Panasonic DMR-EZ49VEB manual Glossary

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.

Deep Colour

This unit incorporates HDMI (V.1.3a with Deep Colour) technology that can reproduce greater colour gradation (4096 steps) when connected to a compatible TV.

You can enjoy exceptionally rich, natural-looking colours, with smooth, detailed gradation and minimal colour banding.

[A lower colour gradation (256 steps), without Deep Colour, will be reproduced if connected to a TV which does not support Deep Colour. The unit will automatically set appropriate output to suit the connected TV.]

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 the 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-Video are recorded using either film 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 films.
Video:	Recorded at 25 frames/50 fields per second (PAL
	discs) or 30 frames/60 fields per second (NTSC
	discs). Generally appropriate for TV drama
	programmes or animation.

Finalise

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

Folder

This is a place on the disc where groups of data are stored together. In the case of this unit, it refers to the place where still pictures (JPEG) are stored.

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 fields.

		
Frame	Field	Field

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

≥A field 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- definition video output [720p (750p), 1080i (1125i) and 1080p (1125p)] from HDMI AV OUT terminal. To enjoy high-definition video a high definition 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 benefit 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.

MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group)

A standard for efficiently 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 1/10 of its size without any significant loss of audio quality.

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
	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 on the screen.

(This unit is compatible with version 2.0 and 1.1.)

92

VQT2J51