Panasonic SC-HT80 - Technical Glossary; Video Terminology; Digital Audio and Other Terms

Glossary
Video
Frame
Frames are the still pictures that go
together to make a moving picture. There
are about thirty frames shown each
second.
Field
One frame is made up of two fields. A
regular television shows these fields one
after the other to create frames.
One field
Frame still and field still
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.
I/P/B
MPEG 2, the video compression standard adapted for use with
DVD, codes frames using these three picture types.
I: Intra coded picture (l-picture)
This is the standard picture and is a complete 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 and 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.
Digital audio
Decoder
A decoder restores the coded audio signals on DVDs to normal.
This is called decoding.
Dolby Digital
This method of coding digital signals was developed by Dolby
Laboratories. The signals are highly compressed, enabling a large
amount of information to be recorded on one disc.
DTS (Digital Theater Systems)
This method of coding digital signals was developed by Digital
Theater Systems. The signals are compressed at a low ratio to
maintain sound quality.
Sampling rate
This is the number of samples of sound taken per second during
conversion to a digital signal. Sampling frequency is expressed in
kilohertz (kHz). A high sampling frequency results in a sound close
to the original when played back.
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.
Bitstream
This is the digital form of multiple channel audio data (e.g., 5.1
channel) before it Is decoded into its various channels.
Other
Track
This is the smallest division on CD and video CD, and usually
equates to a single song.
Chapter
This is the smallest division on DVD and is roughly equivalent to a
track.
Title
This is the largest division on DVD.
Playback control (PBC)
This method of controlling disc play is included on version 2.0 video
CDs. You are able to interact with the disc through menus.
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