Glossary - Panasonic SC-PT870 Operating Instructions Manual

Glossary

Decoder
A decoder restores the coded audio signals on DVDs to
normal. This is called decoding.
DivX
DivX is a popular media technology created by DivX, Inc.
DivX media files contain highly compressed video with high
visual quality that maintains a relatively small file size.
Dolby Digital
This is a method of coding digital signals developed by
Dolby Laboratories. Apart from stereo (2-channel) audio,
these signals can also be 5.1-channel sound.
DTS (Digital Theater Systems)
This surround system is used in many movie theaters
around the world. There is good separation between the
channels, so realistic sound effects are possible.
Dynamic range
Dynamic range is the difference between the lowest level
of sound that can be heard above the noise of the
equipment and the highest level of sound before
distortion occurs.
Film and video
DVD-Videos are recorded using either film or video. This
unit can determine which type has been used, then uses
the most suitable method of progressive output.
Film: Recorded at 25 frames per second (PAL discs) or
24 frames per second (NTSC discs). (NTSC discs
recorded at 30 frames per second as well).
Generally appropriate for motion picture films.
Video:Recorded at 25 frames/50 fields per second
(PAL discs) or 30 frames/60 fields per second
(NTSC discs). Generally appropriate for TV drama
programs or animation.
Frame still and field still
Frames are the still pictures that go together to make a moving
picture. There are about 30 frames shown each second.
One frame is made up of two fields. A regular TV shows
these fields one after the other to create frames.
A still is shown when you pause a moving picture. A
frame still is made up of two alternating fields, so the
picture may appear blurred, but overall quality is high.
A field still is not blurred, but it has only half the
information of a frame still so picture quality is lower.
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)
HDMI is a next-generation digital interface for consumer
electronic products. Unlike conventional connections, it
transmits uncompressed digital video and audio signals
on a single cable. This unit supports high-definition video
output (720p, 1080i, 1080p) from the HDMI AV OUT
terminal. To enjoy high-definition video, a high-definition
compatible TV is required.
I/P/B
MPEG 2, the video compression standard adopted for use
with DVD-Video, codes frames using these 3 picture types.
I: Intra coded picture
This picture has the best quality and is the best to use
when adjusting the picture.
P: Predictive coded picture
This picture is calculated based on past I- or
P-pictures.
B: Bidirectionally-predictive coded picture
This picture is calculated by comparing past and future
I- and P-pictures so it has the lowest volume of
information.
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
This is a system used for compressing/decoding colour still
pictures. The benefit of JPEG is less deterioration in picture
quality considering the degree of compression.
Linear PCM (pulse code modulation)
These are uncompressed digital signals, similar to those
found on CDs.
MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer 3)
An audio compression method that compresses audio to
approximately one tenth of its size without any considerable
loss of audio quality.
MPEG4
A compression system for use on mobile devices or a
network, that allows highly efficient recording at a low bit
rate.
Playback control (PBC)
If a Video CD has playback control, you can select scenes
and information with menus.
Progressive/Interlaced
The PAL video signal standard has 576 interlaced (i) scan
lines, whereas progressive scanning, called 576p, uses
twice the number of scan lines. For the NTSC standard,
these are called 480i and 480p respectively.
Using progressive output, you can enjoy the high-resolution
video recorded on media such as DVD-Video.
Your TV must be compatible to enjoy progressive video.
Sampling frequency
Sampling is the process of converting the heights of sound
wave (analog signal) samples taken at set periods into digits
(digital encoding). Sampling frequency is the number of
samples taken per second, so larger numbers mean more
faithful reproduction of the original sound.
WMA
WMA is a compression format developed by Microsoft
Corporation. It achieves the same sound quality as MP3
with a file size that is smaller than that of MP3.
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