Panasonic GCSEB E Glossary, Decoder, Dolby Digital, DTS Digital Theater Systems, Dynamic range

Glossary

Decoder

A decoder 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 can also be multi-channel audio. A large amount of audio information can be recorded on one disc using this method.

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.

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.

Frame still and field still

Frames are the still pictures that go together to make a moving picture. There are about 30 frames shown each second.

One frame is made up of two fields. A regular television shows these fields one after the other to create frames.

A still is shown when you pause a moving picture. 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.

Windows Media, and the Windows logo are trademarks, or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

WMA is a compression format developed by Microsoft Corporation. It achieves the same sound quality as MP3 with a file size that is smaller than that of MP3.

MPEG Layer-3 audio decoding technology licensed from Fraunhofer IIS and Thomson multimedia.

Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories.

“Dolby”, “Pro Logic” and the double-D symbol are trademarks of

I/P/B

MPEG 2, the video compression standard adopted for use with DVD-Video, codes frames using these 3 picture types.

I:Intra coded picture

This picture has the best quality and is the best to use when

adjusting the picture.

P:Predictive coded picture

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

B: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.

Linear PCM (pulse code modulation)

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

Playback control (PBC)

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

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.

Glossary

“DTS” and “DTS Digital Surround” are registered trademarks of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.

This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by method claims of certain U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights owned by Macrovision Corporation and other rights owners. Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision Corporation, and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision Corporation. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited.

, HDCD®, High Definition Compatible Digital® and Pacific Microsonics™ are either registered

trademarks or trademarks of Pacific Microsonics, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

HDCD system manufactured under license from Pacific Microsonics, Inc. This product is covered by one or more of the following: In the USA: 5,479,168, 5,638,074, 5,640,161,

Dolby Laboratories.

5,808,574, 5,838,274, 5,854,600, 5,864,311, 5,872,531, and in Australia: 669114, with other patents pending.

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