Versioning in Video Formats:
The storage and dissemination of video has become massively complex in the digital age. There a large range of file formats available for digital video to be encoded to, all with different specifications and uses. For example, when uploading video to a file-sharing application like YouTube, the video is re-encoded into a compressed version that reduces the strain on the host servers and will load quickly for the end user. However, this version is of lower quality than most other video formats.
Also, conversion of video will detract from it's quality over time, so it is important to keep track of the digital lineage of the object. Here are some examples of popular video formats:
- .WMV
- .MP4
- .AVI
- .MOV
Recommendations:
The simplest way to record version status as part of this sort of object would be to do it visually at the start of the video, with an information screen or in the titles. As VIF consistently recommends, author, title, date last modified and some form of description are ideal pieces of information to help identify the version of an object.
Whichever file format you use, we suggest investigating and making use of properties fields. Additionally for video, if the video fits into a larger body of research outputs, this should be recorded or described at this opportunity.
This is also a fast moving area, with developments on the digital use of video coming all the time. VIF recommends consulting the The Technical Advisory Service for Images, TASI - http://www.tasi.ac.uk/ for the latest developments.
Notes:
Work is taking place on developing greater integration of repositories and video, such as: NJVid - A State-wide Video-on-Demand Repository: http://connect.educause.edu/Library/Abstract/NJVidAStatewideVideoonDem/46217.