ANALOOG/DIGITAAL
VIDEO v1.1
|
Format |
Support |
Uses |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Bitrate |
Standards |
|
AVI |
Windows
Media Player (now for Mac too) and RealPlayer; most widely used compressor is
Cinepak, free with Video for Windows, though dozens
of others are available |
Most
common format for audio/video data on the PC, as well as very common on the
Internet |
Data is
arranged in chunks, lowering file size; every option is definable from
display size and frames per second to bit depth for audio and video; some
compressors can achieve up to 100:1 compression |
Unless a
good compressor is used, transmitting raw files over the Internet is
impractical as files are very large |
Typically 8
or 16-bit waveform sound in stereo or mono, sampled at 11, 22, or 44.1kHZ;
24-bit color is usual |
Microsoft;
Open Digital Media (OpenDML) Consortium has defined
extensions to support additional features for a more professional video
production |
|
DV and
Mini-DV |
Digital
video cameras and non-linear video editing applications |
Intraframe compression of digital video |
High-quality,
raw footage |
A range of
DV standards have emerged, all based on one format.
But they continue to diverge, creating some incompatibilities. This can
complicate interfacing and system integration. |
On
average, 25Mbits/s for video, up to 44.1kHz and 16bit for audio; the HDCAM
format records video as high as 100Mbits/s |
Each
manufacturer has their own particular version of the
format. |
|
MPEG MPEG has produced multiple
standards, each with different applications |
Numerous
applications, including Windows Media Player and QuickTime |
MPEG-4 could
become the video standard for the web, like MP3 is for audio; MPEG-2 used for
DVD codecs generally, and web, satellite and
terrestrial broadcast; VCDs use MPEG-1 |
Maintains
impressive quality over very constrained bandwidth; streamable;
MPEG-4 compresses at a ratio of up to 10:1 of original DVD-quality size, with
little loss; MPEG-4's object-based coding allows interactivity |
Was not
available for Mac users until recently; MPEG-4 charges licenses for
de/encodes under the MPEG LA plan |
Varies per
standard |
All
developed by Motion Picture Experts Group; open format distributed by ISO;
Joint Video Team still working on MPEG-4 |
|
QuickTime |
Requires
free download of QuickTime Movie Player to view; QuickTime Pro can be used for
creating and editing |
Multimedia
tool offering the most creativity and flexibility; many believe it to be the
best quality |
Can layer
up to 99 tracks of audio, video, 3D, text, Flash, HTML, VR; simply embedded
into a webpage; superior compression; maintains good quality over constrained
bandwidth |
Inconsistencies
in playback can occur because unlike AVI which bundles audio/video data per
frame, QuickTime in larger .5 to 1 second blocks |
|
Apple |
|
RealMedia and RealVideo |
RealPlayer;
RealNetworks provides a number of apps for editing,
streaming, capturing, and creating |
Streaming
or direct-downloadable multimedia on the Internet |
High
compression rate, allowing for small files |
Not always
backwards compatible with older players; quality can be greatly reduced due
to the compression, resulting in artifacts or motion that is not smooth |
Handles up
to 16bit sound, 24bit color |
RealNetworks |
|
Flash
and Shockwave |
Requires free
download of Macromedia Flash or Shockwave Player to view, purchase of
Macromedia Flash or Director to create, though free 30-day trial versions
exist |
Integrate
interactive content into webpages, or use as movies
like the other formats |
To each other: Director's interface
is simpler, Flash files are more streamlined. Flash content loads almost
immediately, Shockwave gives you an ad. Director can be extended with Lingo
for interactivity, and can embed Flash content. To other types: Vector graphics
have smaller file sizes; plug-in distributed with every major browser so the
majority of your audience should have it (77% and 69% respectively), many
print resource guides are available; integrates with all other Macromedia
products |
|
Macromedia |
|
The Motion Pictures Experts Group
was established in 1988. The goal of the work in MPEG is interoperability: from
the manufacturer’s point of view, ensuring that modules from different
suppliers can be integrated in a product through clear interface agreements;
from the consumer’s point of view, ensuring that content from multiple sources
will play on players from different manufacturers. Over the years, with
constant development, MPEG has become the dominant form of multimedia content.
This is a more in-depth look at each format than is found on the previous page. MPEG standards can
be purchased from ISO, though some are publically
available.
MPEG uses an algorithm similar to JPEG's baseline compression
algorithm, since a video sequence is essentially a sequence of still images.
JPEG images can typically be compressed to 1 bit/pixel (bpp)
without noticeable effects. MPEG, which adds motion compensation, improves the
compression to about 0.5bpp. Digital Television can achieve 0.1bpp compression.
|
Format |
Support |
Uses |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Bitrate |
Standards |
|
MPEG-1 |
Every
major player, for every OS and platform |
VHS-quality
multimedia content, such as VCD and MP3 |
A great deal
of content available in this format because of its widespread support |
Not
designed for interlaced video |
Up to 1.5 MBits/s |
Motion
Picture Experts Group, distributed by ISO |
|
MPEG-2 |
|
MPEG-2
used for DVD codecs generally, and web, satellite
and terrestrial broadcast |
Can now
carry MPEG-4 objects to enable multimedia applications in the television
domain; Intellectual Property Management and Protection standards (IPMP)
included; designed to handle interlaced video |
Due to
licensing factors, there is not as much content in this format |
1.5 to
15Mbits/s |
Motion
Picture Experts Group, distributed by ISO |
|
MPEG-4, Part 2 |
The best
known encoder is DivX |
Could become the video standard for
the web, like MP3 is for audio; Part 2 is designed to accommodate
object-based compression. |
Object-based coding allows
interactivity; IPMP included |
Must pay
licensing fees for de/encodes under the MPEG LA plan |
Audio:
from 6 kbit/s and 4 kHz up to broadcast quality
audio, from mono up to multichannel |
Motion
Picture Experts Group, distributed by ISO |
|
MPEG-4, Part 10 |
Still in
development |
Designed
for moving picture compression from telecoms to broadcast TV; picture sizes
range from QCIF to HDTV. |
Preliminary
tests suggest JVT technology gives a 50% bit rate improvement over MPEG-2 at
constant quality |
|
|
Joint Video Team, a
collaborative effort between ISO and the International Telecommunications
Union (ITU-T) |
|
MPEG-7 |
These two
formats are still in development, but involve management of multimedia content.
MPEG-7 describes content to enable search and retrieval, filtering of
broadcasts, or database asset management - in other words, metadata. The
principle aim of MPEG-21 is interoperability through the integration of
different standards - a "multimedia framework". |
|
Motion
Picture Experts Group, distributed by ISO |
|||