| Glossary |
Audio Vision Electric
Electrical & Low Voltage Contractors
31500 Grape Street, Suite #3176
Lake Elsinore, California 92532
Business: 951. 674.9844 |
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HOME THEATER and TV |
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Aspect Radio: The width to height ratio of an image on a TV.
Analog: Compared to digital formats, analog is the older form of electronical signal transmission. Analog is transmitted in frequency, while digital signals are transmitted in codes.
Anamorphic Wide screen: Video that has been enhanced for use on wide screen televisions. Sometimes the configuration for a regular TV results in artifact, but an anamorphic wide screen is still better picture than VHS or laserdisc. Also referred to as "16 x 9 enhanced" or "wide screen".
Artifact: Something in a video picture that was not originally there. For example, on some DVDs you may see "pixelization", or computerized blocks of color or black space. This is a result of poor DVD mastering, poor compression or is your player or TV has been set wrong. Consult your equipment manuals to remedy the latter.
Burn-In: When stationary graphics are onscreen for a long period of time, the continuous image can "burn" into the screen, resulting in a ghostly after-image superimoosedc over anything you watch. This is the most common on rear projection sets.
CRT: Cathode Ray Tube. Three CRTs (one each red, green and blue) make up the heart of a rear projection television.
Coaxial Cable: A thick cable comprised of an inner wire and braided outside wire. Used to feed cable programming to TVs, among other things. Sometimes called coax cable.
Commentary Track: A separate track of audio on the DVD that can include filmmakers, stars, etc. discussing the film as it plays.
Component: An element of your system such as TV, a receiver, a subwoofer.
Component Video: Outputs on a DVD player or TV that deliver the highest level of video by splitting the signal into three digital parts. For component video to work the source (DVD player) and the set (TV) must have like outputs.
Composite Audio: Another name for the standard RCA-jack audio outputs included on most DVD players and on all consumer-level audio components. On most stereo components, this is a red-colored right output or input, and a white-colored left output or input.
Composite Video: Another name for a standard RCA-jack video output. These outputs mix color as well as black and white signals together. Results in an image this is not as sharp or clear as S- and component video.
Compression: The process that allows films to be stored digitally on DVD. See also MPEG-2
Convergence: Adjustment of red, green and blue color on a rear projection set. The three CRTs inside a rear projection set occasionally need this adjustment to ensure a sharp picture.
Copy Protection: Used on 99 percent of DVDs to preventing coping to VHS or other video formats. Home coping of DVDs to other format is now so difficult it's practically impossible, thanks to several different copy protection procedures employed by manufactures. See also Macrovision.
Digital TV: TV capable of displaying digital or standard signals.
Digital Coax Output: Transmits a digital audio signal via a digital coaxial cable. Similar in quality to a digital optical output, it is found on most mid-level and high-end DVD players and some CD players.
Digital Comb Filter: Filter that digitally separates color and black and white signals in your TV, providing a sharper picture and reducing artifacting and shimmer. The best digital comb filters, called 3-line digital comb filters, compare three lines of video to ensure the best possible picture.
Digital Optical Output: Transmits a digital audio signal via a fiber optic cable. It is practically immune to magnetic or electrical interference. Similar in quality to a digital coax output, it is found on most mid-level and high-end DVD players and some CD players.
Direct View TV: TV capable of displaying a digital signal for standard TVs.
Dolby Pro-Logic: The VHS standard for delivering surround sound. All DD 5.1 receivers can decode Pro-Logic. Some older DVDs may be encoded with digital Pro-Logic signals.
Dolby Digital 5.1 (DD 5.1): The most common sound output for DVDs. DD 5.1 sends unique signals to six different speakers: front left, front center, front right, rear left, rear right and subwoofer. To experience DD 5.1 you need a DVD player with a built-in decoder and DD-ready receiver.
Easter Egg: A hidden, special feature on DVD only savvy users can discover. It's usually a documentary, hidden audio track, theatrical trailer or TV trailer.
Fiber Optic Cable: A small, light cable transmitting light pulses that translate to TV.
Flippers: Slang term for a DVD on which a film is split on two sides. Some longer films released on early DVDs are flippers, but the advent of better compression technology and RSDL discs eliminated the need for these. See also layer change, RSDL, and compression.
HDTV: Acronym for High Definition Television. Only viewable with certain DVDs and HDTV receivers.
Input: Connection on a component that receives signals from an outside source. For example, cable TV is attached to a TV input to transmit the cable signal.
Jog/Shuttle: VCRs and DVD players with this feature allow for customized fast-forward, rewind and slow-motion speeds. Usually operated by a round dial on the remote or front panel of the machine itself.
Laser Rot: This is a condition found in a small fraction of laserdiscs. The condition is caused by oxidation in the aluminum layer of the disc. Laserdiscs with this condition cease to play. Experts say it is too early to tell if DVDs will develop laser rot, but steps have been taken to prevent it, such as use of higher-quality materials in the manufacturing of discs.
Laserdisc: A precursor to DVDs, this among format has been embraced by film buffs for more than a decade. Laserdiscs are LP-sized discs that usually must be flipped, and in some cases changed, in order to see the entire movie.
Layer Change: When a DVD player skips to the next layer of an RSDL disc. This usually triggers a brief pause in the audio and video.
Line Doubling: Digital TVs and some DVD players can display lines of resolution in order, unlike traditional TVs that scan odd lines and then even lines onto the screen. Also called "Progressive Scan".
Macro Vision: DVD copying deterrent. If you try to run a DVD player through the composite video jack on a VCR to record a DVD onto a tape, you will see the incompatible effects of microvision. DVD players must be hooked up directly to the TV, or through a receiver with video switching to get a clear signal.
MPEG-2: Films must be converted to digital files in order to be stored on DVD. MPEG-2 is the standard compression process for these digital files.
Outputs: Connection on a component that sends a signal to another component via cable.
Pan and Scan: When a movie is sometimes cropped from its original theatrical aspect ratio to fit your TV. Also called standard format on some DVD packaging.
PVR: Personal Video Recorder: A set-top box that allows you to customize your TV viewing experience. You must buy a receiver and the service to take advantage of the perks: recording shows (without tapes); stopping and fast forwarding a live show; creating your own programming, etc.
RCA Jack Outputs: Outputs that mix color as well as black and white signals together. Results in an image that is not as sharp or clear as S-and component video.
Rear Projection TV: A television set with a three-CRT projection system and screen all in one package. Most big screen TVs over 40 inches is rear projection.
Region Codes: DVDs and players are encoded to perform only in certain geographical regions. For example, DVDs in North America are encoded "Region 1." Only Region 1 players will play a Region 1 disc. Before you purchase a disc online, make sure that your DVD player can play it.
RF Coax Output: Radio Frequency Coaxial Cable Output. This output can't produce the high-resolution picture that DVDs provide, but it will provide for a hook-up from DVD players to older TVs.
RSDL Dual Layer: Reverse Spiral Dual Layer. This is a technique in which a movie is split across two layers of a single side of a disc and is joined together for continuous playback. DVD players switch between the layers almost instantaneously, allowing more information to be store on the same side of a disc and eliminating the need for "flipping". See also layer change and flippers.
S-Video: A small, round jack with a pin in the center that receives signals for black and white and color. Provides much better video quality than composites outputs. Approaches the quality of component video.
Sampling Rate: How a movie or piece of music has been recorded or copied. The higher the sampling rate, the better the quality.
Shielded Speaker: Powerful magnets inside speakers can damage a television, so speakers placed near TVs (especially center channels) need to be shielded to prevent this problem.
Stretch Algorithm: A 4:3 picture from cable, satellite or over-the-air TV can be stretched to fill a 16:9 TV using stretching algorithms. Most manufactures accomplish this by stretching the sides of the picture more than the center, reducing noticeable distortion.
Subwoofer: A large bass driver in its own cabinet that comes in two types: powered and passive. Passive subs draw power from an amplifier or receiver, while powered subs have their own amplifier.
Supplements: "Extras" included on special edition DVDs besides the movie itself. Examples include commentary tracks, theatrical trailers, and TV spots, "making of" documentaries, cast bios and production notes.
S-VHS: Super VHS. This format displays better resolution than standard VHS, but still doesn't approach the quality of DVD. No prerecorded material is in this format, but it can be used in the home for better quality recordings from digital satellite or cable.
V-Chip: Technology that blocks content. The chip reads transmitted ratings from television programs and blacks them out at the level set by the TV owner.
Windscreen: This format presents films in their original theatrical aspect ratios, or percent wider than a standard TV display. For example, a film shot in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio loses almost half the original picture when it is cropped to fill your TV screen, which is 1.33:1. The black bars at the top and bottom of the screen are normal for this format. Even though the image is smaller, you can actually see more of the picture. |
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