Panasonic DVD-LA85 - Manuel (Page 46)

Glossary
Bitstream
This is the digital form of multiple channel
audio data (e.g., 5.1-channel) before it is
decoded into its various channels.
Chapter
This is the smallest division on DVD-Video
and is roughly equivalent to a track.
Dolby Digital
This is a method of coding digital signals
developed by Dolby Laboratories. Apart
from stereo (2-channel) audio, these sig­
nals can also be 5.1 -channel audio. A large
amount of audio information can be record­
ed on one disc using this method.
Dolby Pro Logic
A surround system where a 4-channel
audio track is recorded as 2 channels and
then is restored to 4 channels for play. The
surround channel is monaural and can re­
produce up to 7 kHz.
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.
Field
One frame is made up of 2 fields.
A regular television shows these fields one
after the other to create frames.
Frame
Frames are the still pictures that go togeth­
er to make a moving picture.
There are about 30 frames shown each
second.
Frame still and field still
A still is shown when you pause a moving
picture. A frame still is made up of 2 alter-
nating 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.
Group
This is a set of tracks on DVD-Audio.
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 (l-picture)
This is the standard picture and is a com­
plete picture in itself. This means it has the
best picture quality and is the best to use
when adjusting the picture.
P: Predictive coded picture (P-picture)
This picture is calculated based on past I or
P-pictures.
B: Bidirectionally-predictive coded picture
(B-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)
PCM is the usual digital method used for
music CDs. DVDs have a greater volume
so they use linear PCM, which has a higher
sampling rate. Compressed PCM signals
are called packed PCM (PPCM).
Playback control (PBC)
This method of controlling disc play is in­
cluded on version 2.0 Video CDs. You are
able to interact with the disc through
menus. Using these menus to play Video
C D s is called “menu play” in these operat­
ing instructions.
Title
This is the largest division on DVD-Video.
Track
This is the smallest division on DVD-Audio,
Video CDs, and CDs and usually equates
to a single song.