Technology Overview
MPEG and MPEG-2
MPEG stands for Moving Picture Experts Group. It refers to a
method of data compression optimized for video and audio data. By
analyzing the changes between video "frames," an MPEG "encoder"
is able to reduce the file size of the compressed video data signifi-
cantly. This remarkably efficient compression method allows full-
screen and full-motion video, plus CD-quality audio to be stored in a
relatively small size file. Once the data has been compressed, how-
ever, it must be "de"-compressed before it can be used.
Your NetStream 2000 incorporates specialized hardware to decom-
press MPEG data at a very high speed, which allows MPEG
"streams" to play back at a data transfer rate of 500 Kilobits (Kb) to
up to 15 Megabits (Mb) per second. MPEG-2 video has a resolution
of 720 x 480 in 24-bit (16.8 million) colors at 30 frames per second
(fps). MPEG-1 video has a resolution of 352 x 240 in 24-bit (16.8
million) colors at 30 fps. The MPEG standard is a fully open stan-
dard and has been embraced by the computer and entertainment
communities as the current standard of digital video on both televi-
sion and personal computers.
DVD
DVD is a revolutionary storage medium that is currently capable of
storing up to 18 gigabytes (GB) of data on a disc the size of a stan-
dard CD. This is enough to store an entire movie encoded in the
MPEG-2 format on a single side of the disc.
Dolby Digital Surround Sound
Some MPEG-2 video uses Dolby Digital Surround Sound. Dolby
Digital Surround Sound incorporates six discrete digital audio chan-
nels to provide a full immersion surround sound system that is simi-
lar to that of a movie theatre. The six channels include left and right
front, left and right back, center, and subwoofer.
The NetStream 2000 can output the six discrete channels of Dolby
Digital audio using the S/PDIF connection. Also, it converts the six
channels into Dolby Pro Logic Surround Sound, which is carried
using a standard 1/8" (3.5mm) stereo connector. This lets you play
the Dolby Digital sound using either standard stereo speakers or
using a Dolby Pro Logic amplifier with surround sound speakers.
2
Chapter 1: Introduction
NetStream 2000 Manual 6.6.2000 6/6/00 2:47 PM Page 7
