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Recommended Formats Statement


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Main | Table of Contents | Introduction | Summary of Digital Format Preferences | Textual Works | Still Image Works | Moving Image Works | Audio Works | Musical Scores | Datasets | GIS, Geospatial and Non-GIS Cartographic | Design and 3D | Software and Video Games | Web Archives | Email

III. Moving Image Works

i. Motion Pictures - Digital And Physical Media
Motion Pictures - Digital And Physical Media
  Preferred Acceptable
A. Motion Pictures - Digital And Physical Media
  • Complete final production/release version of motion picture work in the original production resolution, aspect ratio and frame rate
  • Theatrical release version in original gauge (e.g., 70mm, 35mm, 16mm)
  • Unencrypted Digital Cinema Package (DCP), with the following characteristics:
    1. 24- or 48-frame progressive scan
    2. Minimum projector resolution of 2048 by 1080 pixels
    3. Image source compression (if used) conforming to ISO/IEC 15444-1 (JPEG2000)
    4. Image and sound files packaged as either SMPTE or Interop DCPs
    5. DCP formats (SMPTE ST429-2 and related specifications)

Contact archive for guidance regarding master materials (DCDM, Digital Source Master, camera original negatives, etc.)

Commercially pressed DVD or Blu-ray disc

B. Audio

Complete final tracks, including any foreign language tracks and descriptive audio, when applicable

Each language and mix for the final production version shall be in its original channel structure and audio resolution as it was delivered to the content distributor

C. Metadata
  1. Relevant unique identifiers applicable to the work (EIDR, ISAN)
  2. If unique identifier not available, then:
    1. Release title
    2. Release/Production Date
    3. Production Company and/or Producer
    4. Distributor Name
    5. Country of Origin
    6. Language
    7. Duration
 
D. Technological Measures

Files must contain no measures (such as digital rights management technologies or encryption) that control access to or prevent use of the digital work.

 

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ii. Video - File-Based and Physical Media
Video - File-Based and Physical Media
  Preferred Acceptable
A. Video -- File-based, in order of preference

Final production version with the original production resolution and frame rate (i.e. 1080p24; 720p60, etc.) and file-based format that was delivered to the content distributor

  1. Interoperable Master Format (IMF) consisting of
    1. Essence files as MXF tracks including video, audio, data and dynamic metadata essences
    2. Composition playlist
    3. Packaging data XML files (asset map, packing list, volume index)
  2. ProRes
    1. QuickTime (.mov) container
    2. 4444 (XQ), 4444 or 422 HQ codecs
  3. MPEG-2
    1. Compliant with ISO/IEC 13818
  4. XDCAM
    1. MXF container
    2. HD422, SHD422, HD codecs

Contact archive for guidance regarding pre-production versions.

FFV1 (version 3) in Matroska (.mkv) container only for content without closed captions and/or timecode information.

Viewing proxy such as

  1. Recordable DVD
  2. Recordable Blu-ray disc
  3. MPEG-4 (.mp4)
B. Video – Physical Media, in order of preference  
  1. Complete, final production version with the original production resolution and frame rate (i.e. 1080p24; 720p60, etc.)
  2. Content contained in standard physical media in the following order of preference:
    1. HD:  HDCAM-SR, HDCAM, HD-D5, Commercially pressed DVD or Blu-ray disc
    2. SD: Digital Betacam, Betacam SP
C. Audio  

Each language and mix for the final production version shall be in its original channel structure and audio resolution as it was delivered to the content distributor

D. Metadata
  1. Relevant unique identifiers applicable to the work (EIDR, ISAN)
  2. If unique identifier not available, then:
    1. Release title
    2. Release/Production Date
    3. Production Company and/or Producer
    4. Distributor Name
    5. Country of Origin
    6. Language
    7. Duration
 
E. Technological Measures

Files must contain no measures (such as digital rights management technologies or encryption) that control access to or prevent use of the digital work.

 

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