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Understanding Digital Video Formats and Codecs

Apr 23, 2025

Digital Video Formats, Codecs, and Containers

Introduction

  • Digital video formats are complex, unlike image formats.
  • Not defined by file type but by a combination of video codec and container.
  • Common file extensions: .mp4, .mov, .mxf.

Key Concepts

  • Codec (Coder-Decoder): Algorithm used to digitally encode video.
  • Container: Digital box storing video streams and related content.

Common Codecs

  • H.264 (AVC): Interframe codec, small files.
  • H.265 (HEVC): Efficient, half the file size of H.264.
  • H.262 (MPEG-2): Used for TV broadcasts and DVDs.
  • MJPEG: Stores each frame as a JPEG image.
  • ProRes: Apple codecs, high quality, large files.
  • DNxHD/DNxHR: Avid codecs, used in professional editing.

Common Containers

  • MP4: Defined in MPEG-4 Part 14, wide applications.
  • AVI: Microsoft, stands for Audio Video Interleave.
  • MOV: Apple, short for movie.
  • MXF: Material Exchange Format, professional use.
  • 3GP/3G2: Mobile phones.
  • MTS/M2TS/TS: For AVCHD and Blu-ray.

Video Encoding: Intra-frame vs Interframe

  • Intra-frame: Compresses each frame individually, higher quality.
  • Interframe: Stores keyframes and delta frames, smaller files.

Examples of Video Formats

  • Mini DV Tape: Stores DV, DVCAM, HDV.
  • AVCHD: Uses H.264 codec, MTS/M2TS container.
  • XAVC-I/XAVC-L: Sony cameras, H.264, MXF container.
  • XFAVC: Canon, H.264 codec, MXF container.
  • Smartphones: H.264/H.265 codec, MP4/MOV container.

Delivery of Final Video Files

  • Consumer: H.264/H.265 codec, MP4/MOV container.
  • Professional: ProRes, DNxHD, DNxHR codecs in MXF container.
  • Broadcast Standards: AVC Intra codec, MXF container for AS11DP.
  • Digital Cinema Package (DCP): MJPEG codec, MXF container.

Historical Context

  • For a century, 35mm film was the standard for high quality motion picture.
  • Digital video has replaced film in many aspects today.

Conclusion

  • Deciding on the right format requires understanding codecs and containers.
  • H.264 codec with MP4 container is a safe choice for most situations.

Recommendations

  • For editing, use intra-frame codecs if possible.
  • For YouTube uploads, use H.264 codec with MP4 container.

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