information to the mailer about the date and time of delivery, including the recipient’s signature or the date and time of the delivery attempt. This service may be obtained in two forms: (1) an electronic option for mailers who apply identifying barcodes to each piece, provide an electronic file, and retrieve delivery status information electronically; and (2) a retail option for mailers who retrieve delivery status through the Internet at www.usps.com or by calling 800-222-1811.
Silkscreen A printing process where non-printing areas are masked out of a screen, ink is then forced (via a rubber squeegee) through the screen onto the printing surface. Replicated CD’s are printed this way.
Single-piece rate A postage rate available for individual pieces of Express Mail, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, and Package Services. It is not available for Periodicals except under the rate category of basic. This type of rate contrasts with rates available for bulk mail and presorted mail.
Skew —The misalignment or slant of a character, bar, line of characters, or barcode with respect to the bottom or top edge of the mailpiece.
Sleeve A paperboard jacket that fits over the four sides (top, bottom, and two parallel sides) of a letter tray in order to keep the mail inside the tray from falling out.
SMPTE Society of Motion Picture Television Engineers.
SMPTE Time Code A time-code scheme of the Society of Motion Picture \ Television Engineers, used to mark the hours, minutes and frames of a program recorded on video tape thus: 00:59:22:06 would be 0 hours 59 minutes 22 seconds and 6 frames. In NTSC video there are 30 frames per second, so one frame each 1/30th second. This time code is recorded on audio track 2 for CD master tapes the Sony 1630 format.
Stamped card A postcard sold by the USPS (as distinguished from a privately printed postcard) with a printed or impressed postage stamp. Compare to postcard.
Stamper A metal part electroformed from the mother. The stamper is inserted into the mold cavity to become one side of the cavity. “Stamper” is a misnomer inherited from the phonograph record industry. CDs are not stamped, but are molded.
Stamper The data-bearing removable "die" used during the injection molding of a CD to imprint pits and lands into the polycarbonate substrate of the disc. In manufacturing CD-R media, instead of pits and lands, a continuous spiral is pressed into the substrate as a guide to the recorder's laser. The stamper is part of a "disc family" created in the mastering process.
Standard Mail A class of mail that weighs less than 16 ounces. It comprises the subclasses of Regular Standard Mail, Nonprofit Standard Mail, Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail, and Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail. These subclasses include circulars, printed matter, pamphlets, catalogs, newsletters, direct mail, and merchandise. Standard Mail may be sent at presorted rates and at automation rates.
Sub Menu Menu normally linked somehow to the main menu.
Subcarrier In NTSC, a 3.58 MHz. Frequency signal which carries color information.
Subclass A subdivision of a mail class, usually based on the consideration of a physical characteristic rather than content.
Substrate The main physical body of a disc, on which other coatings or layers may be added. Compact discs are made of polycarbonate plastic, coated with metal, then coated with a UV curable polymer, then a label is printed on that. Polycarbonate is the substrate. This layer does not contain "pits and lands" but has a single spiral groove that guides the recorder's laser.
Subtitle Textual representation of spoken audio in a video program, often used with foreign language versions.
Surround Sound Multi channel audio system for the home user. Allows for speakers in front center and behind the listener/viewer.
SVCD Super Video CD. New CD format, designed to be competitive with DVD-Video. Yet to be released, thus future market success unknown at this time – although due to established markets and CD industry, this product will likely due well in Pacific Rim region, particularly China (the biggest user of VideoCD).
System Menu The main menu of a DVD-Video disc, from which titles are selected. aka: the title selection menu; the disc menu.