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Decoder –
The electronic component that deciphers the MPEG-II video
stream. It paints the picture to the viewer’s screen.
Digital –
Discrete information that can be broken down to zero or one bits.
Disc at Once (DAO)
– Authoring process in which the entire CD/DVD is
recorded in one session, and data cannot be added after the recording is
finished. This mode allows for the most control of the recording process for
audio CDs because the gap between tracks can be set and the maximum
capacity of the CD can be utilized.
Driver (peripheral manager) –
A software component that enables the
computer system to communicate with a peripheral. Most peripherals will not
operate correctly – if at all – if the appropriate drivers are not installed on the
system.
DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) –
Optical disc technology that is replacing the
CD-ROM disc (as well as the audio compact disc). DVD holds 4.7GB of
information on one of its two sides, or enough for a 133-minute movie. With
two layers on each of its two sides, it will hold up to 17GB of video, audio, or
other information (compare this to the current CD-ROM disc of the same
physical size, holding 700MB). DVD uses the MPEG-II file and compression
standard. MPEG-II images have four times the resolution of MPEG-I images
and can be delivered at 60 interlaced fields per second where two fields
constitute one image frame (MPEG-I can deliver 30 non-interlaced frames per
second). Audio quality on DVD is comparable to that of current audio compact
discs.
DVD-R –
DVD Recordable. These discs have the same write-once concept as
CD-R, but with the added benefits of DVD media. There are two types of DVD-
R disc: DVD-R General, intended for home use, and DVD-R Authoring,
intended for professional DVD-Video development applications. These two
types of DVD-R disc are not compatible, i.e. DVD-R Authoring discs cannot be
written to in a DVD-R General-compatible drive and vice versa. Both kinds of
discs are readable in most DVD players and drives, however. The latest DVD-R
discs feature 4.7GB capacity.
DVD-RW –
DVD ReWritable. Same multiple-write concept as CD-RW –
theoretically, it can be rewritten about 1,000 times - but with the added
benefits of DVD media. Discs have a 4.7GB capacity and are playable in many
DVD drives and players.
DVD-RAM –
DVD-RAM (DVD-Random Access Memory) is a rewritable DVD
format that allows for more than 100,000 rewrites. DVD-RAM drives are
available in internal and external units in a range of interfaces. DVD-RAM
