[AAR.oner]

here's a few VIDEO terms off the top...i'll post more later:

*ac3 -- a *compressed* audio format used by most DVD authoring programs.
PCM .wav -- pure *uncompressed* audio.
AIFF -- "Audio Interchange File Format" another pure *uncompressed* audio format [Mac platform]. comparable to PCM .wav
*.vob -- a standard DVD file [along with *.ifo & *.bup]
*.ifo -- a standard DVD file [along with *.vob & *.bup]
*.bup -- a standard DVD file [along with *.ifo & *.vob]
*.md5 [checksum] -- can verify the accuracy of a DVD's files
DVD(0) -- a DVD burned from the original source footage (a master copy)
DVD(1) -- a first generation copy [copied from a master copy]...DVD(2) and so forth indicates the generation of the copy [NOTE: if a show is traded in data format, no "generational increase" occurs]
NTSC -- the standardized broadcast format for the U.S./NAmerica: interlaced, 29.97 fps, and a frame size of 720x486 pixels [most consumer dvd players only play one broadcast format...check yer model for details]
PAL -- the standardized broadcast format for Europe: interlaced, 25 fps, and a frame size of 720x546 pixels [most consumer dvd players only play one broadcast format...check yer model for details]
SECAM -- the standardized broadcast format for France: similar to PAL w/ 25 fps & a 720x546 frame size [most consumer dvd players only play one broadcast format...check yer model for details]
4:3 -- the aspect ratio for broadcast video [in layman's terms, the format for a normal TV]. it is the ratio of width-to-height of the visible area of the video frame. 4:3 = 1.34
16:9 -- the aspect ratio for widescreen video [in layman's terms, widescreen format]. it is the ratio of width-to-height of the visible area of the video frame. 16:9 = 1.78
DV -- Digital Video format recorder, used by the majority of consumer & prosumer cameras on the market [aka MiniDV]
Anamorphic -- Footage shot in widescreen [16:9] and then squeezed down to 4:3.
HD -- "High Definition" Hi-Def can only be truly HD if shot using a HDCam, edited/authored using HD format, and viewed on a HD compatible TV/Viewer.
VHS (M) -- a VHS Master copy.
VHS(1) -- a first generation copy from the master. VHS(2) and so forth indicates generation number [ and subsequent quality loss]
MPEG -- "Moving Picture Experts Group" a group of compression codecs used for audio and video [*see MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG4]
MPEG-1 -- a *LOSSY* highly compressed video format, usually used for Video CD [VCD] format @ 320x240 frame size
MPEG-2 -- the standard compression used for the DVD video format [the *least lossy* of the video compression codecs]
MPEG-4 -- a *LOSSY* highly compressed video format, usually used for web video, DivX, etc.