QTA AAC

Action Plan: Quicktime File Format - AAC 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 QTA AAC 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.

AAC quicktime files are typically given the m4p or m4b extention. They 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.