Panasonic VP-31GN manual Glossary, 1 ch

Glossary

Audio channel for DVD (ch)

Sound is divided into channels based on the sound’s role. Example: 5.1 channel

≥Front speakers— 1 left channel and 1 right channel ≥Centre speaker— 1 channel

≥Surround speakers— 1 left channel and 1 right channel ≥Subwoofer— 1 channel a0.1 (the ratio of bass to the total

amount of sound output)

The following are indicated on the On-Screen Menu Icons. Example:

3/2 .1 ch	(1)	.1: Subwoofer signal
		(not displayed if there is no subwoofer signal)
	(2)	0: No surround
		1: Mono surround
		2: Stereo surround (left/right)
	(3)	1: Centre

2:Front leftiFront right

3:Front leftiFront rightiCentre

Bitstream

Digitized and compressed audio signal

It is decoded by decoders into multi-channel audio signals, such as 5.1 channels.

Decoder

A device 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 are also compatible with 5.1-channel audio. A large amount of audio information can be recorded on one disc using this method.

Dolby Pro Logic

A surround system where a 4-channel audio track is recorded as 2 channels and then is restored to 4 channels for play.

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.

Film and video

DVD-Videos are recorded using either film or video. Usually, film is recorded at 24 frames per second, the rate movies are filmed at, while video is recorded at 30 frames per second.

Frame and field

Frames are the still pictures that go together to make a moving picture. A frame is made up of 2 fields.

	=	+
Frame	Field	Field

≥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.

ID3 tag

An MP3 file has an area in which the character-based information referred to as ID3 tag, is stored. The information of the track, such as the title, artist name, etc. can be stored here. The information can be displayed on players supporting the ID3 tag when a track is played back. However, this unit cannot because it does not support the ID3 tag.

Interlace and progressive output

NTSC, the video signal standard, has 480 interlaced (I) scan lines, whereas progressive scanning uses twice the number of scan lines. This is called 480P.

I/P/B

The DVD recording system shares the data commonly used by screens and uses screen-independent data individually for each screen to store the data on the disc efficiently.

≥I-picture (Intra coded picture):

A frame recorded independently as reference for commonly used data

≥P-picture (Predictive coded picture):

This picture is calculated based on past I- or P-pictures. ≥B-picture (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.

I-picture has the best quality and is the best to use when adjusting the picture.

Linear PCM (pulse code modulation)

These are uncompressed digital signals, similar to those found on CDs.

Multi-session

This means recording data onto a CD-R/CD-RW disc several times. “Read-in/Programme area/Read-out” of the data on a disc makes one session.

If data, such as music, is added onto a pre-recorded CD-R/RW disc, a new session will be added. Such a disc is referred to as a multisession disc.

Normal audio CD players can play back only the first session. On the other hand, this unit can play back 2 or more sessions.

Playback control (PBC)

If a Video CD has playback control, you can select scenes and information with menus.

In this manual, playing back of the contents of a Video CD using the menu screen is referred to as “Menu play” for Video CD.

Helpful Hints

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