Common DVD terms and definitions

• DVD – digital versatile discs, also previously referred to as digital video discs.

• DVD-ROM – stands for DVD Read-Only Memory, mostly used by DVD-Video discs.

• DVD-R – DVD Recordable, similar to CDR (Compact Disc Recordable) allowing computers and some players to record unto DVD discs that can play on most consumer drives. A competing format called DVD+R is also used but most DVD burners can now record to both formats.

• DVD-RAM – DVD Random-Access Memory, is the first iteration of a reusable recordable DVD disc. Also similar to DVD-RW.

• DVD-RW – DVD ReWritable, similar to CDRW (Compact Disc ReWritable) allowing computers and some players to record, erase, and re-record data unto a DVD disc. A competing format called DVD+RW is also used but a few DVD burners can now use both formats with ease.

• DVD Player – a consumer device that works similarly to a VCR. It plays DVD movies and audio, and most often times also reads your standard Audio CDs, Video CDs, and MP3 CDs.

• Decoder Hardware – a vital part of any consumer DVD player or computer DVD drive is the decoder card that enables hardware accelerated decompression of the audio-video MPEG-2 content found on DVDs.

• DVR – Digital Video Recorders are the equivalent of analog VCRs or Video Cassette Recorders. Though most DVRs in the market right now use internal hard drives to record video from a television signal, some models are beginning to sport drives that can record directly to DVD recordable discs.

• MPEG – Moving Pictures Experts Group, a brain trust that is tasked with creating the standards used for video and audio compression unto a wide array of digital media.

• MPEG-1 – the first in a series of audio-video compression standards from the Moving Pictures Experts Group. It is commonly used on interactive CD-ROMs and Video CDs. MPEG-1 Layer III format, or more popularly known as MP3, belongs to this standard.

• MPEG-2 – this is the internationally accepted standard for compressing high-quality videos onto DVD discs. It is also designed for use on digital television and high-definition television (HDTV).

• Region Codes – Both DVD players/readers and the discs themselves use region codes to identify in what area of the globe they can play. The two codes on the player and the disc must match in order to allow the user to use the disc. Example: a DVD-Video encoded for use in the United States cannot be made to play in a player intended for Asia.

• SACD – Super Audio Compact Disc, developed as an answer to DVD-Audio or Music DVD's advanced surround sound capabilities.

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...Not so beautiful music

Super Audio Compact Discs, or SACD, which rival DVD-Audio for surround sound quality, requires the user to purchase a SACD player that, as of the moment, cannot work properly with existing DVD-Audio records.
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