Glossary
Authoring – Refers to the process of taking your converted video files and creating a DVD, VideoCD or Super VideoCD using a authoring software package. Authoring software lets you do things like add chapters or menus to your disc and allows it to be played on many set-top players or computers. Examples of authoring software include Adobe Encore DVD, Ulead DVD Workshop, Roxio Easy CD Creator and Nero Burning ROM.
AVI – Short for Audio Video Interleave, an early video format developed by Microsoft for playback on Windows-based computers. AVI has been officially replaced by Windows Media Video but is still a popular format for both DV and CD-ROMs.
Bitrate – The measurement of the number of data bits per second in a file. Eight bits form one byte. Video files are normally measured in thousands of bits, or kilobits per second (kbps). The higher the bitrate, the larger the resulting file for a specified amount of time. Generally, the higher the bitrate, the better the quality of the video.
Bitrate, Constant – A video encoding mode where each frame of video is encoded with a constant number of bits. There can be some variation in particular frames, but the overall average bitrate remains the same over a given time period. Constant bitrate video is generally easier to play back than variable bitrate video because it provides a constant flow of data.
Bitrate, 2-pass Variable – A video encoding mode where two passes are performed on the video. The first pass analyzes the complexity of the video and the second pass encodes the video using different bitrates depending on the results of the analysis. 2-pass variable bitrate can produce better-looking video by reserving bits from areas of low complexity for use in areas of higher complexity.
Codec – Short for compressor/decompressor, a codec is software that compresses video for storage purposes and then decompresses it for playback purposes. Codecs vary in quality – some are good for Web video while others are better for broadcast-quality video.
Data Rate –The amount of data that is used in the video. Data rate is usually represented in thousands of bits per second or kilobits per second (kbps), however, it can also be represented in other units such as megabytes per second (MB/sec). Bitrate is a particular measurement of data rate.
DivX – A popular video compression method used for a wide range of purposes including Web video and High Definition video storage and playback. DivX uses MPEG-4 technology to achieve low bitrates and small file sizes.
DV – In general use, stands for digital video, meaning any digital representation of video. However, more recently it refers to the Consumer DV format which is a video compression format used in miniDV camcorders. In ProCoder 3, DV refers to the Consumer DV format.
DVD – Popular format for storing and delivery high-quality video. DVDs use MPEG-2 video to provide broadcast-quality playback, as well as interactivity such as menus and chapter-points. DVDs can be played on set-top DVD players, as well as computers with a DVD-ROM drive and appropriate software.
Frame Rate – The number of video frames shown per second. In general, the higher the frame rate, the smoother the playback.
Frame Size – Refers to the pixel size of your converted video. You’ll encounter a frame size option when you try to create CD-ROM or HD video. For CD-ROM video, 320×240 is half the size vertically and horizontally of full-screen video (640×480). For HD video, resolutions are much higher so your options are 1920×1080 interlaced for 1080i, and 1280×720 for 720p.
MPEG – Short for Motion Picture Experts Group, the MPEG video format was created to provide a standard for compressing large-sized digital video files into a smaller size. MPEG-1 was intended for video delivered on CD-ROM, but can also be used for Web delivery. MPEG-2 is a broadcast-quality video format that is used for DVDs and digital television.
MPEG-1 Elementary Streams – MPEG-1 Elementary streams carry either audio or video, but not both.
The file extensions for MPEG-1 elementary streams are .mpv or .m1v for video elementary streams and .mpa or .m1a for audio elementary streams.
MPEG-1 System Streams – MPEG-1 System streams carry both video and audio together in a multiplexed (mixed) arrangement where audio and video data occur together.
The file extension for MPEG-1 system streams is .mpg but elementary streams are often named .mpg as well.
MPEG-2 Elementary Streams – MPEG-2 Elementary streams carry either audio or video, but not both. Higher-end DVD authoring software usually requires video in MPEG-2 elementary stream format.
The file extensions for MPEG-2 elementary streams are .m2v for video elementary streams and .m2a for audio elementary streams.
MPEG-2 Program Streams – MPEG-2 Program streams carry both video and audio together in a multiplexed (mixed) arrangement where audio and video data occur together. Some DVD authoring applications require MPEG-2 Program streams for input.
The file extension for MPEG-2 Program streams is .m2p but some programs use .mp2 or .mpg instead.
MPEG-2 Transport Streams – MPEG-2 Transport streams carry one or more MPEG-2 Program streams. Transport streams include extra data to provide additional robustness and are often used for satellite transmissions and off-air HDTV broadcasts.
The file extension for MPEG-2 Transport streams is .m2t but some programs use as .ts or .tp instead.
MPEG-4 Streams – MPEG-4 streams can carry both video and audio as well as additional data together in a multiplexed (mixed) arrangement. MPEG-4 is often used for low-bandwidth video playback on handheld devices and on low-bandwidth devices such as wireless phones.
The file extension for MPEG-4 streams is usually .mp4 but MPEG-4 streams are sometimes “wrapped” in QuickTime or AVI files.
Noise – For video, typically refers to noticeable dots, lines, or patterns that should not be in the video. Noise is generally noticeable in poor-quality source video.
NTSC – Short for North American Television Standards Committee. NTSC defines a particular way a video signal can be communicated. The NTSC broadcast format is used primarily in the United States, Canada and Japan. NTSC signals cannot be displayed by non-NTSC devices, such as PAL format televisions. NTSC signals are displayed at 29.97 frames per second.
Overscan Area – Most video output devices, such as televisions, don’t show the entire video frame that is available. A small amount of the video’s edges are hidden and not shown. Essentially, the video image shown is slightly smaller than the actual image being received. The unseen edges are called the overscan area.
PAL – Short for Phase Alternating Lines. PAL defines a particular way a video signal can be communicated. The PAL broadcast format is used primarily in Asia (except Japan), Australia and Europe. PAL signals cannot be displayed by non-PAL devices, such as NTSC format televisions. PAL signals are displayed at 25 frames per second.
Progressive Download – A method of viewing video where the viewer receives enough of the video file to start playback while it continues to receive the remainder of the video during playback. Progressive download allows the viewer to start watching the video before it has been fully d
ownloaded.
QuickTime – Apple’s popular format for audio and video playback. QuickTime supports a variety of additional interactivity features though they are not used often. Mac OS systems use QuickTime as the primary video format.
RealMedia – A popular streaming video format created by RealNetworks. RealMedia files provide varying quality video depending on the capabilities of the client machine and the encoded video.
Resolution – Typically refers to the frame size, but can also refer to the density of pixels. 640×480 is generally considered full-screen for computer video players.
Source video – In ProCoder 3, source video refers to the source video file you are going to convert.
Streaming – The process of simultaneously receiving and viewing video. Streaming video playback displays video as it is received, with minimal, if any delay before playback begins. For good streaming video quality, a fast connection to the streaming server is required.
Streaming Server – A server which stores and delivers streaming content. A streaming server is usually a special machine running streaming server software that both stores and manages its viewers. Examples of streaming servers include QuickTime Streaming Server, Real Server and Windows Media Server.
Super VideoCD – A CD-based video delivery format that uses MPEG-2 compression to provide better-than-VHS quality video playback and limited interactivity, such as menus and chapters. Super VideoCDs are popular because they use standard CD media and can be played in both computers as well as hardware Super VideoCD players and some DVD players. Super VideoCD is sometimes shortened to SVCD.
Synchronization – Refers to the audio matching the video being displayed. The easiest way to check synchronization is to make sure the dialog being spoken matches the mouth movements of the speaker.
Target video – In ProCoder 3, target video refers to the video file created after you convert your source file.
VideoCD – A CD-based video delivery format that uses MPEG-1 compression to provide near-VHS quality video playback and limited interactivity, such as menus and chapters. VideoCDs are popular because they use standard CD media and can be played in both computers as well as hardware VideoCD players and some DVD players. VideoCD is sometimes shortened to VCD.
VOB – Abbreviation for Video OBject. VOB is the native file format for DVD-Video discs. VOB files contain the audio and video data for the DVD and may also contain additional information, such as subtitles.
Watch folder – A folder or directory that is monitored by ProCoder 3 so that it can encode any files that are placed inside it.
Windows Media – A popular video format developed by Microsoft. Windows MediaVideo is the successor to the AVI format and is a common format for streaming video as well as video archiving and delivery.