Panasonic DMR-E85H operating instructions Glossary

Glossary

Bitstream

This is the digital form of multi-channel audio data (e.g., 5.1 channel) before it is decoded into its various channels.

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.

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 television’s speakers. Some discs prohibit down-mixing and this unit can then only output the front two channels.

Drive

In the instance of this unit, this refers to the hard disk (HDD) and DVD. 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 listen at low
Reference	volumes but still hear dialogue clearly.
	Film and video
	DVD-Videos are recorded using either film or video. This unit can
	determine which type has been used, then uses the most suitable
	method of progressive output.
	For PAL
	Film is 25 frames per second.
	Video is 50 fields per second (two fields making up one frame).
	For NTSC
	Film is 24 or 30 frames per second, with motion picture film generally
	being 24 frames per second.
	Video is 60 fields per second (two fields making up one frame).

Finalize

Aprocess that makes play of a recorded CD-R, CD-RW or DVD-R etc. possible on equipment that can play such media. You can finalize DVD-R on this unit.

You cannot record onto or edit finalized discs.

Formatting

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

You can format the HDD and DVD-RAM on this unit. Formatting erases irrevocably all recordings on the disc.

Frames and fields

Frames refer to the single images that constitute the video you see on your television. Each frame consists of two fields.

	u	r
Frame	Field	Field

≥A frame still shows two fields, so there may be some blurring, but

RQT7664 picture quality is generally better.

≥A field still shows less picture information so it may be rougher, but 46 there is no blurring.

HDD (Hard disk drive)

This is a mass data storage device used in computers etc. A disk with a surface that has been treated with magnetic fluid is spun and a magnetic head is brought in close proximity to facilitate the reading and writing of large amounts of data at high speed.

LPCM (Linear PCM)

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

MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer 3)

An audio compression method that compresses audio to approximately one tenth of its size without any considerable loss of audio quality. You can play MP3 you have recorded onto CD-R and CD-RW.

Pan&Scan/Letterbox

In general, DVD-Video are produced with the intention that they be viewed on a widescreen television (16:9 aspect ratio), so images often don’t fit regular (4:3 aspect ratio) televisions. Two styles of picture, “Pan & Scan” and “Letterbox”, deal with this problem.

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

Progressive/Interlace

The PAL video signal standard has 625 (or 576) interlaced (I) scan lines, whereas progressive scanning, called 625P (or 576P), uses twice the number of scan lines. For the NTSC standard, these are called 525I (or 480I) and 525P (or 480P) respectively.

Using progressive output, you can enjoy the high-resolution video recorded on media such as DVD-Video.

Your television must be compatible to enjoy progressive video. Panasonic televisions with 625 (576)/50I · 50P, 525 (480)/60I · 60P input terminals are progressive compatible.

Protection

You can prevent accidental erasure by setting writing protection or erasure protection.

Sampling frequency

Sampling is the process of converting the heights of sound wave (analog signal) samples taken at set periods into digits (digital encoding). Sampling frequency is the number of samples taken per second, so larger numbers mean more faithful reproduction of the original sound.

VBR (Variable bitrate)

This is a method of video recording that adjusts the bit rate according to video signal.

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