A

A/D converter
Converts an analogue signal into a digital signal.

Advanced One-touch Record
A button on the video recorder that tells it to start recording immediately and sets the recording time in half-hourly increments

AGARAS
Anti-Glare Anti-Reflection Anti-Static. A coating which actively suppresses reflected light

AMDC
Advanced Monitor Deflection Control. Circuit that allows fast, stable switching between the various resolutions and timing modes of a monitor without disturbing transient distortion effects.

Amplifier Power Required (RMS)
RMS is normally used in hi-fi terms to describe the rated power output and is normally given with an impedance rating in ohms of the load put on to the amp when testing. RMS is an average of all the frequencies (normally 20-20khz) being put through an amplifier and giving its maximum recommended output level. Because it's an average (Usually 20-20-000hz) it gives the best possible idea of what the rating is likely to be in the real world. (After all music contains a wide variety of frequency ranges, from low frequency drums to high frequency symbols) Other ratings used by manufacturers are PMPO and DIN, RMS is always the preferred rating (Though often looks lower)

Analogue Broadcast
Information (image, voice, text) transmission using continuous waveforms, for instance in standard non-digital terrestrial TV broadcasts.

ANSI Lumens Brightness
ANSI (American National Standards Institute) Lumens - Standard for measuring light output or brightness.

Aperture
Adjustable opening in the lens of a camcorder used to regulate how much light reaches the CCD image sensor.

APS
APS is a recent development and offers more variety in the type of shots you can take. APS cameras are usually smaller than their 35mm counterparts and are much easier to load film into.

Aspect Ratio
Screen shapes are defined by the relationship between width and height of a TV screen. A conventional TV set is 4:3 (4 units wide by 3 units high), a Widescreen set is 16:9 (16 units wide by 9 units high).

ASV
Advanced Super View giving a viewing angle of 170degrees.

ATRAC
ATRAC is an audio compression format by Sony and used in the minidisc format It works by throwing away the sound your ears can't hear, therefore reducing the amount of data needed to be stored.

ATRAC 3 & ATRAC 3+
ATRAC3 is an audio compression format by Sony. Offers better sound quality than MP3 as it uses more modern compression technology. ATRAC3+ files are even more efficiently compressed offer high quality music at 44 kHz but at half the file size of equivalent-sounding MP3 files. To use ATRAC3 encoding you will need Sony's supporting software (supplied usually with compatible CD Players, Memory Stick devices etc.... ATRAC3 is also part of the recording format for MDLP (minidisc Long-Play).

Audible Caller ID
You can identify who is calling by the melody that is playing.

Audio Analogue Phono Connection/s
Line level is the signal level outputted by virtually all domestic audio equipment, usual around 2V its analogue and so can degrade over distance. Usually a line level signal is connected between equipment using RCA phono connections with white and red (White for left, Red for White) connectors for a stereo signal, the sockets are pictured above Any equipment you see with these connections is usually outputting or inputting a line level signal, except turntables which output at phono level.

Audio Dubbing
For adding soundtracks such as narration or music to previously recorded material on stereo video tape. Useful when editing camcorder material.

Auto 16:9
Automatically switches to the widescreen format when viewed through a digital set top box.

Auto Clock Checking
Automatically sets the date and time on video recorders and checks it daily at 8am. Also automatically corrects for British Summer Time or after a power cut.

Auto Focus
Adjusts the focus of the image automatically to bring the centre of interest into sharp focus.

Auto Head Cleaner
Cleans the head cylinder automatically every time a tape is loaded or unloaded, or when stop is pressed.

Auto Picture Size Adjustment
Automatically adjusts the format of the viewed picture, whether originally a Widescreen or conventional image, to suit the TV screen.

Auto Power Off
Automatically switches the power off after a set length of time without use.

Auto Reverse
Allows the tape to play both sides of the cassette.

Auto Reverse Mechanism
Plays side A then automatically plays side B.

Auto Setup / Auto Tuning
Automatically tunes in all channels in the correct order on TVs and video recorders (BBC1 on Channel 1 etc) and on a VCR suggests solutions to common problems, such as "check aerial connected"

Automatic Document Feeder
Automatically feeds the fax/printer with the required paper size.

Automatic Flash
Camera senses when additional light is required and fires the built-in flash automatically

Automatic Focus
Applies to Camcorders and cameras. Simply means that the lens is focussed automatically on the subject. More advanced select several different areas of the picture to set the focus.

Auto-Seeking RF Output
Automatically finds a free channel for the RF signal that has no interference? Ensuring the best available reception (i.e. Channel 5 interference

AVL
Automatic Volume Leveller. Minimises sudden changes in TV volume when commercials are transmitted

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