Telesync

Telesync is one of many terms used by movie bootleggers to describe the source material used to make bootlegged copies, normally distributed in Video CD, SVCD, DVD or DivX/Xvid format.

A telesync is a video copy of the movie which was shot in a movie theater, often with a professional camera on a tripod in the projection booth, with a direct connection to the sound source (often FM audio provided for the hearing-impaired, or from a drive-in theater). A telesync is a special type of cam that has the potential of better-quality audio and video. An ordinary cam is usually shot with a hand-held camera from a seat in the auditorium and uses the camera's own built-in microphone to pick up the sound.

Telesync, along with DVD-Rip, is a common form of bootlegged movie, usually one that will be released a few days after the first cam versions. It is usually indicated with the letters “TS” in the movie's video file name.

As technology gets better, the quality of the telesyncs also gets better, though it should be noted that even the best telesyncs are lossy and will be inferior in quality to direct rips from BD, DVD or digital transfers from the film itself (see telecine). Although very few at the moment, some release groups use high-definition video cameras to get the clearest picture possible.