Formats Case Study

Formats:

MPG is a standard for lossy compression of video and audio. It is designed to compress VHS-quality digital video and audio down to 1.5 Mbit/s without excessive quality loss, making video CDs, digital cable/satellite TV and digital audio broadcasting possible. It is the most common format when it comes to internet video (YouTube or any other video sharing site) 

MP4 is a digital multimedia format most commonly used to store video and audio, but can also be used to store other data such as subtitles and still images. Like most modern container formats, it allows streaming over the Internet. The only official filename extension for MPEG-4 Part 14 files is mp4 but many have other extensions, most commonly m4a and m4p. M4A (audio only) is often compressed using AAC encoding (lossy), but can also be in Apple Lossless format.

MOV (also known as a 'Quicktime file format') is the video format most suited for editing, it was developed by Apple and enables you to import and edit in place without data copying. 

AVI is a video format made by Microsoft and is therefore commonly used in PC's.

WMV (windows media video) was developed by Microsoft and used in all Windows systems to add the file to the internet.

FLV is similar to WMV in the sense that is can be used to send videos over the internet, the only difference is that unlike WMV, FLV uses adobe flash player.

Shockwave flash (SWF) is used for uploading small videos to a video sharing site. It has a similar function to WMV and FLV.

3GP  is a multimedia container format used to stream audio and video files; Available on 3G mobile phones but can also be played on some 2G and 4G phones.

ASF files (Advanced Systems Format) were devolved by Microsoft and are specificlly meant for streaming audio files used in video games. 

Resolution - The video quality. This is dictated by the X and Y.

Data rate - How quickly the image data is transferred between different sources.

Frame rate- The number of frames per-second in a composition/rendered file.

Keyframe rate - The rate that dictates the beginning and end point on any animation. 

4:3 - Standard size for any traditional television or computer monitor


16:9 - HD (high definition) video in the UK or any digital broadcast TV in the US

Flash Player - Used to play almost any animation video found on the internet. 

QuickTime is a multiplayer for sound or video that can be used by both an Apple Mac and a Microsoft PC; it can be made in an editing software such as something similar to final cut pro (found on a Mac)

Windows Media Player was developed by Microsoft and is used to play audio/video files (very similar to Quicktime on Macs, Media Player is like a Quicktime for PC)

RealMedia is used to stream audio and video over the internet, like a virtual Media Player or Quicktime available for the internet itself.

The above short film trailer is by YouTuber, Bertie Gilbert.

YouTube supports the formats:

• .MOV
• .MPEG4
• .AVI
• .WMV
• .MPEGPS
• .FLV
• 3GPP
• WebM