Supported Media File Types

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This device supports the codec file formats listed herein, however HP cannot guarantee full compatibility or proper playback with all such codec files due to modifications and/or other variation that may occur with the end-user’s endcoded codec files.

Digital media formats: Codecs versus file containers

Despite international efforts to create standard-based audio and video formats, many format types are incompatible.

The codec (compressor and decompressor) is the method used to compress and decompress digital media files. Audio/video streams usually incorporate two separate codecs: one for the compressed video and one for the compressed audio. The MPEG codecs include profiles and levels, which are the minimum processing requirements for a compliant decoder. Examples of codecs are:

￿JPEG: Used by almost all digital cameras to compress digital images.

￿MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4: Audio and video codecs developed by International Standards Technical committees.

￿VC-1: A video codec developed by Microsoft.

￿Dolby Digital: An audio codec used in DVD movies and in high-definition broadcasting.

The file container is the type of file that the digital bit stream is stored in, regardless of the codec used. File containers have a specific structure, which helps decoders identify the codecs necessary for playback. File containers may support multiple codecs, and they may also include media metadata, DRM (digital rights management) keys, and other stream-related parameters. Examples of file containers are:

￿AVI (.avi)

￿QuickTime (.mov or .qt)

￿MP4 (.mp4)

￿WMV (.wmv)

￿DivX (.divx)

￿MPEG (.mpg)

Popular codecs

￿MPEG codecs. The Motion Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) has developed a variety of A/V codecs, including:

￿MPEG-1, which is used in VCD movies.

￿MPEG-2, which includes the audio codecs MPEG-2 Layer II (MP2) and MPEG-2 Layer III (MP3), and which is used in DVDs, in HDTV, and in many movie download services.

￿MPEG-4, part 2, which is the basis for DivX, Xvid, and other low-bit-rate codecs.

￿MPEG-4, part 10, also known as H.264 or Advanced Video Codec (AVC), which is the basis for HD-DVD and Blu-ray formats. It is also the default video codec in iTunes.

￿AAC (Advanced Audio Codec), also known as MPEG-2, part 7, or MPEG-4, part 3, is the default audio codec in iTunes.

With MPEG-2, MPEG first introduced the concept of profiles and levels. Profiles and levels define the minimum processing requirements for a compliant decoder. For example:

￿DVD movies use MPEG-2 at Main Profile and Main Level (or MPEG-2 MP@ML).

￿HDTV uses a subset of Main Profile at High Level (MP@HL).

￿Two of the most common profiles for MPEG-4, part 2, are the Simple Profile (SP) and the Advanced Simple Profile (ASP).

112HP MediaSmart HDTV User Guide