Glossary for DVD Player

Aspect ratio

The ratio of vertical and horizontal sizes of a displayed image. The horizontal vs. vertical ratio of conventional TVs is 4:3 and that of wide-screen TVs is 16:9.

Multichannel

DVD VIDEO has been designed to have each soundtrack constitute one sound field. Multichannel refers to a structure of sound tracks having three or more channels.

Chapter

The smallest division on DVD VIDEO. It is a division of a title and similar to a track for CD or VCD.

Multilanguage

When a title is created to cope with multiple languages, it is generally called a multilanguage title.

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.

Disc menu

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.