Terminology

Before anything else, please visit the BoxTorrents FAQ if you have a question.

This is basically a compilation of definition of terms not included in the FAQ. This is [i]not[/i] a troubleshooting article!

Note that this article will be updated from time to time to coincide with standards here in BoxTorrents.

Playback-relevant definitions

Codec: is a device or program capable of encoding and/or decoding a digital data stream or signal. There are basically two compression qualities:

• Lossy codecs: Many of the more popular codecs in the software world are lossy, meaning that they reduce quality by some amount in order to achieve compression. Smaller data sets ease the strain on relatively expensive storage sub-systems such as non-volatile memory and hard disk, as well as write-once-read-many formats such as CD-ROM, DVD and Blu-ray Disc.
• Lossless codecs: There are also many lossless codecs which are typically used for archiving data in a compressed form while retaining all of the information present in the original stream. If preserving the original quality of the stream is more important than eliminating the correspondingly larger data sizes, lossless codecs are preferred. Especially if the data is to undergo further processing (for example editing) in which case the repeated application of processing (encoding and decoding) on lossy codecs will degrade the quality of the resulting data such that it is readily identifiable (visually, audibly or both). Using more than one codec or encoding scheme successively can also degrade quality significantly. The decreasing cost of storage capacity and network bandwidth has a tendency to reduce the need for lossy codecs for some media.

Container format: is a computer file format that can contain various types of data, compressed by means of standardized audio/video codecs. The container file is used to identify and interleave the different data types. Simpler container formats can contain different types of audio codecs, while more advanced container formats can support multiple audio and video streams, subtitles, chapter-information, and meta-data (tags), along with the synchronization information needed to play back the various streams together. There are various containers used here in Box, the most prevalent are:

• Matroska Multimedia Container: is an open standard free Container format, a file format that can hold an unlimited number of video, audio, picture or subtitle tracks inside a single file. It is intended to serve as a universal format for storing common multimedia content, like movies or TV shows. Matroska is similar in conception to other containers like AVI, MP4 or ASF, but is completely open source. Matroska file types are .MKV for video (with subtitles and audio), .MKA for audio-only files and .MKS for subtitles only.
• MPEG-4: is most commonly used to store digital audio and digital video streams, especially those defined by MPEG, but can also be used to store other data such as subtitles and still images. Like most modern container formats, MPEG-4 Part 14 allows streaming over the Internet. The official filename extension for MPEG-4 Part 14 files is .mp4, thus the container format is often referred to simply as MP4.
• Audio Video Interleave: known by its acronym AVI, is a multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft in November 1992 as part of its Video for Windows technology. AVI files can contain both audio and video data in a file container that allows synchronous audio-with-video playback. Like the DVD video format, AVI files support multiple streaming audio and video, although these features are seldom used. Most AVI files also use the file format extensions developed by the Matrox OpenDML group in February 1996. These files are supported by Microsoft, and are unofficially called "AVI 2.0".
• Ogg Media (OGM): is a container format (for video, audio and subtitle streams). It was developed by Tobias Waldvogel and can do a few things the common AVI format cannot. OGM's features include in particular:

   * Chapter support
   * Multiple subtitle tracks
   * Multiple audio tracks of various formats (MP3, AC3, AAC, Vorbis, LPCM)
   * Vorbis audio support (there is no standard way for AVI to support Vorbis, making any attempt unreliable and potentially incompatible with players)

OGM support for Windows (including Microsoft's Windows Media Player) is available via Tobias's own OggDS, Haali Media Splitter, VLC, or RadLight's Ogg Media filters (the last of which can also decode Theora video). On Unix-based systems OGM support is available in MPlayer, xine and VLC. This is not open source, though.

Combined Community Codec Pack or CCCP: is a filter pack for Microsoft Windows designed originally for the playback of anime fansubs. The CCCP is developed and maintained by members of various fansubbing groups. As of 2006, the CCCP is now the official Matroska playback solution on Windows, having superseded the Matroska Playback Pack. This codec pack supports the following:

Containers:

   * AVI (multiple audio streams and softsubs work too)
   * MKV (Matroska)
   * OGM & Ogg
   * MP4
   * TS (MPEG Transport Stream)
   * FLV 

Video codecs:

   * MPEG1 is supported by Windows
   * MPEG2
   * MPEG4-ASP
         o Xvid
         o DivX (all versions)
         o Generic/other MPEG4 ASP (3ivx, lavc etc.) 
   * MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
   * Theora
   * WMV9
   * Flash Video 

Audio codecs:

   * MP3 and MP2 and MP1
   * AC3
   * DTS
   * AAC
   * Vorbis
   * IMA ADPCM - rare
   * LPCM - on some DVDs, more common on HD DV & BD
   * FLAC - no .flac splitter included, you can only play it if it's in MKV
   * TTA
   * WavPack 

Players:

   * Anything that is basically sane and uses DirectShow. 

... and installs the following:

   * CoreWavPack
   * ffdshow-tryouts (custom build)
   * Gabest's FLV Splitter
   * Gabest's MPV (MPEG-2) Decoder
   * Haali Media Splitter
   * Media Player Classic (Must have)
   * VSFilter
   * Zoom Player

High-definition television (HDTV): is a digital television broadcasting system with higher resolution than traditional television systems (standard-definition TV, or SDTV). 720p and 1080p are quite common here in BoxTorrents.

720p: is the shorthand name for a category of HDTV video modes. The number 720 stands for 720 horizontal scan lines of display resolution (also known as 720 pixels of vertical resolution), while the letter p stands for progressive scan or non-interlaced. When broadcast at 60 frames per second, 720p features the highest temporal (motion) resolution possible under the ATSC standard. 720p has a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, a vertical resolution of 720 pixels and a horizontal resolution of 1280 pixels for a total of 921,600 pixels.

1080p: is the shorthand name for a category of display resolutions. The number "1080" represents 1,080 lines of vertical resolution (1080 horizontal scan lines). 1080p can be referred to as full HD or full high definition to differentiate it from other HDTV video modes. The term usually assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a horizontal resolution of 1920 pixels. This creates a frame resolution of 1920×1080, or 2,073,600 pixels in total.

Progressive (or noninterlaced scanning): is a method for displaying, storing or transmitting moving images in which all the lines of each frame are drawn in sequence. This is in contrast to the interlacing used in traditional television systems where only the odd lines, then the even lines of each frame (each image now called a field) are drawn alternatively.

h.264 encode: is an ITU standard for compressing video based on MPEG-4 that is expected to be widely used, especially for high-definition video. Formerly known as "H.26L" by the ITU, it is also known as "MPEG-4 Part 10" by the ISO MPEG group, which jointly developed the codec. Taking advantage of today's high-speed chips, H.264 delivers MPEG-2 quality at a data rate up to three times smaller. It also provides a frame size four times that of MPEG-4 at the same data rate. For help in playing h.264 encodes, visit psyren's thread here.

Vorbis: is a free and open source, lossy audio codec project headed by the Xiph.Org Foundation and intended to serve as a replacement for MP3. It is most commonly used in conjunction with the Ogg container and is therefore called Ogg Vorbis.

Ogg: is commonly used to refer to audio file format Ogg Vorbis, that is, Vorbis-encoded audio in the Ogg container. Previously, the .ogg file extension was used for any content distributed within Ogg, but as of 2007, the Xiph.Org Foundation requests that .ogg be used only for Vorbis due to backward compatibility concerns. The Xiph.Org Foundation decided to create a new set of file extensions and media types to describe different types of content such as .oga for audio only files, .ogv for video with or without sound (including Theora), and .ogx for applications.

Dolby Digital, or AC-3: is the common version containing up to six discrete channels of sound. The most elaborate mode in common usage involves five channels for normal-range speakers (20 Hz – 20,000 Hz) (right front, center, left front, right rear and left rear) and one channel (20 Hz – 120 Hz) for the subwoofer driven low-frequency effects. Mono and stereo modes are also supported. AC-3 supports audio sample-rates up to 48kHz.

Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC): is a file format for lossless audio data compression. Being lossless, FLAC does not remove information from the audio stream, as lossy compression formats such as MP3, AAC, and Vorbis do. FLAC's primary author is Josh Coalson. FLAC reduces bandwidth and storage requirements without sacrificing the integrity of the audio source. A digital audio recording (such as a CD track) encoded to FLAC can be decompressed into an identical copy of the audio data. Audio sources encoded to FLAC are typically reduced in size 40 to 50 percent (46% according to their own comparison). FLAC is suitable for everyday audio playback and archival, with support for tagging, cover art and fast seeking. FLAC's free and open source royalty-free nature makes it well-supported by many software applications, but FLAC playback support in portable audio devices and dedicated audio systems is limited at this time.

Blu-ray Disc (also known as Blu-ray or BD): is an optical disc storage media format. Its main uses are high-definition video and data storage. The disc has the same physical dimensions as a standard DVD or CD. The name Blu-ray Disc is derived from the blue laser (violet colored) used to read and write this type of disc. Because of its shorter wavelength (405 nm), substantially more data can be stored on a Blu-ray Disc than on the DVD format, which uses a red (650 nm) laser. A dual layer Blu-ray Disc can store 50 GB, almost six times the capacity of a double-dual layer DVD (or more than 10 times if single-layer).

Media Player Classic: the video player of choice for BxT users. Uses less memory than the standard Windows Media Player, and good compatibility across various file formats. A thorough tutorial can be found here for those using the player the first time, or can't get their player to work for a certain file type. Media Player Classic - Home Cinema is GPL Licenced free, open source software for all Windows platforms. It is based on the original "Media Player Classic" and was created after Gabest, the original author, stopped working on it.

Site-related definitions

BxT/Box: shorthand for BoxTorrents.

Anime: you wouldn't be here if you didn't know this. Basically Japanese animation, or any animation produced by Japanese that more or less coincides with their own style.

FAQ: BoxTorrents has its own FAQ (Frequently-asked questions) here. Please visit the Faq before asking any questions regarding the site.

Site Rules: like any sane community, BoxTorrents members are bound by a set of rules that are expected to be followed. They are found here.

Keywords: in BoxTorrents, these are the keywords any torrent can have for ease in searches. List of keywords (and their definitions) can be found here. It is important to place the correct keywords should you upload any torrent here in Box.

Hentai: is a Japanese word that, in the West, is used when referring to sexually explicit or pornographic comics and animation, particularly Japanese anime, manga and computer games. In Japan it can be used to mean "metamorphosis" or "abnormality". The word "hentai" has a negative connotation to the Japanese and is commonly used to mean "sexually perverted".

Original video animation: is a term originating from Japanese animation (anime) for animated films and series which are made specially to be released on home video formats. The majority are released direct-to-video, without prior showings on TV or in theatres, however, there may be very rare occasions where, for example, the first part of an OVA series is broadcast for promotional purposes. OVA titles were originally made available on VHS, later becoming more popular on LaserDisc and eventually DVD.

Multiaudio: basically two or more audio dubs in a single container, prevalent in DVD releases. Various container formats support this function, which includes (and is not limited to) AVI, Matroska and OGG.

Fansubs: is a version of a foreign film or foreign television program which has been translated by fans and subtitled into a language other than that of the original.

Definitons taken from Wikipedia, the CCCP Wiki and PCMag Encyclopedia.

This page is still a work in progress and is yet to be completed