QTA MP3

Action Plan: Quicktime File Format - MP3 codec

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: The QuickTime Audio, MP3 Codec is used for distribution of audio tracks, often with significant Digital Rights Management.

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.

Some QuickTime Mp3s can only be legally played when logged-on to the account that owns them in iTunes. This has obvious long term preservation implications. If the files in question can be legally converted to a more standard and open format, that is recommended.