Glossary

Bitstream

This is a signal compressed and converted into digital form. It is converted back to a multi-channel audio signal, e.g., 5.1-channel, by a decoder.

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.

Decoder

A decoder restores the coded audio signals on DVDs to normal. This is called decoding.

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 multi-channel audio. A large amount of audio information can be recorded on one disc using this method.

When recording on this unit Dolby Digital (2 channel) is the default audio.

Down-mixing

This is the process of remixing the multi-channel audio found on some discs into two channels. It is useful when you want to listen to the 5.1- channel audio recorded on DVDs through your TV’s speakers. Some discs prohibit down-mixing. If this is the case, this unit can only output the front two channels.

Drive

In the instance of this unit, this refers to disc (DVD) and video cassette (VHS). These perform the reading and writing of data.

DTS (Digital Theater Systems)

This surround system is used in many movie theaters. 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. Dynamic range compression means reducing the gap between the loudest and softest sounds. This means you can hear dialogue clearly at low volume.

Film and Video

DVD-Videos are recorded using either ﬁ lm or video. The 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 ﬁ lms.
Video:	Recorded at 25 frames/50 ﬁ elds per second. (PAL discs)
	or 30 frames/60 ﬁ elds per second (NTSC discs). Generally
	appropriate for TV drama programmes or animation.

Finalise

A process that makes play of a recorded CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, etc. possible on equipment that can play such media. You can ﬁ nalise DVD- R, DVD-R DL, DVD-RW (DVD-Video format), +R, and +R DL on the unit. After ﬁ nalising, the disc becomes play-only and you can no longer record or edit. However, ﬁ nalised DVD-RW can be formatted to become recordable.

Formatting

Formatting is the process of making media such as DVD-RAM recordable on recording equipment.

You can format DVD-RAM, DVD-RW (only as DVD-Video format) and, +RW or unused +R and +R DL on this unit.

Formatting irrevocably erases all contents.

Frame and Field

Frame refers to the single images that constitute the video you see on your TV. Each frame consists of 2 ﬁ elds.


Frame	Field	Field

A frame still shows 2 ﬁ elds, so there may be some blurring between them, but picture quality is generally better.

A ﬁ eld still shows less picture information so it may be rougher, but there is no blurring.

HDMI (High-Deﬁnition Multimedia Interface)

Unlike conventional connections, it transmits uncompressed digital video and audio signals on a single cable. This unit supports high- deﬁ nition video output [720p (750p), 1080i (1125i) and 1080p (1125p)] from HDMI AV OUT terminal. To enjoy high-deﬁ nition video a high deﬁ nition compatible television is required.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

This is a system used for compressing/decoding color still pictures. If you select JPEG as the storage system on digital cameras, etc., the data will be compressed to 1/10-1/100 of its original size. The beneﬁ t of JPEG is less deterioration in picture quality considering the degree of compression.

LPCM (Linear PCM)

These are uncompressed digital signals, similar to those found on CDs. LPCM sound is available when recording in XP mode.

MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group)

A standard for efﬁ ciently compressing and expanding colour video. MPEG2 is a compression standard used for DVD and satellite based digital broadcasting. This unit records programmes using MPEG2.

MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer 3)

An audio compression method that compresses audio to approximately one-tenth of its size without any signiﬁ cant loss of audio quality. You can play MP3s you have recorded onto DVD-R, DVD-R DL, CD-R and CD-RW.

Pan & Scan/Letterbox

In general, DVD-Video are produced with the intention that they will be viewed on a widescreen TV (16:9 aspect ratio), so images often don’t

ﬁt regular TVs (4:3 aspect ratio). 2 styles of picture, “Pan & Scan” and “Letterbox”, deal with this problem.

Pan & Scan: The sides are cut off so the picture ﬁ lls 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.)

RQT8857