Troubleshooting guide/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.

Decoder

A decoder restores the coded audio signals on DVDs to normal. This is called decoding.

DivX

A video compression format developed by DivXNetworks, Inc. that compresses video files without any considerable loss of video quality.

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.

DPOF (Digital Print Order Format)

DPOF is the standard printing format for still picture data taken by a digital camera, etc. It is used for automatic printing at a photo developing store or on your home printer.

Drive

In the instance of this unit, this refers to the hard disk (HDD), disc (DVD) and SD card (SD). 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 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.

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.

Finalize

Aprocess that makes play of a recorded CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, etc. possible on equipment that can play such media. You can finalize DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD-RW (DVD-Video format), +R, +R DL on this unit.

After finalizing, the disc becomes play-only and you can no longer record or edit. However, finalized DVD-RW can be formatted to become recordable.

Folder

This is a place on the hard disk or memory card where groups of data are stored together. In the case of this unit, it refers to the place where still pictures (JPEG, TIFF) and MPEG2 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), +RW, SD Memory Cards and the HDD or unused +R and +R DL on this unit. Formatting deletes irrevocably all contents.

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 picture quality is generally better.

≥A field still shows less picture information so it may be rougher, but 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.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

This is a system used for compressing/decoding colour 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. LPCM sound is available when recording in XP mode.

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. MPEG2 moving picture files shot with a Panasonic SD multi-camera, etc. can be copied to the HDD or a DVD-RAM disc.

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 deletion by setting writing protection or deletion protection.

RGB

This refers to the three primary colours of light, red (R), green (G), and blue (B) and also the method of producing video that uses them. By dividing the video signal into the three colours for transmission, noise is reduced for even higher quality images.

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.

Thumbnail

This refers to a miniature representation of a picture used to display multiple pictures in the form of a list.

TIFF (Tag Image File Format)

This is a system used for compressing/decoding colour still pictures, a common format for storing high quality images on digital cameras and other devices.