Glossary - ALCATECH BPM STUDIO 4 PRO User Manual

Application
Software programs that perform different tasks
that otherwise wouldn't be accomplished by an
operating system itself. Examples of such
applications are: a text-editing program such as
Microsoft WORD, a bookkeeping program and
BPM Studio.
ASF
Abbreviation for Advanced Streaming Format. It
is a streaming format for files developed by Micro-
soft.
Beat
A repeating sound that defines speed and tempo
of a title and is normally produced by an
instrument such as a drum for example.
Bit
A Bit is the smallest unit for binary data. With a
Bit exactly two different states (0 and 1) are
representable. (Bit = binary digit). A Bit is also a
position in the dual system. Most of the PCs and
also the modern information technology are
based on this numerical system.
Bit Rate
The bit rate is a measure for the transmission
speed of binary information. The scale unit for
the bit rate is bps (bits per second, number of
transmitted bits at one second). The maximal bit
rate of a connection is also named as "bandwidth".
As greather the bandwidth, as bigger is the
transmission speed. Some standard bit rates are
e.g.: 96 Kbit, 128 Kbit, 196 Kbit, 244 Kbit. As
higher bit rates allow to transfer more information
a better sound quality is obtainable. But a higher
bit rate is always associated with a higher demand
on memory space, as you have to store more
information as well.
Buffer
A memory space where data is held temporarily
before final treatment. BPM Studio loads the title
from the hard disk into the buffer for a few seconds
and then uncompresses it before the sound card
receives it. Thanks to this action, no lockups or
other malfunctions occur.
Configuration
"To configure" means to adapt the hardware and
software to meet your own needs. BPM Studio
has a lot of possible different configurations in
the program options context menu. Please, read
the program options section in this manual for a
detailed description of each selection.
Constant Bit Rate
It means simply that the bit rate is not changed
during the copying or encoding. (See VBR also -
Variable Bit Rate)
Cue
A cue is a position within a title that the player
recognizes as a beginning point. BPM Studio
makes it possible to set up different Cue-Points
for a title. You can also start playing within a title
from this place.
Cursor
Symbol which shows on the monitor the position
of the next input. The traditionally cursor (e.g. at
a DOS operating system) was displayed as a
simply, blinking underline. Since the era of grafical
user interfaces and operating sytems the cursor
can change its design in accordance with its
function.
Desktop
The desktop or the background is what you see
on your computer monitor before you start any
other programs. This is the place where you start
to work with other programs or files that you may
open.

Glossary