All you need to know about video codec, compression and video container

Video Container -:

When you come across any video file, you must have noticed that it ends with an extension .mp4, .mpeg,... all these extension denotes the video file format. Multimedia data streams should be encapsulated together in a container format to be useful in stored or transmitted form. Well,  file formats being the containers that hold all the information -very similar to a .zip, .sit or .rar file.

Container is essentially bundle of audio and video files. This can hold tracks of audio, video and  audio/video codecs, subtitles, metadata. A container exists for the bundling of all the audio, video, and codec files into single organized package.

Popular containers include:

• AVI

• Matroska (extension as MKV)

• MP4 (mainly used by Apple in the iTunes Store)

• MOV (which was created by Apple)

• Flash Video

Video Compression -:

Inside each audio and video track, information is stored in compression scheme language like H.264, MPEG. Though each data stream is first encoded/compressed (eg: video stream can be encoded using H.264 and an audio stream can be encoded using AAC compression stream) then container formats goes through compression to compress all the information into a compact file(eg a zip file). Then these may be wrapped up within any file container.

There are 2 types of Compression

1. Lossy compression - Compresses the data file in such a way that it loses some of the original quality data but achieves them in much smaller file sizes. Leaving behind a very fine line between quality and size of the file.

2. Lossless Compression - It compresses the data file without much compromise over the quality, still it is not recommendable as compression takes place at a negligible level. Leaves find a larger file which become tough to handle.

Video Codec -:

Usually a video is compressed to make it manageable, in such an order that it occupies less space with negligible loss of quality. An encoding compression algorithm, video codec (encoder/decoder) processes the video files and stores it in a stream of bytes. Codec makes use of an algorithm to shrink/compress the size of Audio/Video files and then decompress it when needed with such a loss of quality that can’t be observed by naked eyes.  Codec interprets with file and plans how to play the file on your screen.

Some examples of codecs include:

• Mpeg, uses the key frames within the coded footage. Mpeg is also a container as well as a codec.  Mpeg is of three types: Mpeg_ MPEG 1 (mpg), MPEG 2 (m2v) and MPEG 4 (mp4).

• DivX, which works with a certain type of MPEG-4 file, and was often used to rip DVDs in the pre-HD era

• XviD, an open source version of DivX, popular among movie pirates

• x264, which compresses H.264 videos (Also known as MPEG-4 AVC), and is very popular for high definition videos

At Oodles Technologies, we provide consulting in opting the right codec, container and video compression as per end user needs and requirement. Here, the experts go in-depth of your requirement, offer you the right path and execute it as per your need. We make sure clients are served with the best outcome at very competitive rates.