Just Solve the File Format Problem - User contributions [en]

MP4

2014-11-11T04:29:27Z

Espes:

{{FormatInfo
|formattype=electronic
|subcat=Video
|extensions={{ext|mp4}}, {{ext|m4a}}, {{ext|m4p}}, {{ext|m4b}}, {{ext|m4r}}, {{ext|m4v}}
|mimetypes={{mimetype|audio/mp4}}, {{mimetype|video/mp4}}
|locfdd={{LoCFDD|fdd000037}}, {{LoCFDD|fdd000155}}
|pronom={{PRONOM|fmt/199}}
}}
'''MP4''' usually refers to the multimedia file format defined in Part 14 (and to a lesser extent Part 1) of the MPEG-4 standard.

"MP4" could also mean the entire [[MPEG-4]] standard, or some other subset of MPEG-4. This article only covers the Part 14 file format.

MPEG-4 Part 14 is an application of [[ISO Base Media File Format|Part 12]]. The recommended extension for it is ".mp4", though ".m4a" is often used for audio-only files. It is standardized by ISO/IEC 14496-14.

Imgur uses an MP4 video format for converting animated [[GIF]]s uploaded by users into its own "[[GIFV]]" format, which is actually an MPR referenced in a video element of an [[HTML]] 5 document, which is served with a .gifv extension from their servers.

== See also ==
* [[AVC (file format)]], for the related format defined in MPEG-4 Part 15
* [[ISO Base Media File Format]]
* [[AAC]]

== Specifications ==
* [http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=38538 ISO/IEC 14496-14:2003 (MP4 file format)] (not free to download)

== Sample files ==
* http://samples.libav.org/MPEG-4/

== Links ==
* [[Wikipedia:MPEG-4 Part 14|Wikipedia article: MPEG-4 Part 14]]
* [http://wiki.multimedia.cx/index.php?title=MP4 MultimediaWiki: MP4]
* [http://xhelmboyx.tripod.com/formats/mp4-layout.txt mp4-layout.txt]
* [http://www.mp4ra.org/ MP4 Registration Authority]

[[Category:Audio and Music]]
[[Category:MPEG-4]]

ISO Base Media File Format

2014-11-11T04:25:55Z

Espes:

{{FormatInfo
|formattype=electronic
|subcat=Metaformats
|locfdd={{LoCFDD|fdd000079}}
}}
'''ISO Base Media File Format''' (occasionally abbreviated ''BMFF'') is a metaformat for "time-based" media formats (mainly audio and video). It is based on the more-general metaformat we're calling [[boxes/atoms format]].

It is defined by Part 12 of the [[MPEG-4]] standard, and also by Part 12 of the [[JPEG 2000]] standard.

Files always have an "<code>ftyp</code>" box, which contains a list of "brands" that give information about the specific file format. See the [[Boxes/atoms format#Brands|boxes/atoms]] article for more about brands.

Much of the format was copied from [[QuickTime]] format, though not all QuickTime files use ISO Base Media File Format.

Among the formats based on it are [[MJ2]] and [[MP4]].

== Identification ==
Files use [[boxes/atoms format]], and have both an "<code>ftyp</code>" box and an "<code>moov</code>" box. (We're not aware of any other standard formats that meet these conditions.)

== Specifications ==
* [http://standards.iso.org/ittf/PubliclyAvailableStandards/index.html ISO Publicly Available Standards] → "ISO/IEC 14496-12..."
* [http://standards.iso.org/ittf/PubliclyAvailableStandards/index.html ISO Publicly Available Standards] → "ISO/IEC 15444-12..."

== Links ==
* [[Wikipedia:ISO base media file format|Wikipedia article]]

[[Category:MPEG-4]]
[[Category:JPEG 2000]]
[[Category:Video]]
[[Category:Audio and Music]]

ISO Base Media File Format

2014-11-11T04:19:52Z

Espes:

{{FormatInfo
|formattype=electronic
|subcat=Metaformats
|extensions={{ext|mp4}}, {{ext|m4a}}, {{ext|m4p}}, {{ext|m4b}}, {{ext|m4r}}, {{ext|m4v}}
|locfdd={{LoCFDD|fdd000079}}
}}
'''ISO Base Media File Format''' (occasionally abbreviated ''BMFF'') is a metaformat for "time-based" media formats (mainly audio and video). It is based on the more-general metaformat we're calling [[boxes/atoms format]].

It is defined by Part 12 of the [[MPEG-4]] standard, and also by Part 12 of the [[JPEG 2000]] standard.

Files always have an "<code>ftyp</code>" box, which contains a list of "brands" that give information about the specific file format. See the [[Boxes/atoms format#Brands|boxes/atoms]] article for more about brands.

Much of the format was copied from [[QuickTime]] format, though not all QuickTime files use ISO Base Media File Format.

Among the formats based on it are [[MJ2]] and [[MP4]].

== Identification ==
Files use [[boxes/atoms format]], and have both an "<code>ftyp</code>" box and an "<code>moov</code>" box. (We're not aware of any other standard formats that meet these conditions.)

== Specifications ==
* [http://standards.iso.org/ittf/PubliclyAvailableStandards/index.html ISO Publicly Available Standards] → "ISO/IEC 14496-12..."
* [http://standards.iso.org/ittf/PubliclyAvailableStandards/index.html ISO Publicly Available Standards] → "ISO/IEC 15444-12..."

== Links ==
* [[Wikipedia:ISO base media file format|Wikipedia article]]

[[Category:MPEG-4]]
[[Category:JPEG 2000]]
[[Category:Video]]
[[Category:Audio and Music]]

MP4

2014-11-11T04:10:08Z

Espes:

{{FormatInfo
|formattype=electronic
|subcat=Video
|extensions={{ext|mp4}}, {{ext|m4a}}, {{ext|m4p}}, {{ext|m4b}}, {{ext|m4r}}, {{ext|m4v}}
|mimetypes={{mimetype|audio/mp4}}, {{mimetype|video/mp4}}
|locfdd={{LoCFDD|fdd000037}}, {{LoCFDD|fdd000155}}
|pronom={{PRONOM|fmt/199}}
}}
'''MP4''' usually refers to the multimedia file format defined in Part 14 (and to a lesser extent Part 1) of the MPEG-4 standard.

"MP4" could also mean the entire [[MPEG-4]] standard, or some other subset of MPEG-4. This article only covers the Part 14 file format.

MPEG-4 Part 14 is an application of [[ISO Base Media File Format|Part 12]]. The recommended extension for it is ".mp4", though ".m4a" is often used for audio-only files. It is standardized by ISO/IEC 14496-14.

Imgur uses an MP4 video format for converting animated [[GIF]]s uploaded by users into its own "[[GIFV]]" format, which is actually an MPR referenced in a video element of an [[HTML]] 5 document, which is served with a .gifv extension from their servers.

== See also ==
* [[AVC (file format)]], for the related format defined in MPEG-4 Part 15
* [[ISO Base Media File Format]]
* [[AAC]]

== Sample files ==
* http://samples.libav.org/MPEG-4/

== Links ==
* [[Wikipedia:MPEG-4 Part 14|Wikipedia article: MPEG-4 Part 14]]
* [http://wiki.multimedia.cx/index.php?title=MP4 MultimediaWiki: MP4]
* [http://xhelmboyx.tripod.com/formats/mp4-layout.txt mp4-layout.txt]
* [http://www.mp4ra.org/ MP4 Registration Authority]

[[Category:Audio and Music]]
[[Category:MPEG-4]]

H.264

2014-11-11T04:08:32Z

Espes:

{{FormatInfo
|formattype=electronic
|subcat=Video
|locfdd={{LoCFDD|fdd000081}}
}}
'''H.264''' is a standard for video compression and one of the most widely used HD video formats. Software routines which implement standards such as this one are known as "codecs" (for "coder-decoders") because the encode and decode video data. They are an essential part of any system that plays or creates digital videos, and can be a component of systems that deal with all sorts of file formats that use a particular standard for encoding or compression as a part of their format.

H.264 is controversial for being patent-encumbered, and hence subject to royalty requirements. In 2013, Cisco is attempting to partially remedy this by producing a freely distributed executable H.264 codec for many platforms for which they have paid the royalty, allowing anybody to download and use it in unmodified form royalty-free. The source code is also openly available, but any altered versions that anybody might create from it would require separate licensing, as would any distribution of the executables other than direct download from Cisco. Thus, the only way to use it as part of a product without additional license fees is to have the product's installer download the executable from Cisco during the install process, rather than including it directly in your own product (whether on disk or downloadable from your site).

== See also ==
* [[AVC (file format)]]
* [[MPEG-4]]

== Specs ==
* [http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-H.264 H.264 official specification page]

== Software ==
* [https://www.videolan.org/developers/x264.html x264]
* [http://www.openh264.org/ OpenH264]

==References==
* [[Wikipedia:H.264/MPEG-4 AVC|H.264-MPEG-4 Wikipedia entry]]
* [http://blogs.cisco.com/collaboration/open-source-h-264-removes-barriers-webrtc Cisco open-sources H-264 codec]
* [https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2013/10/30/video-interoperability-on-the-web-gets-a-boost-from-ciscos-h-264-codec/ Mozilla to use H.264 codec from Cisco]

== Commentary==
* [http://xiphmont.livejournal.com/61927.html Comments on Cisco, Mozilla, and H.264]
* [http://blogs.computerworlduk.com/open-enterprise/2013/10/is-cisco-open-sourcing-its-code---or-openwashing/index.htm More commentary]
* [http://blogs.computerworlduk.com/open-enterprise/2013/10/living-in-a-post-h264-world/index.htm Towards a post-H.264 world]
* [http://gigaom.com/2013/10/30/google-sticks-with-vp8-opposes-ciscos-push-for-h-264/ Google sticks with VP8, opposes Cisco’s push to make H.264 the default codec for WebRTC]

== Links ==
[http://wiki.multimedia.cx/?title=H.264 MultimediaWiki: H.264]

[[Category:MPEG-4]]

H.264

2014-11-11T04:08:11Z

Espes:

{{FormatInfo
|formattype=electronic
|subcat=Video
|locfdd={{LoCFDD|fdd000081}}
}}
'''H.264''' is a standard for video compression and one of the most widely used HD video formats. Software routines which implement standards such as this one are known as "codecs" (for "coder-decoders") because the encode and decode video data. They are an essential part of any system that plays or creates digital videos, and can be a component of systems that deal with all sorts of file formats that use a particular standard for encoding or compression as a part of their format.

H.264 is controversial for being patent-encumbered, and hence subject to royalty requirements. In 2013, Cisco is attempting to partially remedy this by producing a freely distributed executable H.264 codec for many platforms for which they have paid the royalty, allowing anybody to download and use it in unmodified form royalty-free. The source code is also openly available, but any altered versions that anybody might create from it would require separate licensing, as would any distribution of the executables other than direct download from Cisco. Thus, the only way to use it as part of a product without additional license fees is to have the product's installer download the executable from Cisco during the install process, rather than including it directly in your own product (whether on disk or downloadable from your site).

== See also ==
* [[AVC (file format)]]
* [[MPEG-4]]

== Specs ==
* [http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-H.264 H.264 official specification page]

== Software ==
[https://www.videolan.org/developers/x264.html x264]
[http://www.openh264.org/ OpenH264]

==References==
* [[Wikipedia:H.264/MPEG-4 AVC|H.264-MPEG-4 Wikipedia entry]]
* [http://blogs.cisco.com/collaboration/open-source-h-264-removes-barriers-webrtc Cisco open-sources H-264 codec]
* [https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2013/10/30/video-interoperability-on-the-web-gets-a-boost-from-ciscos-h-264-codec/ Mozilla to use H.264 codec from Cisco]

== Commentary==
* [http://xiphmont.livejournal.com/61927.html Comments on Cisco, Mozilla, and H.264]
* [http://blogs.computerworlduk.com/open-enterprise/2013/10/is-cisco-open-sourcing-its-code---or-openwashing/index.htm More commentary]
* [http://blogs.computerworlduk.com/open-enterprise/2013/10/living-in-a-post-h264-world/index.htm Towards a post-H.264 world]
* [http://gigaom.com/2013/10/30/google-sticks-with-vp8-opposes-ciscos-push-for-h-264/ Google sticks with VP8, opposes Cisco’s push to make H.264 the default codec for WebRTC]

== Links ==
[http://wiki.multimedia.cx/?title=H.264 MultimediaWiki: H.264]

[[Category:MPEG-4]]

MP4

2014-11-11T03:58:21Z

Espes:

{{FormatInfo
|formattype=electronic
|subcat=Video
|extensions={{ext|mp4}}, {{ext|m4a}}, {{ext|m4p}}, {{ext|m4b}}, {{ext|m4r}}, {{ext|m4v}}
|mimetypes={{mimetype|audio/mp4}}, {{mimetype|video/mp4}}
|locfdd={{LoCFDD|fdd000037}}, {{LoCFDD|fdd000155}}
|pronom={{PRONOM|fmt/199}}
}}
'''MP4''' usually refers to the multimedia file format defined in Part 14 (and to a lesser extent Part 1) of the MPEG-4 standard.

"MP4" could also mean the entire [[MPEG-4]] standard, or some other subset of MPEG-4. This article only covers the Part 14 file format.

MPEG-4 Part 14 is an application of [[ISO Base Media File Format|Part 12]]. The recommended extension for it is ".mp4", though ".m4a" is often used for audio-only files. It is standardized by ISO/IEC 14496-14.

Imgur uses an MP4 video format for converting animated [[GIF]]s uploaded by users into its own "[[GIFV]]" format, which is actually an MPR referenced in a video element of an [[HTML]] 5 document, which is served with a .gifv extension from their servers.

== See also ==
* [[AVC (file format)]], for the related format defined in MPEG-4 Part 15
* [[AAC]]

== Sample files ==
* http://samples.libav.org/MPEG-4/

== Links ==
* [[Wikipedia:MPEG-4 Part 14|Wikipedia article: MPEG-4 Part 14]]
* [http://wiki.multimedia.cx/index.php?title=MP4 MultimediaWiki: MP4]
* [http://xhelmboyx.tripod.com/formats/mp4-layout.txt mp4-layout.txt]
* [http://www.mp4ra.org/ MP4 Registration Authority]

[[Category:Audio and Music]]
[[Category:MPEG-4]]

MP4

2014-11-11T03:56:13Z

Espes:

{{FormatInfo
|formattype=electronic
|subcat=Video
|extensions={{ext|mp4}}, {{ext|m4a}}, {{ext|m4p}}, {{ext|m4b}}, {{ext|m4r}}, {{ext|m4v}}
|mimetypes={{mimetype|audio/mp4}}, {{mimetype|video/mp4}}
|locfdd={{LoCFDD|fdd000037}}, {{LoCFDD|fdd000155}}
|pronom={{PRONOM|fmt/199}}
}}
'''MP4''' usually refers to the multimedia file format defined in Part 14 (and to a lesser extent Part 1) of the MPEG-4 standard.

"MP4" could also mean the entire [[MPEG-4]] standard, or some other subset of MPEG-4. This article only covers the Part 14 file format.

MPEG-4 Part 14 is an application of [[ISO Base Media File Format|Part 12]]. The recommended extension for it is ".mp4", though ".m4a" is often used for audio-only files. It is standardized by ISO/IEC 14496-14.

Imgur uses an MP4 video format for converting animated [[GIF]]s uploaded by users into its own "[[GIFV]]" format, which is actually an MPR referenced in a video element of an [[HTML]] 5 document, which is served with a .gifv extension from their servers.

== See also ==
* [[AVC (file format)]], for the related format defined in MPEG-4 Part 15
* [[AAC]]

== Sample files ==
* http://samples.libav.org/MPEG-4/

== Links ==
* [[Wikipedia:MPEG-4 Part 14|Wikipedia article: MPEG-4 Part 14]]
* [http://wiki.multimedia.cx/index.php?title=MP4 MultimediaWiki: MP4]
* [http://www.mp4ra.org/ MP4 Registration Authority]

[[Category:Audio and Music]]
[[Category:MPEG-4]]

AAC

2014-11-11T03:52:05Z

Espes:

{{FormatInfo
|formattype=electronic
|subcat=Audio and Music
|released=1997
|extensions={{ext|aac}}, {{ext|mp4}}, {{ext|m4a}}
|locfdd={{LoCFDD|fdd000114}}, others
}}
'''AAC''' ('''Advanced Audio Coding''') is a compressed audio format defined in [[MPEG-2]] Part 7 (ISO/IEC 13818-7), and in an updated form in [[MPEG-4]] Part 3 (ISO/IEC 14496-3). It was designed to be the successor to [[MP3]].

An AAC file may contain only the raw AAC format, or it may use a multimedia container format such [[MP4]] or [[QuickTime]]. AAC is often used for the audio component of a video file.

== Identifiers ==
Raw AAC files typically use the file extension '''.aac'''. In formats based on [[ISO Base Media File Format]], the brand "<code>M4A </code>" is used.

{| class="wikitable"
! Format
! LoCFDD
|-
|AAC (MPEG-2) || {{LoCFDD|fdd000036}}
|-
|AAC (MPEG-2), ADIF || {{LoCFDD|fdd000112}}
|-
|AAC (MPEG-4) || {{LoCFDD|fdd000114}}
|-
|AAC (MPEG-4) Low Complexity Object || {{LoCFDD|fdd000233}}
|-
|MPEG-4 File Format, V.2, with AAC || {{LoCFDD|fdd000234}}
|-
|QuickTime Audio, AAC Codec || {{LoCFDD|fdd000110}}
|}

== Specifications ==
* [http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=43345 ISO/IEC 13818-7:2006] (MPEG-2 Part 7) (not free to download)
* [http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=53943 ISO/IEC 14496-3:2009] (MPEG-4 Part 3) (not free to download)

== Software ==
* [http://ffmpeg.org/ FFmpeg]
* [[VLC]]
* [http://www.audiocoding.com/faad2.html FAAD2]
* [http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/en/ff/amm/impl/fdkaaccodec.html Fraunhofer FDK AAC]

== Sample files ==
* http://download.wavetlan.com/SVV/Media/HTTP/http-aac.htm
* http://samples.libav.org/A-codecs/AAC/
* http://samples.libav.org/A-codecs/suite/MP4A

== Links ==
* [[Wikipedia:Advanced Audio Coding|Wikipedia: Advanced Audio Coding]]
* [[Wikipedia:MPEG-4 Part 3|Wikipedia: MPEG-4 Part 3]]
* [[Wikipedia:MPEG-2|Wikipedia: MPEG-2]]
* [http://wiki.multimedia.cx/index.php?title=Advanced_Audio_Coding MultimediaWiki: Advanced Audio Coding]
* [http://wiki.multimedia.cx/index.php?title=Understanding_AAC MultimediaWiki: Understanding AAC]
* [http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/guide/aac-audio-and-the-mp4-media-format JISC Digital Media guide: AAC Audio and the MP4 Media Format]
* [http://www.vialicensing.com/licensing/aac-overview.aspx AAC licensing]
* [http://inkdroid.org/journal/2014/05/23/realaudio-aac-and-archivy/ RealAudio, AAC and Archivy]

[[Category:MPEG-4]]