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Glossary & Acronyms: A-C
A-C | D | E-K | L-M | N-S | T-Z | #
AC-3: short for audio encoding 3 algorithm from Dolby Laboratories. This is the original name of what is now Dolby Digital. See Dolby Digital, and read our Surround Sound page.
American Television Systems Committee (ATSC): An international organization that establishes voluntary technical standards for high definition television (HDTV) and standard definition television (SDTV), the new digital television standards for U.S. These standards have also been adopted by Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, and Argentina. Visit the ATSC web site. Also see the National Television System Committee.
Anamorphic widescreen: refers to a DVD-Video that is encoded in the 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio format. DVD-Video can accommodate video encoding in either 4:3 aspect ratio or 16:9 aspect ratio. The 16:9 aspect ratio better suits movies that are theatrically shown in 1.85:1 or 2.35:1 aspect ratios.
aspect ratio: see screen aspect ratio.
ATSC: see American Television Systems Committee.
audio digital-to-analog converter (DAC): an integrated circuit (i.e., chip) that converts a digital audio signal to an analog audio signal. The output analog audio signal is ready for amplification to drive loudspeakers. Also see digital-to-analog converter (DAC).
A/V processor: short for audio and video processor, see pre-amplifier.
A/V receiver: short for audio and video receiver, see receiver.
back surround: refers to the center surround channel of an Extended Surround 6.1-channel system, such as THX Surround EX and DTS Extended Surround. The back surround speaker is located behind the audience to give full 360° surround sound effects. Read more about the new Extended Surround sound formats on our Surround Sound page.
Byte: A byte is an 8-bit data word, where a bit is a binary digit that represents a "0" (zero) or a "1" (one). An example of a byte is "10011011".
CD: short for audio Compact Disc (or audio CD). This is the dominant digital audio format for the past 20 years. It is also known as Compact Disc - Digital Audio (CD-DA) or Compact Disc Audio (CD-Audio). It may soon be replaced by the new DVD-Audio and/or Super Audio CD formats. Also see CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-Audio, and Super Audio CD.
CD-R: is a recordable CD format that supports one-time recording. Also see CD-RW.
CD-ROM: is a computer data storage format based on the CD medium. Also see CD-R, and CD-RW.
CD-RW: is a recordable CD format that supports multiple recordings. Also see CD-ROM, and CD-R.
chrominance: refers to the color information of the overall video signal. Also see luminance, component video, and S-video.
coaxial digital audio output: a digital audio connection used to connect a digital source component (e.g., DVD player, CD player, etc.) to a receiver or pre-amplifier. The data passed is the "raw" digital audio signal. This means of interconnect minimizes the interference and degradation. Also see Toslink optical digital audio output.
component video: see this page.
composite video: see this page.
Glossary & Acronyms: A-C
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