Video Formats
In this section, we look at:
Which format is best?
There are many video formats available and finding the right one for use in teaching can be challenging; no single format can satisfy every scenario. Overall, we have found that the most widely used format that appears to be compatible with the majority of web browsers as well as different types of hardware is Apple's Quicktime, in particular files that are created using the .MP4 extension. Below, we take a look at the common formats in use and we’ll also discuss their usefulness within the context of creating teaching resources.
Definition of different formats:
Quicktime
The Quicktime multimedia framework was created by Apple in 1991 [1]. It is a system capable of playing and encoding audio, video and image files. Most video files created using Quicktime end with the extensions .MOV, .MP4 or .M4V. Many different types of hardware and software can generate Quicktime movies.
In Windows, there are many applications that can generate Quicktime movies and packages that allow you to edit videos & will often give the option to output the final product in Quicktime format. Since the broad uptake and proliferation of Apple mobile devices, the Quicktime video format has become an increasingly popular option for the delivery of video content.
You can find an interesting article about Quicktime’s history here.
Windows Video Formats
Two popular formats on the Windows platform are Audio Video Interleave (AVI) and Windows Media Video (WMV). The AVI format was created in 1992 [2] and was designed to provide a single file that incorporated synchronised vision and audio.
The WMV format was created around 2003 [3] and was originally designed as an internet streaming video technology. It has since become a very popular Windows video format as the file size, for an equivalent video, can be smaller than Quicktime and AVI.
HTML5 and web video
A newer standard for embedding videos directly within a browser has been developed over the last 4-5 years. This standard, known as HTML5 video, is designed to work directly within a web browser without the need to install special software such as Quicktime or Adobe Flash.
One of the big benefits of this, as you can imagine, is that the video file is displayed directly in the browser and does not require the installation of 3rd party software. The main issue currently is that not all browsers implement this standard equally. Have a look at this excellent website regarding HTML5 video formats and some history surrounding its creation.
[1] Information courtesy of Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicktime
[2] Information courtesy of Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Video_Interleave
[3] Information courtesy of Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Video
- different video formats, their benefits and disadvantages
- recommended formats for use in online teaching
- new web video technologies and how we can harness their power to produce quality materials
Which format is best?
There are many video formats available and finding the right one for use in teaching can be challenging; no single format can satisfy every scenario. Overall, we have found that the most widely used format that appears to be compatible with the majority of web browsers as well as different types of hardware is Apple's Quicktime, in particular files that are created using the .MP4 extension. Below, we take a look at the common formats in use and we’ll also discuss their usefulness within the context of creating teaching resources.
Definition of different formats:
Quicktime
The Quicktime multimedia framework was created by Apple in 1991 [1]. It is a system capable of playing and encoding audio, video and image files. Most video files created using Quicktime end with the extensions .MOV, .MP4 or .M4V. Many different types of hardware and software can generate Quicktime movies.
In Windows, there are many applications that can generate Quicktime movies and packages that allow you to edit videos & will often give the option to output the final product in Quicktime format. Since the broad uptake and proliferation of Apple mobile devices, the Quicktime video format has become an increasingly popular option for the delivery of video content.
You can find an interesting article about Quicktime’s history here.
Windows Video Formats
Two popular formats on the Windows platform are Audio Video Interleave (AVI) and Windows Media Video (WMV). The AVI format was created in 1992 [2] and was designed to provide a single file that incorporated synchronised vision and audio.
The WMV format was created around 2003 [3] and was originally designed as an internet streaming video technology. It has since become a very popular Windows video format as the file size, for an equivalent video, can be smaller than Quicktime and AVI.
HTML5 and web video
A newer standard for embedding videos directly within a browser has been developed over the last 4-5 years. This standard, known as HTML5 video, is designed to work directly within a web browser without the need to install special software such as Quicktime or Adobe Flash.
One of the big benefits of this, as you can imagine, is that the video file is displayed directly in the browser and does not require the installation of 3rd party software. The main issue currently is that not all browsers implement this standard equally. Have a look at this excellent website regarding HTML5 video formats and some history surrounding its creation.
[1] Information courtesy of Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicktime
[2] Information courtesy of Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Video_Interleave
[3] Information courtesy of Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Video