Sustainability of Digital Formats: Planning for Library of Congress Collections

Operational Pattern (OP) for a file with a single playable essence comprising a single essence element or interleaved essence elements, i.e., the content may consist of multiple, interleaved tracks of picture and sound. According to an Avid promotional booklet (link available through Internet Archive), OP1a files are "nicely self-contained and can work well in applications where each file represents a complete program or take . . . [but] may be less applicable to content authoring steps such as non-linear editing, where programs are created by slicing and dicing different sections of source material." The latter application is better served by MXF_OP-Atom.

OP1a is supported in many commercial devices and systems. It is central to various MXF Application Specifications (profiles from user communities), including the Public Broadcasting System, the initial developer of AS-03, for use in the non-real-time distribution of programs to member stations. The SAMMA device used to reformat videotapes outputs OP1a files.