Windows Media Knowledge Center Glossary
To find a term in the glossary, click the letter of the alphabet that is the first letter in the term you want to look up.
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Symbols
.asf
A file name extension for a file in Advanced Systems Format (ASF).
.asx
The file name extension of a metafile that references audio files, audio playlist files, video files, or video playlist files.
.avi
The file name extension for a video file in Audio Video Interleaved (AVI) format.
.midi
The file name extension of a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) file.
.mp3
The file name extension of an audio file in MPEG format.
.mpeg
The file name extension of a video and audio or audio-only file in MPEG format.
.smi
The file name extension of a digital media companion file containing captions in Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange (SAMI) format.
.wav
The file name extension for a sound file in WAV format.
.wma
The file name extension of an audio file in Windows Media Format.
.wmv
The file name extension of a video file in Windows Media Format.
.wmz
The file name extension of a compressed Windows Media Player skin or border file.
A
Advanced Systems Format (ASF)
An extensible file format designed to facilitate streaming digital media data over a network.
analog
The traditional format in which audio and video are transmitted by using a wave or analog signal. An analog signal may not work with digital speakers; computers use digital signals.
analog capture device
Hardware that converts analog audio and video content from an external source, such as a VCR or video camera, to a digital format that can be imported by a computer.
anchor window
A small window that can appear in the lower-right corner of the screen when Windows Media Player is in skin mode. You can use the window to return to full mode and access other commands.
announcement
A Windows Media metafile that gives a player the information needed to receive content. Announcement files contain Extensible Markup Language (XML) scripts.
ASF
See definition for: Advanced Systems Format (ASF)
aspect ratio
The ratio of the width of an image to its height.
Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
A digital media file format for storing sound and video.
AVI
See definition for: Audio Video Interleaved (AVI)
B
band
The transmission method used by a radio station (AM, FM, or Internet).
bandwidth
The data transfer capacity of a transmission medium.
bit rate
The number of bits transferred per unit of time, typically expressed in bits per second.
border
A Windows Media Player skin that is embedded in the Now Playing pane of the full mode Player.
broadband
A transmission medium designed for high-speed data transfers over long distances. Cable modem services and DSL are examples of broadband networks.
buffer
An area of memory reserved for temporarily holding data before that data is used by a receiving device or application. Buffering protects against the interruption of data flow.
burn
To copy files to a recordable CD or DVD.
C
caption
Text that accompanies images or videos, as either a supplemental description or a transcript of spoken words.
capture
See definition for: import
CBR
See definition for: constant bit rate (CBR)
CD
See definition for: compact disc (CD)
CD burner
See definition for: disc burner
CD-R
See definition for: compact disc-recordable (CD-R)
CD-RW
See definition for: compact disc-rewritable (CD-RW)
chapter
In a DVD, a portion of a title, such as a scene or sequence. A title can contain one or more chapters.
CIF
See definition for: Common Intermediate Format (CIF)
clip
A small segment of a larger video file.
clipping
In audio, distortion that occurs in a piece of audio equipment when the input level exceeds the equipment's capacity.
closed disc
A CD or DVD that has gone through a process during burning that makes the contents of the disc visible to playback programs and devices. After a disc is closed, no additional data can be burned to it. Some playback devices, such as some portable, home, and car CD and DVD players, cannot play discs that have not been closed.
codec
An abbreviation for compressor/decompressor. Software or hardware used to compress and decompress digital media.
collection
In Windows Movie Maker, a container for organizing clips.
Common Intermediate Format (CIF)
A video format that has 352 pixels by 288 lines and 30 fps.
compact disc (CD)
An optical storage medium for digital data.
compact disc-recordable (CD-R)
A type of CD onto which files can be copied, but not erased or replaced.
compact disc-rewritable (CD-RW)
A type of CD onto which files can be copied, erased, and replaced.
compression
A process for removing redundant data from a digital media file or stream to reduce its size or the bandwidth used.
connection speed
The maximum rate, in bits per second, at which data can be transferred between a network and a computer or device.
constant bit rate (CBR)
A characteristic of a data stream in which the bit rate remains nearly uniform for the duration of the stream.
content
Audio, video, images, text, or any other information that is contained in a digital media file or stream.
content provider
The person or organization that distributes Windows Media files (for example, a record, movie, or streaming media company). The content provider may also be the content owner.
cradle
A hardware device used to connect a portable device to a desktop computer. When the device is in the cradle, data can be synchronized between the device and the computer.
crossfade
A method of smoothly moving from one video clip or photo to another. With a crossfade transition, the frames in the playing clip fade out as the frames in the new clip fade in. In the film industry, the same process is called a dissolve.
D
deinterlace
To combine the interlaced fields in a video frame so that, during playback, the lines of the video frame are painted sequentially.
depth of field
The measurement of the area in front of and behind the subject that is in focus.
digital
In computing, a characteristic of data that is represented as binary digits (zeros and ones).
digital media
Any audio, video, or picture content in a digital format.
digital rights management (DRM)
A technology that provides a persistent level of protection to digital content by encrypting it with a cryptographic key. Authorized recipients (or end users) must acquire a license in order to unlock and consume the content.
digital video (DV)
Video images and sound stored in a digital format.
digital video device
Hardware, such as a digital video (DV) camera, that records or plays digital audio and video content that can be imported by a computer.
direct memory access (DMA)
Technology that enables certain devices, such as hard disks and CD or DVD drives, to transfer information directly to and from the computer's memory without using the computer's processor. DMA improves the performance of the device and frees the computer's processor so it can perform other tasks.
disc burner
A device used to copy files to recordable CDs and DVDs.
DMA
See definition for: direct memory access (DMA)
download
To copy a file from one computer to another using a modem or network.
DRM
See definition for: digital rights management (DRM)
DV
See definition for: digital video (DV)
E
encode
To convert audio and video content to a specified digital format, usually involving compression technology or encryption technology.
encoder
A technology that converts live or prerecorded audio and video content to a specified digital format. Typically, content is compressed during encoding. Windows Media Encoder is an example of an encoder.
error correction
In Windows Media Player, a process to ensure that digital audio data is read from the CD-ROM drive accurately during playback or copying. Using error correction can prevent undesirable noises that are not part of the original material.
F
firewall
A security solution that segregates one portion of a network from another portion, allowing only authorized network traffic to pass through according to traffic filtering rules.
frame
One of many sequential images that make up video.
frame rate
The number of video frames displayed per second. Higher frame rates generally produce smoother movement in the picture.
full mode
The default operational state of Windows Media Player from which all of its features are available. The Player can also appear in skin mode, mini Player mode, or full-screen mode.
See also: skin mode
H
header
A part of the file structure that contains information required by an application to decompress and render the content. The header in a protected file also contains information required to get a license.
HTTP
See definition for: Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
A standard set of rules that computers use to transfer information over the Internet.
I
IEEE 1394
A high-speed serial bus standard that provides enhanced computer connectivity for a wide range of devices, including consumer electronics audio/video (A/V) appliances, storage peripherals, other computers, and portable devices.
import
To record audio, video, or pictures as digital data in a file.
interlace
To display a video frame in two fields. One field contains the even lines of the frame, the other field contains the odd lines. During playback, the lines in one field are displayed first, then the lines in the second field are displayed.
inverse telecine
The process that removes the frames that were added when 24-fps film was converted to 30-fps video.
K
Kbps
See definition for: kilobits per second (Kbps)
key frame
A video frame containing all the data needed to construct an image without reference to previous frames.
kHz
See definition for: kilohertz (kHz)
kilobits per second (Kbps)
One thousand bits per second. Standard measure of data rate and transmission capacity.
kilohertz (kHz)
A measure of frequency equivalent to 1000 hertz (Hz) or 1000 cycles per second.
L
latency
The delay that occurs while data is processed or delivered.
library
In Windows Media Player, a database that contains information about digital media files on a computer, a network drive, or the Internet.
license acquisition
The process of obtaining a license to play a packaged Windows Media file. The player attempts to obtain a license from a license acquisition URL, which is specified in the Windows Media file.
licensed file
A Windows Media file that has an associated license that defines how the file can be played. The restrictions stated in the license vary depending on the license creator. When a CD track is copied by using Windows Media Player, a license can be assigned to the newly created file. Under that license, the file can only be played on the computer where the file was created.
lossless compression
A process for compressing data in which information is arranged in a more concise form and restored to its original state upon decompression.
lossy compression
A process for compressing data in which information deemed unnecessary is removed and cannot be recovered upon decompression. Typically used with audio and visual data in which a slight degradation of quality is acceptable.
M
MBR
See definition for: multiple bit rate (MBR)
media information
Information about digital media content such as the artist, title, album, producer, and so forth. Also known as metadata or tags.
Media Library
See definition for: library
media usage rights
Permissions to use a protected Windows Media-based file in a particular way. For example, a content provider, such as an online music store, can grant you the right to play a song on your computer (a play right), to burn the song to an audio CD (a burn right), or to sync the song to a portable device (a sync right). The content provider dictates the terms of the rights (for example, which rights it grants to you and for how long) and the Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM) component enforces those rights. Also known as a license.
metadata
Data about data. Title, subject, author, and size are examples of a file's metadata.
microphone noise
Unwanted sound that is captured when objects touch a microphone inadvertently.
Microsoft Media Server (MMS) protocol
A proprietary protocol using UDP or TCP to deliver content as a unicast stream.
MIDI
See definition for: Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)
mini Player mode
The operational state of Windows Media Player in which the Player is minimized to the Windows taskbar while still providing access to playback controls and the ability to view visualizations and information about the currently playing item.
MMS protocol
See definition for: Microsoft Media Server (MMS) protocol
moiré pattern
Video artifacts that occur when recording an object that has many thin, parallel lines.
movie file
A file created by combining the audio, video, and still images contained in your project. Movie files are created when you publish your movie in Windows Movie Maker, and are saved as a Windows Media file with a .wmv file name extension.
Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)
The committee that creates international standards for coding audio-visual information to a digital, compressed format. The acronym MPEG is appended to the beginning of individual specifications developed by the committee. For example, MPEG-2 refers to the standard ISO/IEC - 11172.
MP3
See definition for: MPEG Audio Layer-3 (MP3)
MPEG
See definition for: Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)
MPEG Audio Layer-3 (MP3)
An audio compression standard.
multicast
A content delivery method in which a single stream is transmitted from a media server to multiple clients. The clients have no connection with the server. Instead, the server sends a single copy of the stream across the network to multicast-enabled routers, which replicate the data. Clients can then receive the stream by monitoring a specific multicast IP address and port.
multichannel audio
An audio reproduction system that processes several, typically more than two, channels of sound. For example, 5.1 multichannel audio refers to a surround sound system in which there are five primary channels and a subwoofer channel.
multiple bit rate (MBR)
A characteristic of a data stream in which the same content is encoded at several different bit rates in order to optimize content delivery.
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)
A specification of the MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA). The specification defines a protocol for describing music data, such as note on and note off messages; a file format for storing music data, called Standard MIDI; and a standard hardware interface.
N
National Television Standards Committee (NTSC)
The dominant television standard in the United States and Japan. NTSC delivers 30 interlaced frames per second at 525 lines of resolution.
NTSC
See definition for: National Television Standards Committee (NTSC)
O
online store
In Windows Media Player, a Web site that offers digital media content by subscription or for purchase.
P
PAL
See definition for: Phase Alternating Line (PAL)
partnership
See definition for: sync partnership
Phase Alternating Line (PAL)
The dominant television standard in Europe and China. PAL delivers 25 interlaced frames per second at 625 lines of resolution.
playlist
A list of digital media content.
plug-in
An auxiliary software component that extends or enhances the features of other software.
Pocket PC
A mobile device that stores and manages personal information and calendars and can act as a companion to a desktop PC by synchronizing and facilitating data and data transfer and data editing.
port
A hardware- or software-based interface used to transfer information between a computer and other devices. Hardware ports are physical connections that are visible on the outside of the computer. Software ports are the numbered gateways in programs that software programs use to exchange information.
portable device
A mobile electronic device that can exchange files or other data with a computer or device. Examples of portable devices include Pocket PCs, portable digital music players, and Smartphones.
ported implementation
An instance of a Windows Media component (decoder, encoder, ASF Read, ASF Write, NetRead) ported to a non-Microsoft device or chip.
preamplifier
An electronic device that increases the output level of a signal to match the required signal input level of another device.
preset
In Plus! Sync & Go for Pocket PC, a numbered button that specifies the content that is synchronized from the desktop computer to the portable device storage card.
progressive (video)
A method of displaying video in which all the scan lines of a frame are displayed in order in a single pass. This is instead of the traditional television system in which separate fields of odd-numbered scan lines and even-numbered lines are interlaced between each other.
project file
A file that keeps track of the pictures, videos, and other files you've imported into the current project, and how those files have been arranged.
protocol
A standard set of formats and procedures that enable computers to exchange information.
protocol rollover
A procedure that enables switching from one protocol to another when a Windows Media server fails to make a connection using a particular protocol.
proxy server
A server located on a network between client software, such as a Web browser, and another server. It intercepts all requests to the server to determine whether it can fulfill them itself. If not, it forwards the request to another server.
publish
To save a project as a movie file.
pull
To deliver data to a client only upon client request.
push
To deliver data to a client without a client request for the data.
Q
QCIF
See definition for: Quarter Common Intermediate Format (QCIF)
Quarter Common Intermediate Format (QCIF)
A video format that has 176 pixels by 144 lines and 30 fps.
Quarter Video Graphics Array (QVGA)
A video format that has 320 x 240 pixels, and a 1.33:1 aspect ratio.
QVGA
See definition for: Quarter Video Graphics Array (QVGA)
R
Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP)
A network protocol, defined in RFC 2326, for controlling one or more digital media streams or a presentation (the aggregate of related media streams).
Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP)
An Internet protocol that delivers real-time audio and video streams over multicast or unicast networks.
record
See definition for: import
rip
To copy digital media content from an audio CD. Content may be converted to a different format during the ripping process.
RTP
See definition for: Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP)
RTSP
See definition for: Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP)
S
SAMI
See definition for: Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange (SAMI)
sampling
The process of measuring the amplitude of an analog signal at regular intervals for the purpose of converting the signal into a digital format.
sampling rate
The frequency of sampling. The higher the sampling rate (that is, the more samples taken per unit of time), the more closely the digitized result resembles the original.
script commands
Named data that is associated with a designated time in Windows Media-based content. The data can be used by players to perform a specific action such as displaying a Web page.
SD
See definition for: standard definition (SD)
SIF
See definition for: Standard Image Format (SIF)
skin
A user interface that provides an alternative appearance and customized functionality for software such as Windows Media Player.
skin definition file
An XML document that specifies the elements in a skin, along with their relationships and functionality. A skin definition file has a .wms file name extension.
skin mode
An operational state of Windows Media Player in which its user interface is displayed as a skin.
See also: full mode
source
Audio and video content that can be imported and encoded from devices installed on your computer or from a file.
split
To divide an audio or video clip into two clips.
standard definition (SD)
A video format with the same resolution as traditional television.
Standard Image Format (SIF)
A video format that is a version of CIF and is specific to NTSC or PAL television standards. SIF has 352 x 240 non-square pixels for NTSC.
storage card
A card, inserted into a portable device, used to store files.
storyboard
In Windows Movie Maker, a view that shows a simple sequence of files, clips, transitions, and effects that make up a project.
stream
Digital media that is in the process of being delivered in a continuous flow across a network.
streaming
A method of delivering digital media across a network in a continuous flow. The digital media is played by client software as it is received. Typically, streaming makes it unnecessary for users to download a file before playing it.
subscription service
A service offered by an online store that lets you rent Windows Media-based files for a recurring fee, after which you can play or sync the files, depending on the service.
sync partnership
The set of rules on a computer and a portable device that allow digital media files and other information to be synchronized. Also known as a relationship.
synchronization
In Windows Media Player, the process of maintaining digital media files on a portable device based on the rules in a partnership or actions specified by the user. This may require copying digital media files from a computer to a device, updating information on the device, or deleting files from the device.
Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange (SAMI)
An XML-based language for specifying closed captions in multiple languages and styles.
T
TCP
See definition for: Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
telecine
The film-to-video conversion system that adds frames to video to compensate for the differences in frame rates between film and video.
timeline
In Windows Movie Maker, an editing view that shows the duration and arrangement of files, clips, transitions, effects, and audio tracks that make up a project.
title
On a DVD, typically, the largest unit of content, such as a movie or TV program, is called a title. There is not a consistent standard across all DVDs and because of this, a DVD can contain one or more titles.
track
An individual song or other discrete piece of audio content.
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
The protocol within TCP/IP that governs the breakup of data messages into packets to be sent via IP, and the reassembly and verification of the complete messages from packets received by IP.
trim
To hide parts of a file or clip without deleting them from the original source. Files and clips can be trimmed by adjusting the start or end trim points.
trim points
The points where playback of a file or clip begins and ends. There are two trim points: start trim point and end trim point.
U
UDP
See definition for: User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
unicast
A method used by media servers for providing content to connected clients in which each client receives a discrete stream. No other client has access to that stream.
User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
A connectionless transport protocol in the TCP/IP protocol stack that is used in cases where some packet loss is acceptable, for example, with digital media streams.
V
variable bit rate (VBR)
A characteristic of a data stream in which the bit rate fluctuates, depending upon the complexity of the data.
VBR
See definition for: variable bit rate (VBR)
VCD
See definition for: Video CD (VCD)
Video CD (VCD)
A compact disc format that contains ISO MPEG-1 compressed full-motion video and associated high-quality audio.
visualization
In Windows Media Player, a graphical display that changes in response to the audio signal.
volume leveling
The process of automatically increasing or decreasing the volume during playback to make all audio content sound similar with respect to volume levels. Volume leveling may change the original dynamic range of the content.
W
WAV
A digital media file format for storing sound.
Windows Media Audio (WMA)
An audio file or stream in Windows Media Format. The audio content of the file or stream is encoded with one of the Windows Media Audio codecs.
Windows Media Encoder
A technology that compresses live or prerecorded audio and video into a Windows Media stream, which can either be distributed immediately or saved as a Windows Media file for later distribution.
Windows Media file
A file that contains audio, video, or script data. The content of the file is encoded with one of the Windows Media codecs.
Windows Media Format
The format of a digital media file or stream that was encoded with Windows Media codecs.
Windows Media Player
The Windows Media technology that plays digital media files or streams.
Windows Media porting kit
A collection of tools and software development kits that help authorized developers to port Windows Media technologies to a variety of environments.
Windows Media technologies
The Microsoft technologies used to create, distribute, and play digital media.
Windows Media Video (WMV)
A video file or stream in Windows Media Format. The video content of the file or stream is encoded with one of the Windows Media Video codecs.
Windows Media-based content
Describes a digital media file or stream that was encoded with Windows Media codecs.
Windows Movie Maker
Software for importing, editing, and arranging audio, video, and image source material to create movies.
WMA
See definition for: Windows Media Audio (WMA)
WMV
See definition for: Windows Media Video (WMV)
workspace
The area of Windows Movie Maker in which you create your movies. It consists of two views: storyboard and timeline, which act as a container for work in progress.