Video containers
For most users, video files with AVI extension are a separate video file format. In fact, this is not the case. In this case, the extension of an AVI video file is a container of a certain structure, which is used to store various information, such as video and audio data streams, and possibly also subtitles. The AVI video file container can hold video of almost any format, and maybe just audio. Next, we will consider the most widely used containers that can store audio and video information.
AVI is the most popular and widespread type of video file. It was developed by Microsoft during the early days of the Windows operating system and is designed to store synchronized audio and video streams. AVI has a number of limitations that prevent the latest advances in data encoding from being applied, but despite this, it remains popular. Several of these restrictions were successfully circumvented in various clever ways, for example using variable bit rate audio streaming. In the Windows operating system, absolutely all video encoding programs can work with this container.
The OGM container is a completely open system that is part of the OGG project. It can accommodate a video stream of any format and sound in Ogg format, but it also has support for tracks in MP3 format. The main advantage over AVI is its instant rewind capability and built-in error correction.
MKV, called “Matryoshka” on the Internet in Russian, is a relatively recent new development of the video container. It is completely free and open source for any developer. MKV allows you to combine the latest advancements in video and audio encoding. When generating a file, any codecs can be used, both video and audio. Additionally, it supports variable bit rate, a DVD-like navigation menu, and the ability to link to movie chapters. To play files, you must install the Matroska Splitter filter, which will split the container content into sequences. To process video in this container, it will not be easy to find a suitable video encoding program that can trim MKV without re-encoding.
MP4 was developed by the MPEG group to store audio and video computing, and it also supports some types of animation. To play animations in 2D and 3D formats, the installation of special players is required, but these capabilities are still in the testing stage. Most of the portable devices save their files in the MP4 container.
The Quick Time container is used primarily on the Apple platform. Files with this container have the MOV extension and contain high-quality compressed video and sound. It can also be used on standard PC platforms, which requires the installation of the appropriate codec.
