export / Motion JPEG A/B capture / Motion JPEG A/B sequence settings / Motion JPEG A/B export / Uncompressed 8/10 bits capture / Uncompressed 8/10 bits sequence settings / Uncompressed 8/10 bits export
FCP 6 / Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes / No / Yes / Yes / Yes
FCP X / Yes / Not applicable / Yes / No / No / No / No / Not applicable / Yes
MPEG streamclip
Handbrake
/ffmpeg
Storage[1] / 27 GB / hr / 50 GB / hr / 76 GB / hr | 94 GB / hr
Technical specs / Wrapper: mov
Codex:??? / Wrapper: MXF[2] / (*.mj2) / Wrapper: mov / See other recommended delivery specifications[3]
Pros / File format is …
license-free , well documented and supported.
In house expertise with FCP/Apple
Lower storage size / Open source
Lossless compression / Open source
Truly lossless
Cons / Proprietary Format
FCP software dependence[4]
Compressed / Not well supported[5] [6] / Storage intensive
Summary / Interim Master???
Will require migration to better format in next 10 years. [7] / Up and coming (but not quite there yet)
Monitor developments / Gold Standard
Only format that is truly lossless but is cost prohibitive due to storage
Use only for truly unique material of high scholarly value
Testing notes:
· Though the Microsoft AVI format is another well-known format, the AVI wrapper is particularly poor at handling timecodes. (Wright 16) And not included in this comparison.
Types of video processing:
o Capture : from analog formats (such as videotapes) is done at real time; Capture from analog formats may require additional equipment. Will investigate when to outsource difficult to process legacy formats
o Sequence settings or video editing functionality
o Export : the ability to save work in testing format
Software notes:
· FCP = final cut pro : Version X is most current version but lacks some of the functionality of FCP6 in supporting motion jpeg
· MPEG streamclip : Open Source software (MAC only?)
· Handbrake/ffmpeg : Open source software
[1] Storage estimate based on Calculator from the Independent Media Arts Preservation (IMAP) Workshop on Digital Preservation for Video (2010). Linda Tadic, presenter. SD quality amounts shown.
HDProRes (1920 x 1080) / 62 GB / hr
uncomp. 8-bit (1080i) / 417 GB / hr
uncomp. 10-bit (1080i) / 440 GB / hr
[2] The Audio-Visual Working Group, from the Federal Agencies Digitization guidelines initiatives (FADGI ) is currently working on a draft recommendation for MXF standard. http://www.digitizationguidelines.gov/guidelines/MXF_app_spec.html
[3] Refining Conversion Contract Specifications: Determining Suitable Digital Video Formats for Medium-term Storage. George Blood, principal author. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11583358/IntrmMastVidFormatRecs_20111114.pdf
[4] Most recent FCP versions do not support sequencing, additional costs to obtain FCP software license fee, and questions about compatibility of older FCP versions and OS system.
[5] There is some consensus on use of the MXF wrapper for professional content (digital cinema, broadcasting, US Library of Congress) but these institutions make use of "preservation factory approach” e.g. SAMMA line of robotic systems for video digitization (Wright 16). Off-the-shelf tools are that widely available yet.
[6] MXF is not recognized by the standard digital library tools PRONOM/DROID or any digital library metadata extractor (Wright 18). JHOVE does not support any video formats.
[7] Common recommended strategy from various reports -- e.g. George Blood report, ALCTS Minimum Digitization Capture Recommendations (June 2012), DPC Technology Watch Report 12-01: Preserving Moving Pictures and Sound. (March 2012)