Glossary - Panasonic DMR-E55S Operating Instructions Manual

Glossary

Bitstream
This is the digital form of multi-channel audio data (e.g., 5.1 channel)
before it is decoded into its various channels.
CPRM (Content Protection for Recordable Media)
CPRM is technology used to protect broadcasts that are allowed to
be recorded only once. Such broadcasts can be recorded only with
CPRM compatible recorders and discs.
Down-mixing
This is the process of remixing the multi-channel audio found on
some discs into two channels for stereo output. It is useful when you
want to listen to the 5.1-channel audio recorded on DVDs through
your television's speakers. Some discs prohibit down-mixing and this
unit can then only output the front two channels.
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.
Dynamic range compression means reducing the gap between the
loudest and softest sounds. This means you can listen at low
volumes but still hear dialog clearly.
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.
For PAL
Film is 25 frames per second.
Video is 50 fields per second (two fields making up one frame).
For NTSC
Film is 24 or 30 frames per second, with motion picture film generally
being 24 frames per second.
Video is 60 fields per second (two fields making up one frame).
Finalize
A process that makes play of a recorded CD-R, CD-RW or DVD-R
etc. possible on equipment that can play such media. You can
finalize DVD-R on this unit.
You cannot record onto or edit finalized discs.
Formatting
Formatting is the process of making media such as DVD-RAM
recordable on recording equipment.
You can format the DVD-RAM on this unit. Formatting erases
irrevocably all recordings on the disc.
Frames and fields
Frames refer to the single images that constitute the video you see
on your television. Each frame consists of two fields.
u
Frame
≥A frame still shows two fields, so there may be some blurring, but
picture quality is generally better.
≥A field still shows less picture information so it may be rougher, but
there is no blurring.
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. You can play MP3 you have recorded onto CD-R and
CD-RW.
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42
r
Field Field
Pan&Scan/Letterbox
In general, DVD-Video are produced with the intention that they be
viewed on a widescreen television (16:9 aspect ratio), so images
often don't fit regular (4:3 aspect ratio) televisions. Two styles of
picture, "Pan & Scan" and "Letterbox", deal with this problem.
Pan & Scan: The sides are cut off so the picture
fills the screen.
Letterbox: Black bands appear at the top and
bottom of the picture so the picture
itself appears in an aspect ratio of
16:9.
Playback control (PBC)
If a Video CD has playback control, you can select scenes and
information with menus.
(This unit is compatible with version 2.0 and 1.1.)
Progressive/Interlace
The PAL video signal standard has 576 (or 625) interlaced (I) scan
lines, whereas progressive scanning, called 576P (or 625P), uses
twice the number of scan lines. For the NTSC standard, these are
called 480I (or 525I) and 480P (or 525P) respectively.
Using progressive output, you can enjoy the high-resolution video
recorded on media such as DVD-Video.
Your television must be compatible to enjoy progressive video.
Protection
You can prevent accidental erasure by setting writing protection or
erasure protection.
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.
VBR (Variable bitrate)
This is a method of video recording that adjusts the bit rate
according to video signal.