QuickTime Video, MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding

Action Plan: Quicktime File Format - MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding

Last Updated 12/05/2013

Description:  A multimedia container file which can contain audio, video, effects and subtitles. A propriatary Apple, Inc. format with specifications avalible here, it is made up "atoms," the basic unit of data comprising a quicktime file. QTFF is the basis for the MPEG-4 format.

Codec: MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding is a popular format for digital video. Some video cameras, notably Canon and Nikon DSLRs use the encoding with a QuickTime, .Mov wrapper.

Software:  Apple Quicktime Pro is used for saving or converting individual QTFF files. .Mov files can be played with VLC media player , iTunes , Windows Media Player and many others. MediaInfo is useful for identification of codecs and file characteristics.

Long Term Preservation Plan: The Quicktime File File Format is a propratary non-open source format. While widely used, it has since been eclipsed in popularity by file-types such as its direct successor MPEG-4. Apple has been moving away from .mov and its long-term future is uncertain. Yet the format remains popular and every major browser can support it. Migration is not at present recommended.

Division Specific Notes: