Video Compression Formats

We watch movies on VCDs and DVDs everyday, but have never thought about the video compression formats used by them. There are various video formats that are incorporated in different discs such as Video Compact Discs (VCDs), Digital Versatile Discs (DVD), or Blu-ray discs. They enable us to watch quality video depending on how advanced they are. If we watch a VCD, we would get acceptable video quality, but if we watch a DVD or a Blu-ray video, we would get the best video quality. This is because the video format used in VCDs is not as advanced as those used in DVDs and Blu-rays. Every video format is introduced keeping some aspects in mind. This includes factors such as bit rates and the software used for viewing the video files. Let's discuss some common video formats.

Common Types of Video Compression Formats

MPEG-1
This format is a standard for moving video and pictures, and is made for up to 1.5 megabits per second. It is mostly used in the videos which we view on the Internet. It is also used in VCDs which do provide a viewable video quality. However, this is a format which does not provide the best quality. Almost all computers in the world support this format, but some DVD players may be incompatible with it.

MPEG-2
This format was introduced to support between 1.5 to 15 megabits per second. It is mainly used in DVDs and offers the best video quality. This format is gaining popularity day by day. It is also a standard format for digital video broadcasting and digital set-top boxes, and is also used for High Definition Television (HDTV) video viewing.

MPEG-4
This format is mainly utilized in web compression, and is a very high-compression format which enables developers to independently take charge of objects within a specific frame. As far as complexity and latest applications are concerned, nothing beats this format. Due to its high-compression rate, it is used in HD-DVDs and Blu-ray discs, and in gadgets like PlayStations and iPods.

Windows Media Video
The inventor of the WMV format is the Microsoft Corporation. Other versions include WMV 7, WMV 8, and WMV 9 which are used in Internet videos and also in HDTV technology.

Apple QuickTime Movie
This is a format developed by the Apple Corporation, which has become widely known in a very short span of time. Video files which have this format can be viewed in the QuickTime video player.

Nowadays, highly advanced formats like MPEG-7 and MPEG-21 are under development. These formats are certainly going to bring a rich video experience to users, but till the time they are developed and launched for commercial use, it is a better option to use the above listed formats.

These are some of the common video compression formats that are used. Gaining a complete understanding and knowledge of how these video formats actually work can get a little complicated. However, studying them in detail and using them frequently can give you a clearer picture of what are their features, specifications, advantages, and disadvantages.