V
VC-1: Video encoding and compression codec developed by Microsoft and found primarily on high definition HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs. VC-1 yields better picture quality than MPEG-2 while using less space, making it much more efficient. VC-1 and AVC are the two modern compression schemes used on HD DVD and Blu-ray Discs. See AVC.
VCD: Video CD, a compact disc encoded with MPEG-1 video and playable on most DVD players. Picture quality is comparable to VHS on good quality VCDs, noticeably inferior on poor quality VCDs. VCD never caught on in North America but commercial VCDs are quite popular in Asia.
VHF: Very High Frequency, the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 Mhz. VHF is used for FM Radio and television broadcasts. See UHF.
VHS: Video Home System, the dominant videotape format of the 20th century. VHS was developed by JVC and can record 240 lines of resolution for up to 2 hours at normal playback speeds. See S-VHS, S-VHS ET, VHS-C, VHS Hi-Fi, VHS HQ.
VHS-C: Compact version of VHS used in consumer camcorders. VHS-C tapes are played back via an adapter, which adapts the compact cassette for playback in a standard VHS VCR.
VHS Hi-Fi: VHS incorporating hi-fi sound tracks with a frequency response of 20-20,000 Hz. VHS Hi-Fi was a dramatic improvement over standard videotape sound and is capable of very high sound quality.
VHS HQ: Upgrade of VHS incorporating circuitry to increase resolution from 240 lines to 250 lines and increase sharpness and color reproduction.
Video 8: Analog videotape format introduced by Sony, used primarily in consumer camcorders. Resolution of Video 8 was slightly better than VHS. Cassettes were compact and supported recording times of up to 120 minutes. See Hi 8 and Digital 8.
Video Processor: Device used to improve the quality of a video signal through scaling, deinterlacing, noise reduction and color and image adjustments. See Faroudja, Gennum, HQV.
Video Switching: Changing the video source at a component upstream of the television or video display. Video switching is incorporated in A/V receivers and A/V preamps. All video source components are connected to the receiver and when the source is selected, the proper video signal is sent to the television.
Voltage Stabilizer: Device which provides constant voltage and current to components connected to it. Voltage stabilizers are useful when fluctuating power mains voltage affects the performance of an audio or video system, but are of no benefit if fluctuating voltage does not manifest as problems.
VXP: Video processing technology developed by Gennum and later sold to Sigma Designs. VXP is regarded as some of the very finest quality video processing available. See Gennum, HQV, Video Processor.
