Video

Prepare Video Assets:
**Required knowledge:**


 * techniques for saving and preparing digital video output to optimise file size
 * OHS relating to working for period of time on computers
 * industry knowledge, including:
 * roles and responsibilities of project team members, e.g. designers, content creators, information architects, programmers and coders
 * basic understanding of the relationship between technical and creative aspects and requirements of interactive media projects
 * basic knowledge of the features of a range of delivery platforms
 * basic understanding of what happens when video files are compressed for inclusion in interactive media products
 * appropriate codecs for various platforms and destinations
 * digital video source and output formats.

Digital video source and output formats

 * File format of source video - Betacam **

 Designed by Sony in the 1980's the Betacam format has become the defacto broadcast video format world-wide. It's derivatives Betacam SP (Superior Performance), Digital Betacam and Betacam SX are at the forefront of video technology. a video signal is represented by three signals. These signals are referred to as Y, U and V and are no more than a special way of encoding the Red, Green and Blue signals that make up all colour images. Unlike, it's predecessors such as the U-matic format, the Betacam format records all three signals independently so that there is minimal signal loss during the record/playback processVirtually all broadcast stations require (or at least strongly prefer) Betacam SP, SX or digital source footage. ** File format of source video - DVC **  DVC stands for Digital Video Camera and it is video it is used to produce movies and Digital video is also used in modern mobile phones and video conferencing systems. Digital video is also used for Internet distribution of media, including streaming video and peer-to-peer movie distribution. It may be interlaced or progressive Interlaced cameras record the image in alternating sets of lines: the odd-numbered lines are scanned, and then the even-numbered lines are scanned, then the odd-numbered lines are scanned again, and so on. A progressive scanning digital video camera records each frame as distinct, with both fields being identical. Thus, interlaced video captures twice as many fields per second as progressive video does when both operate at the same number of frames per second. **Video output formats - FLV ** File Type: Flash Video FilePopularity: Very CommonFile DescriptionFLV is a "Flash Live Video" file. It is a format that is designed for web playback, offering high rates of compression. The Flash Player browser plugin can play an FLV, but that FLV, must be either embedded in or linked to a SWF. That is, you can't just put the actual FLV on an HTML page. You can however reference the FLV file using action script and SWF (the player controls) which now opens up the door to brand your player, add colors and logos, skins, and links to further information. Flash Player, the embedded plugin that is in 98% of all internet browsers, and allows playback of Flash SWF files. It is a preferred method because there is no need for a 3rd party download such as Real Player WMP, or Quicktime. ** Video output formats - M4V **  M4V is a file container format used by Apple's iTunes application. The M4V file format is a video file format developed by Apple and is very close to MP4 format. The differences are optional Apple's DRM copyright protection and the treatment of AC3 (Dolby Digital) audio which is not standardized for MP4 container. Apple uses M4V files to encode TV episodes, movies, and music videos in the iTunes Store. The copyright of M4V files may be protected by using Apple's FairPlay DRM copyright protection. To play a protected M4V file, the computer needs to be authorized (using iTunes) with the account that was used to purchase the video. **Video output formats - MOV ** The MOV file extension normally represents a QuickTime multimedia file. QuickTime is a movie/video/multimedia format developed by Apple and is often used in websites, mostly for streaming audio or video.

Apple distributes the QuickTime Player, allowing Mac and Windows users to view QuickTime multimedia either inside or outside of their web browser. Though the QuickTime player is free, Apple does sell a professional version supporting full-screen video and other features. **Video output formats - MPEG-4 **   The MPEG-4 video format uses separate compression for audio and video tracks; video is compressed with MPEG-4 video encoding; audio is compressed using AAC compression, the same type of audio compression used in __ .AAC __ files (advanced audio coding). This is a standard and is more efficient and produces smaller better quality files than MP3. It is platform independent. **Video output formats - WMV ** <span style="color: black; direction: ltr; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.46in; margin-top: 2.64pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.42in; unicode-bidi: embed;">Windows media VideoUsed for Internet streaming of video and audioCan play on blu-ray and HD DVDCan play either standard or full high definition files 1080p x 1920p =Understanding Video DVD formats and VCD and SVCD= MPEG stands for ‘Moving Pictures Experts Groups’. It is a group working under the directives of the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC). MPEG is a committee of experts from the audio, video and computer industries developing an evolving series of standards for compression of moving images. The committee has created several standard methods for encoding video and audio. DVDs and VCDs use the MPEG 2 and MPEG 1 standards, respectively. MPEG-1 defines a framework for compressing video and audio, significantly reducing the amount of storage needed while keeping acceptable quality. The MPEG-1 video compression method takes advantage of the fact that often, many frames in a row are very similar (showing the same background and objects, for instance, with only an actor's face and hands moving). For each frame, it is only necessary to record how it //differs// from the previous frame//,// saving storage space. In addition, the audio encoding uses something called psychoacoustics—compression removes the high and low frequencies a normal human ear cannot hear. MPEG-2 is not a successor to MPEG-1. Both of these formats have their applications. MPEG-1 is used in VCDs and on the web for short video and animation files. One of the MPEG-1 audio compression standards, MPEG 1 Layer III, is the most common compression method for audio files used on portable devices, under the name "MP3." MPEG-2 is used for higher resolution video, digital television and on DVD's.

What is a VCD?
VCD stands for //Video Compact Disc//. Video and audio are encoded using MPEG-1. A CD-ROM can hold about 800 megabytes of data. Most stand-alone DVD players can play VCDs. VCD is still the most universally compatible format for wide video distribution. Anybody with a DVD player, VCD player or a computer with CD-ROM drive can play VCDs. The video quality is better than most other formats and is adequate for typical home viewing. The physical medium used, CD-R or CD-RW, is very inexpensive and widely available.

What is a DVD?
DVD stands for //Digital Versatile Disc//. A DVD stores its audio and video in MPEG-2 format. A DVD player or a computer equipped with a DVD drive is required to play DVDs. Almost all DVD players also play VCDs. A DVD holds significantly more data than a CD (including a VCD). A 2 hour movie requires two VCDs. The same movie requires only one DVD. Also, movies on DVD have a 200% sharper picture and far better sound quality than VCDs. DVD has gained tremendous popularity with its high-quality video and high storage capability.

What is a SVCD?
SVCD stands for //Super Video CD//. SVCD is the successor to Video CD. An SVCD contains an MPEG-2 video stream and MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 audio. Like VCDs, SVCDs are recorded on standard recordable CD media. Most DVD players play SVCDs. SVCD video quality can be better than VCD. If recorded using the highest quality, it is virtually DVD quality. Since SVCD is still restricted to 800Mb of data, the number of SVCDs required to store a movie is more than double the number of VCDs.

Video Broadcasting Standards
MPEG video is the compression format for digital TV. There are video broadcasting standards, also called picture standards, which differ from country to country.

The PAL Picture Standard
PAL (Phase Alternating Line) is the TV standard introduced in the early 1960’s in Europe. PAL is used in most of the western European countries (except France, where SECAM is used), Australia, some countries of Africa, some countries of South America and some Asian countries.

The NTSC Picture Standard
NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) is a color TV standard developed in the U.S. in 1953. The United States, Canada, Japan, most of the Western Hemisphere and various Asian countries follow NTSC standards. The rest of the world uses either some variety of PAL or SECAM standards.

MPEG Variations At a Glance
(FPS) || Video Bit-rate (Kbps) || Audio Bit-rate (Kbps) || //Source: (http://www.deskshare.com/resources/articles/video-dvd-formats.aspx)// <span style="direction: ltr; display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.46in; margin-top: 2.64pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.42in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
 * Disc || Picture Standard || Disc Type || MPEG Type || Dimensions || Frame Rate
 * VCD || NTSC || CD || MPEG -1 || 320 x 240 || 29.97 || 1152 || 224 ||
 * VCD || PAL || CD || MPEG -1 || 352 x 288 || 25 || 1152 || 224 ||
 * SVCD || NTSC || CD || MPEG -2 || 480 x 480 || 29.97 || 2500 || 224 ||
 * SVCD || PAL || CD || MPEG -2 || 480 x 576 || 25 || 2500 || 224 ||
 * DVD || NTSC || DVD || MPEG -2 || 720 x 480 || 29.97 || 6000 || 224 ||
 * DVD || PAL || DVD || MPEG -2 || 720 x 576 || 25 || //6000// || //224// ||