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6
Introduction
Glossary of terms
Aspect Ratio – The shape of the rectangular picture in a TV set. It is the width of the picture
relative to the height. Our standard TV picture, in terminology used by that industry, is 4 units
wide by 3 units high, or 4:3 (read as 4 by 3) in aspect ratio. There are currently two standard
TV aspect ratios, 4:3 and 16:9.
Chapter – In DVD-Video, a division of a title. Technically called a part of title (PTT).
Component Video – A video signal split into three parts: luminance and two color signals
(marked as YPbPr). It provides the highest resolution video, but cannot be processed by all
television sets.
Composite Video – A single video signal that contains luminance, color, and synchronization
information. NTSC and PAL are examples of composite video systems.
Dolby Laboratories – Developer of a perceptual coding system for audio.
Dolby Digital – a type of multi-channel surround sound format used on discs.
– the logo representing Dolby
®
Digital.
DTS – a type of multi-channel surround sound format used on discs.
– the logo representing DTS.
DVD – An acronym that is most commonly known to mean Digital Video Disc or Digital
Versatile Disc. The audio/video/data storage system based on 12- and 8-cm optical discs.
DVD Video – A standard for storing and reproducing audio and video on DVD-ROM discs,
based on MPEG video, Dolby Digital and MPEG audio, and other proprietary data formats.
IR – An acronym for infrared. Pertains to the type of remote that sends/receives commands
on an infrared light beam.
Letterbox – The projected aspect ratio of feature films is often 16:9 rather than the 4:3 aspect
ratio of most TVs. Therefore, it is becoming common practice to transfer films to video with
black borders at the top and bottom of the picture. The film picture becomes a “letterbox”
within the video.
MPEG – a type of data compression used for audio or video storage on disc.
MP3 – MPEG-1 Layer III audio. This is a compressed audio format that allows you to record
many hours of music on a single CD.
NTSC – An acronym for National Television System Committee. The organization that devel-
oped both the American Black & White and Color television systems.
PAL – An acronym for Phase Alternate Line. A television format used extensively in Western
Europe.