Glossary for DVD Player

Aspect ratio	Multi-channel
The ratio of vertical and horizontal sizes of a displayed	DVD VIDEO has been designed to have each soundtrack
image. The horizontal vs. vertical ratio of conventional TVs	constitute one sound field. Multi-channel refers to a
is 4:3 and that of wide-screen TVs is 16:9.	structure of sound tracks having three or more channels.

Chapter	Multi-language
The smallest division on DVD VIDEO. It is a division of a	When a title is created to cope with multiple languages, it
title and similar to a track for CD or VCD.	is generally called a multilanguage title.

English

Component video signal

A video signal system where parts of information necessary for reproducing image signal comprised of the three primary colors of light are transmitted via separate signal lines. Types of signal, such as R/G/B, Y/PB/PR, etc., are available.

Composite video signal

A video signal comprised of three kinds of signals combined: an image signal made up of luminance and chrominance signals using the frequency multiplication technique, burst signal providing the basis for color reproduction, and synchronization signal.

Packed PCM (PCM: Pulse Code Modulation)

A format for DVD AUDIO with a compression ratio of about 2:1. This supports up to 192 kHz/24 bit and allows PCM signals to be completely recreated.

Parental Lock

A feature of this system to automatically determine whether or not to reproduce particular DVD VIDEO software by comparing its parental level (a measure of undesirability of scenes, etc. from educational viewpoint) set for the software beforehand with that set on this system by the user; if the software’s level is less restrictive than the user-set level, it will be reproduced.

Disc menu

A screen display prepared for allowing selection of images, sounds, subtitles, multi-angle, etc. recorded on DVD VIDEO.

Interlaced scanning

In the conventional video system, a picture is shown on the display monitor in two halves. The Interlaced scanning system places lines of the second half of the picture in- between lines of the first half of the picture.

JPEG

A still-picture data compression system proposed by the Joint Photographic Expert Group, which features little distortion in image quality in spite of its high compression ratio.

Letter box

A method of displaying wide images like movies in on a 4:3 TV screen with no part of the image deleted by placing black bands on the top and bottom of the screen. This name has derived from the screen form looking literally like a letter box.

Linear PCM (PCM: Pulse Code Modulation)

A system for converting analog sound signal to digital signal for later processing with no data compression used in conversion.

MP3

A file format with a sound data compression system. “MP3” is the abbreviation of Motion Picture Experts Group 1 (or MPEG-1) Audio Layer 3. By using MP3 format, one CD-R or CD-RW can contain about 10 times as much data volume as a regular CD can.

Multi-angle

By recording multiple scenes progressing at the same time in a single title, the user can select view angles. This feature is called the multi-angle function.

Playback control (PBC)

Refers to the signal recorded on VCD/SVCD for controlling reproduction. By using menu screens recorded on VCD/SVCD that supports PBC, you can enjoy interactive-type software as well as software having a search function.

Progressive scanning

By progressive scanning, all the horizontal lines of a picture are displayed at one time as a single frame. This system can convert the interlaced video from DVD VIDEO into progressive format for connection to a progressive TV. It dramatically increases the vertical resolution.

Region code

A system for allowing discs to be played back only in the regions designated beforehand. All the countries in the world are divided into six regions and each region is identified by a specified region code (or region number). If the region code of a disc matches that of a player, the player can play back the disc.

Sampling frequency

Frequency of sampling data when analog data is converted to digital data. Sampling frequency numerically represents how many times the original analog signal is sampled per second.

Surround

A system for creating three-dimensional sound fields full of realism by arranging multiple speakers around the listener.

Transfer rate

The rate of transferring digital data. Usually the measure is in bit per second (bps). The DVD system applies a variable transfer rate system for high efficiency.