Starting out as a creator means learning a new vocabulary. Tutorials and settings screens are full of video editing terms like bitrate, aspect ratio and keyframe, and it's easy to feel lost. This glossary explains 40 common words in plain language, grouped so you can find them quickly.
Bookmark it and come back whenever a setting or guide uses a word you don't recognise.
Recording basics
- 1. Screen recording: capturing everything shown on your screen as a video, often with sound.
- 2. Resolution: how many pixels make up each frame, such as 1280×720 (720p) or 1920×1080 (1080p). More pixels mean sharper detail and bigger files.
- 3. Frame rate (fps): how many still images are shown per second. 30fps is standard; 60fps looks smoother for games and fast scrolling.
- 4. Bitrate: how much data the video uses per second. Higher bitrate keeps more detail, especially in motion.
- 5. Encoder: the part of the phone that compresses video as it records. A busy encoder can drop quality or frames.
- 6. Countdown: a short timer before recording starts, giving you a moment to get ready.
- 7. Floating controls: small buttons that stay on top of other apps so you can pause, resume or stop recording anywhere.
- 8. Take: one attempt at recording. "Take two" is your second try.
- 9. Screen capture permission: Android's prompt that asks you to approve each recording session.
- 10. FLAG_SECURE: a setting apps use to block screenshots and recordings, which makes protected screens appear black. See why apps show a black screen.
Audio terms
- 11. Internal audio (system audio): sound coming from the phone itself, such as app sounds or a video. On Android it needs version 10 or newer, and some apps block it.
- 12. Mic audio: your voice through the microphone.
- 13. Mic level meter: a live bar showing how loud your microphone input is, so you know it's working.
- 14. Narration / voice-over: speaking over a video to explain what's happening. Voice-over is often recorded separately.
- 15. Audio sync: sound and picture lining up correctly. When they don't, the audio is "out of sync". See how to fix audio out of sync.
- 16. Background noise: unwanted sound like fans, traffic or echo.
- 17. Royalty-free music: music you can use under a licence without paying per use. Always read the licence terms.
Editing terms
- 18. Timeline: the horizontal view in an editor showing your video from start to end, where you cut and arrange.
- 19. Trim: removing unwanted time from the start or end of a clip.
- 20. Cut / split: dividing a clip into parts so you can remove or move a section.
- 21. Jump cut: a cut that skips ahead in time within the same shot, often used to remove pauses.
- 22. Non-destructive editing: edits that never change the original file, so you can undo or adjust any time. Read non-destructive editing explained.
- 23. Auto zoom: automatic zooming toward where you tap or click, then back out, so viewers see details.
- 24. Easing: the gentle speeding up and slowing down of a movement, like a zoom, so it feels smooth rather than robotic.
- 25. Keyframe: a marked point where a setting (like zoom or position) has a specific value; the editor animates between keyframes.
- 26. Cursor smoothing: making a pointer's path look smooth instead of shaky.
- 27. Spotlight / focus highlight: dimming the rest of the screen or highlighting one area to guide attention.
- 28. Click animation: a small visual ripple or circle that shows where a tap happened.
- 29. Camera bubble / facecam: a small video of your face shown in a corner of the screen recording.
- 30. Transition: how one clip changes into the next, such as a cut or fade.
- 31. B-roll: extra footage shown over narration to illustrate a point.
- 32. Template: a ready-made starting setup for a type of video, like a tutorial or product demo.
Export and format terms
- 33. Export / render: turning your edited project into a finished video file.
- 34. Aspect ratio: the shape of the video: 16:9 is wide, 9:16 is tall, 4:5 is slightly tall for feeds. See the Reels and Shorts size guide.
- 35. Reframe: changing the aspect ratio while keeping the important action in view.
- 36. Codec: the method used to compress video, such as H.264. Most phones handle common codecs automatically.
- 37. MP4: the most widely supported video file format for sharing and uploading.
- 38. Compression: reducing file size by discarding some detail. Too much makes video blurry or blocky.
Creator and AI terms
- 39. Hook: the first few seconds of a video that make viewers want to keep watching. See how to write a hook.
- 40. API key: a private code that lets an app use an AI service on your account. In Cinematic Recorder you can bring your own key, stored in Android Keystore and never sent to our servers.
How these terms show up in Cinematic Recorder
Many of these words map directly to features in the app: resolution and frame rate (up to 720p at 30fps free, up to 60fps with Premium) when you record; internal audio, mic level meter, countdown and floating controls while recording; auto zoom with easing, cursor smoothing, spotlight, click animations and focus highlight in the editor; and 16:9, 9:16 and 4:5 reframing when you export. All edits are non-destructive. Explore them on the features page.
FAQ
What is the difference between resolution and bitrate?
Resolution is how many pixels each frame has. Bitrate is how much data is used per second to describe those pixels. You need both for a sharp video.
Is 60fps always better than 30fps?
Not always. 60fps is smoother for motion but creates bigger files and works the phone harder. For calm tutorials, 30fps is often enough.
What does non-destructive mean?
Your original recording is never changed. Edits are stored separately, so you can undo or adjust them at any time.
Which aspect ratio should I use?
16:9 for YouTube, 9:16 for Reels, Shorts and TikTok, and 4:5 for Facebook and Instagram feed posts.
With these 40 terms in your pocket, settings screens and editing guides will make a lot more sense. Now go make something.