Emerson AV301 owner manual Glossary

Glossary

Bit rate

Value indicating the amount of video data compressed in a DVD per second. The unit is Mbps (mega bit per second). 1 Mbps indicates that the data per second is 1,000,000 bits. The higher the bit rate is, the larger the amount of data. However, this does not always mean that you can get higher quality pictures.

Chapter

Sections of a picture or a music piece on a DVD that are smaller than titles. A title is composed of several chapters. Each chapter is assigned a chapter number enabling you to locate the chapter you want.

Dolby Digital ("5.1", "AC-3")

This sound format for movie theaters is more advanced than Dolby Pro Logic Surround. In this format, the rear speakers output stereo sound with an expanded frequency range and a subwoofer channel for deep bass is independently provided. This format is also called "5.1" because the subwoofer channel is counted as 0.1 channel (since it functions only when a deep bass effect is needed). All six channels in this format are recorded separately to realize superior channel separation. Furthermore, since all the signals are processed digitally, less signal degradation occurs. The name "AC-3" comes from the fact that it is the third audio coding method to be developed by the Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.

Dolby Pro Logic Surround

This is a method of decoding Dolby Surround, Dolby Pro Logic Surround that produces four channels from two-channel sound. Compared with the former Dolby Surround system, Dolby Pro Logic Surround reproduces left-to-right panning more naturally and localizes sounds more precisely. To take full advantage of Dolby Pro Logic Surround, you should have one pair of rear speakers and a center speaker. The rear speakers output monaural sound.

MPEG AUDIO

International standard coding system to compress audio digital signals authorized by ISO/IEC. MPEG 1 conforms to up to 2-channel stereo. MPEG 2 used on DVDs conforms to up to 7.1-channel surround.

DVD

A disc that contains up to 8 hours of moving pictures even though its diameter is the same as a CD.

The data capacity of a single-layer and single-sided DVD, at 4.7 GB (Giga Byte), is 7 times that of a CD.

Furthermore, the data capacity of a dual-layer and single-sided DVD is 8.5 GB, a single-layer and double-sided DVD 9.4 GB, and a dual-layer and double-sided DVD 17 GB.

The picture data uses the MPEG 2 format, one of the worldwide standards of digital compression technology.

The picture data is compressed to about 1/40 of its original size. The DVD also uses the variable rate coding technology that changes the data to be allocated according to the status of the picture.

The audio data is recorded in Dolby Digital as well as in PCM, allowing you to enjoy more real audio presence. Furthermore, various advanced functions such as the multi- angle, multilingual, and Parental Control functions are provided with the DVD.

Multi-angle function

Various angles, or viewpoints of the video camera, for a scene are recorded on some DVDs

Multilingual function

Several languages for the sound or subtitles in a picture are recorded on some DVDs.

Parental Control

A function of the DVD to limit playback of the disc by the age of the users according to the limitation level in each country. The limitation varies from disc to disc. When it is activated, playback is completely prohibited, violent scenes are skipped or replaced with other scenes and so on.

Title

The longest sections of a picture or a music piece on a DVD; a movie, etc., for a picture piece on video software; or an album, etc., for a music piece on an audio software. Each title is assigned a title number enabling you to locate the title you want.

Track

Sections of a music piece on a CD. Each track is assigned a track number enabling you to locate the track you want.

PCM

Pulse Code Modulation: a data formation.

NTSC

National TV Systems Committee: a video standard used in USA.

PAL

Phase Alternation Line: a video standard used in Europe.

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