Introduction
This page explains TV & Video terms such as DVR, chasing playback, dubbing, DVD, EPG, Freeview, HDMI, HDTV, HDD, playlist, pause live TV, PVR, and SCART.
- Blu-ray
- Blu-ray is one of the next-generation 'High Definition' DVD technologies. A Blu-ray disk layer can store around five times as much data as an old DVD disk layer. This extra space is used to store more detailed pictures and sound, so vastly improving the quality of your viewing experience. Sadly, there is a competing technology, HD DVD, and it isn't clear yet which technology will win.
- Chasing Playback
- Start watching a programme while it is still recording - the recording continues as if you weren't watching the playback. Imagine that you're watching a programme from 7pm to 9pm, and record another programme from 8:30pm to 9:30pm. At 9pm you can start watching the 8:30 programme; it will finish recording at 9:30 and you will finish watching it at 10:00.
- Copying Programmes
- Most common use is to copy a programme from the HDD to a DVD, before erasing it from the HDD to make more space.
- Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)
- In the UK, consists of around fifty mostly "free-to-air" TV channels, operated by Freeview. To get the channels, you need a set-top box which decodes the signals coming in from your TV aerial. In the UK, we expect DTT to completely replace normal analogue TV channels by 2012.
- Dual Layer DVD
- Also known as "Double Layer". The DVD disk contains a second physical layer on the disk, underneath a semi-transparent top layer. This almost doubles the capacity of the disk - 8.5 Gb instead of the normal 4.7 Gb. Both DVD-R and DVD+R are available in dual layers. Note that older DVD players/recorders don't support dual layer. They cost about 75p each.
- Dubbing
- Another name for editing a programme or copying a programme.
- DVD
- Originally short for "Digital Video Disk", then supposedly for "Digital Versatile Disk". As consensus was never reached, the letters officially don't stand for anything. It is an optical disk (lasers are used to record and playback), rather than magnetic like the videocassette. A DVD is much smaller than a videocassette, more durable, and gives much better picture and sound quality. There are several competing formats available - see DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM. As yet, there are no agreed standards for recordable DVDs, so most manufacturers hedge their bets by producing recorders which can handle most formats. Typical storage size is 4.7Gb (compared to 160Gb for a typical HDD).
- DVD-R
- Pronounced "DVD minus R", this is a DVD recordable format which is approved by the DVD Forum. Was primarily designed for video use. Can only be recorded onto once. They cost about 20p each.
- DVD-RW
- Similar to DVD-R, with the benefit that you can erase the contents and rewrite onto the disk - up to 1,000 times. They cost about 50p each.
- DVD+R
- Pronounced "DVD plus R", this is a DVD recordable format which is not approved by the DVD Forum (as it competes with DVD-R). Supported by the DVD+RW Alliance. Like DVD-R can only be recorded onto once. Was primarily designed for computer use. They cost about 20p each.
- DVD+RW
- Similar to DVD+R, with the benefit that you can erase the contents and rewrite onto the disk - up to 1,000 times. They cost about 50p each.
- DVD-RAM
- The third competing DVD technology (with DVD minus and DVD plus). You can erase the contents and rewrite onto the disk - up to 100,000 times. Designed primarily for computer use - internal format is much like an HDD. They cost about £1 each.
- DVD Forum
- International organisation which was created to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas about the DVD format. Hopes to promote acceptance of DVD for entertainment, consumer electronics, and computers. Founding members include Sony, Pioneer, Philips, Toshiba, JVC, Time Warner - note the bias towards consumer electronics and entertainment.
- DVD+RW Alliance
- Group of companies which develops and promotes a format of DVD which is compatible with DVD drives in consumer electronic products and computers. Alliance leaders include Dell, HP, Sony, Philips - note the inclusion of computer companies.
- DVD Region Codes
- This is an attempt by the manufacturers and publishers to squeeze as much profit as possible out of us. A DVD in theory can only be read by a DVD player from the same geographical area. This allows the publishers to charge different prices in different regions for the same title. Europe is renowned to be able to absorb higher prices than the USA, so DVDs aimed at the European market (Region 2) are usually more expensive than those aimed at the USA (Region 1). European DVD players are only meant to play Region 2 DVDs, to stop you from buying cheaper DVDs from the USA or the rest of the world. Prices from the ogther four regions are typically much less than Region 1 or 2, and cheap DVDs on eBay are usually from those regions. Nowadays, many new DVD players come 'Multi Region' capable, or can easily be converted to be so. Amazon reviews typically show how to do this, and there are numerous websites which do so too - search for 'multi region hack'.
- Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
- Similar to a DVD Recorder, but the storage device is a much bigger internal hard disk (HDD), which can store at least 30 hours of programmes. Also known as a Personal Video Recorder (PVR).
- Editing Programmes
- You can erase parts of a recorded programme. This could be useful for removing adverts, for example. You can also split a long programme into two - useful if the programme is too big to fit on a DVD.
- Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)
- An on-screen guide to scheduled broadcast television programmes. By using the remote control you can quickly see what programmes are scheduled, and select one for viewing or recording. On Freeview, the EPG covers the next 7 days.
- Freeview
- The UK's operator of Digital Terrestrial Television. Run by a consortium consisting of the BBC, ITC, Channel 4, BSkyB, and others. Broadcasts digital channels which are picked up by your normal TV aerial (no satellite dish or cable needed). The programmes are free. Channels include BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4, CBBC, ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, Five, E4, Film4. You can also get digital radio channels.
- High-Definition DVD (HD DVD)
- HD DVD is one of the next-generation 'High Definition' technologies. An HD DVD disk layer can store around three times as much data as an old DVD disk layer. This extra space is used to store more detailed pictures and sound, so vastly improving the quality of your viewing experience. Sadly, there is a competing technology, Blu Ray, and it isn't clear yet which technology will win.
- High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
- High-Definition TV (HDTV)
- HDTV will give you cinema-quality TV viewing. As the analogue channels are switched over to digital, this will free up space on Freeview, so maybe HDTV will be broadcast on Freeview - but this hasn't yet been decided. In the meantime, some satellite and cable channels are broadcast in HD, but you need to have the right set-top box. In the real world of BBC and ITV, very few programmes are being made in HD at the moment. HDTV is not really here yet.
- Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
- Storage device which is internal to the video recorder. Typical sizes are 80Gb and 160Gb, though 250Gb models are appearing now. Sometimes referred to as HD, but HD is also short for High Definition, so we'll stick to HDD for a hard disk drive.
- Picture in Picture (PIP)
- A way of watching two programmes at once! One programme is shown on the main TV screen as usual, while one is shown in a little window. Often used to flick around the channels during an advert break, while keeping an eye open for the end of the ad break.
- Playlist
- A way of selecting scenes from one or more programmes, and playing them as if they were a new programme. If you've recorded several football matches, you can create a playlist which just contains your highlights.
- Pause Live TV
- While you watch a live programme through the DVR, the DVR records it temporarily on the HDD. If the phone rings, you can pause the programme and then carry on watching it from the same point once you've finished your phone call. You can even fast forward past the adverts which you missed !
- Personal Video Recorder (PVR)
- Another name for a DVR.
- Recording Mode
- This controls the quality level of the recording. Be careful though, because the higher the quality the larger the disk space required - and so the shorter the recording time. To see exactly how much time you get for each mode, look at the disk capacities page. You can record in these modes (with decreasing quality): HQ (High Quality), HSP, SP (Standard Mode), LSP, ESP, LP, EP, and SLP (Long Duration). SP was the mode used for commercially-produced videocassettes, so you should be looking to use SP or better quality modes; you'll probably find LSP, ESP, LP, EP, and SLP disappointing.
- SCART
Modern TVs and recorders are connected by SCART leads. This is what a SCART connector looks like - your TV should have one of these (labeled "Input") in order for it to work with a DVD Recorder or DVR. - Videocassette
- The plastic cassette which encased the magnetic tape used in a Video Cassette Recorder.
- Video Cassette Recorder (VCR)
- Most homes have (or used to have) one of these. You record one or more programmes onto a magnetic tape, known as a videocassette.
- Video Upscaling
- Next-generation DVD technology (HD DVD and Blu-ray) is expensive. If you have an HDTV, you can buy DVD players or DVRs which can 'upscale' when playing a standard DVD so that the picture looks almost high definition on an HDTV.
The modern replacement for Summary
We've shown you DVR terms such as chasing playback, dubbing, DVD, EPG, Freeview, HDMI, HDTV, HDD, playlist, pause live TV, PVR, and SCART.
