Windows Media Video

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about video encoding and decoding software. For the container file format, see
.wmv
.

Windows Media Video (WMV) is a series of

digital container format called Advanced Systems Format
to store video encoded by Windows Media Video.

History

In 2003, Microsoft drafted a

H.264/MPEG-4 AVC.[3][4]

Container format

Main article: Advanced Systems Format
A screenshot from VLC Media Player of what a WMV file may contain.

A WMV file uses the

file extension and not the .wmv file extension.[5][failed verification
]

The ASF container can optionally support

RC4 stream cipher and the SHA-1
hashing function.

Although WMV is generally packed into the ASF container format, it can also be put into the Matroska[6] container format (with file extension .mkv), or AVI container format (extension .avi). One common way to store WMV in an AVI file is to use the WMV 9 Video Compression Manager (VCM) codec implementation.[7][8]

Video compression formats

Windows Media Video

Diagram illustrating the relative frame sizes of several common video resolutions targeted by Windows Media Video 9 Professional, starting with 480p

Windows Media Video (WMV) is the most recognized

pixels, and frame interpolation.[11] WMV 9 also introduced a new profile titled Windows Media Video 9 Professional,[12] which is activated automatically whenever the video resolution exceeds 300,000 pixels (e.g., 528 px × 576 px, 640 px × 480 px or 768 px × 432 px and beyond) and the bitrate 1 Mbit/s[citation needed]. It is targeted towards high-definition video content, at resolutions such as 720p and 1080p
.

The Simple and Main profile levels in WMV 9 are compliant with the same profile levels in the VC-1 specification.[13] The Advanced Profile in VC-1 is implemented in a new WMV format called Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile. It improves compression efficiency for interlaced content and is made transport-independent, making it able to be encapsulated in an MPEG transport stream or RTP packet format. The format is not compatible with previous WMV 9 formats, however.[14]

WMV is a mandatory video format for

Microsoft Zune, Xbox 360, Windows Mobile-powered devices with Windows Media Player, as well as many uncertified devices, support the format.[15] WMV HD mandates the use of WMV 9 for its certification program, at quality levels specified by Microsoft.[16] WMV used to be the only supported video format for the Microsoft Silverlight platform, but the H.264 format is now also supported starting with version 3.[17]

Windows Media Video Screen

Windows Media Video Screen (WMV Screen) are video formats that specialise in screencast content. They can capture live screen content, or convert video from third-party screen-capture programs into WMV 9 Screen files. They work best when the source material is mainly static and contains a small color palette.[18]

One of the uses for the format is computer step-by-step demonstration videos. The first version of the format was WMV 7 Screen. The second version, WMV 9 Screen, supports VBR encoding in addition to CBR.[18] Additionally there is MSA1 (aka “MS ATC Screen codec” or “MSS3”) which is used in Live Meeting 2007. FourCCs for the formats are MSS1, MSS2 and MSA1.[19]

Windows Media Video Image

Windows Media Video Image (WMV Image) is a video

slideshow format. The format works by applying timing, panning and transition effects to a series of images during playback.[20]
The codec achieves a higher compression ratio and image quality than WMV 9 for still images as files encoded with WMV Image store static images rather than full-motion video.

Since the format relies on the decoder (player) to generate video frames in real-time, playing WMV Image files even at moderate resolutions (e.g. 30

frames per second at 1024 px × 768 px resolution) requires heavy computer processing. The latest version of the format, WMV 9.1 Image, used by Photo Story 3, features additional transformation effects, but is not compatible with the original WMV 9 Image format.[20]

Hardware support for WMV Image is available from Portable Media Centers, Windows Mobile-powered devices with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile.[15]

Since no known domestic DVD player supports this format, users of Photo Story 3 wishing to generate material capable of being played in a DVD player will first have to convert to MPEG-2 before burning a DVD (average file sizes in MPEG-2 are 5 to 6 times the .wmv file).

Versions

Public Name FourCC Description
Microsoft MPEG-4 version 1 MPG4 Video for Windows-based codec. Non-standard MPEG-4 codec incompatible with the later standardized version of MPEG-4 Part 2.
Microsoft MPEG-4 version 2 MP42 VfW-based codec. Non-compliant with finalized MPEG-4 part 2 standard.
Microsoft MPEG-4 version 3 MP43 VfW-based codec. Non-compliant with finalized MPEG-4 part 2 standard. Eventually locked for encoding only with ASF files (build 3688 and earlier could also encode to AVI).[21]
Microsoft ISO MPEG-4 version 1 MP4S
DirectX Media Objects (DMO)-based codec. MPEG-4 Simple Profile
compliant.
Microsoft ISO MPEG-4 version 1.1 M4S2 MPEG-4 Advanced Simple Profile compliant.[22]
Windows Media Video 7 WMV1 DMO-based codec.
Windows Media Screen 7 MSS1 DMO-based codec. Optimized for low-bitrate sequential screen captures or screencasts. Deprecated in favor of Windows Media 9 Screen codec.
Windows Media Video 8 WMV2 DMO-based codec.
Windows Media Video 9 WMV3 DMO-based codec. Video for Windows (VfW/VCM) version also available. [1]
Windows Media Video 9 Screen MSS2 DMO-based codec. Optimized for low-bitrate sequential screen captures or screencasts.
Windows Media Video 9.1 Image WMVP DMO-based codec. Optimized for encoding video from sequential bitmap images. Used, for instance, by Photo Story.
Windows Media Video 9.1 Image V2 WVP2 DMO-based codec. Optimized for encoding video from sequential bitmap images. Used, for instance, by Photo Story.
Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile WMVA DMO-based codec. Deprecated as non-VC-1-compliant.
Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile WVC1 DMO-based codec. VC-1 compliant format.

Audio compression formats

The audio format used in conjunction with Windows Media Video is typically some version of

ACELP.net
audio format. Microsoft recommends that ASF files containing non-Windows Media formats use the generic .ASF file extension.

Players

Software that can play WMV files includes

K-Multimedia Player. The Microsoft Zune media management software supports the WMV format, but uses a Zune-specific variation of Windows Media DRM which is used by PlaysForSure. Many third-party players exist for various platforms such as Linux that use the FFmpeg
implementation of the WMV format.

On the

Mac OS X in 2003,[23] but further development of the software ceased. From January 2006 to May 2014, Microsoft endorsed and distributed the 3rd party Flip4Mac, a QuickTime Component developed by Telestream that allowed Macintosh users to play WMV files in any player that used the QuickTime framework.[24][25] Telestream ended sales of Flip4Mac on 1 July 2019 and officially ended support on 28 June 2020.[26]
The Elmedia player, which can play WMV files on Macintosh computers, is still available.

Encoders

Many programs can export video in WMV format; a few examples are

Telestream FlipFactory,[29][30] and FFmpeg
.

Programs that encode using the WMV Image format include Windows Media Encoder, AVS Video Editor, and Photo Story.

Digital rights management

Main article: Windows Media DRM

While none of the WMV formats themselves contain any digital rights management facilities, the ASF container format, in which a WMV stream may be encapsulated, can. Windows Media DRM, which can be used in conjunction with WMV, supports time-limited subscription video services such as those offered by CinemaNow.[31] Windows Media DRM, a component of PlaysForSure and Windows Media Connect, is supported on many modern portable video devices and streaming media clients such as the Xbox 360.

Criticism

WMV has been the subject of numerous complaints from users and the press. Users dislike the digital rights management system which is sometimes attached to WMV files.[32] In 2007, the loss of the ability to restore licenses for WMV files in the Windows Media Player 11 was not positively received.[32]

See also

  • JPEG XR/HDHD, an image file format and format developed by Microsoft

References

  1. ^ "SMPTE VC-1 Receiving Industrywide Support". microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Microsoft VC-1 Codec Now a Standard". www.betanews.com. 3 April 2006. Archived from the original on 24 February 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Blu-ray Disc BD-ROM Specification Adds Microsoft's VC-1 Advanced Video Codec". microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Microsoft Technology Brings HD DVD to the Mainstream". microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  5. ^ "The Difference Between ASF and WMV/WMA Files". November 17, 2003. Archived from the original on 2007-08-19.
  6. ^ "Archives | Matroska". 2003-06-19. Archived from the original on 2011-10-11. Retrieved 2011-10-12. As a sidenote, his muxer filter will also allow transmuxing of Microsoft WMV9 video files ( ASF/WMV container ) fine into matroska files, from Graphedit, and with WMV9 VCM installed on your PC you can even open and edit the files in latest VirtualdubMod
  7. ^ Microsoft Corporation (2003-07-07) Windows Media Video 9 VCM Archived 2009-08-10 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on 2009-08-07
  8. ^ "Windows - Official Site for Microsoft Windows 10 Home & Pro OS, laptops, PCs, tablets & more". www.microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  9. ^ "News, Features, Reviews, Forums and Resources for the Professional Content Creator - Creative Planet Network". Creative Planet Network. Archived from the original on 22 February 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  10. ^ "Windows Media Audio & Video 9 Series". microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Windows - Official Site for Microsoft Windows 10 Home & Pro OS, laptops, PCs, tablets & more". www.microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Windows Media 9 Series Beta Reviewer's Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2007.
  13. ^ "Using the Advanced Settings of the Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile Codec". Microsoft. Archived from the original on August 11, 2007.
  14. ^ Waggoner, Ben (21 February 2007). "Best Practices for Windows Media Encoding". Streaming Media Magazine. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Windows - Official Site for Microsoft Windows 10 Home & Pro OS, laptops, PCs, tablets & more". www.microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  16. ^ "MSN - Outlook, Office, Skype, Bing, Breaking News, and Latest Videos". go.microsoft.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2005. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Microsoft Silverlight Developer Server Audio Video Streaming FAQ". microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Windows - Official Site for Microsoft Windows 10 Home & Pro OS, laptops, PCs, tablets & more". www.microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  19. ^ "Microsoft Screen Codec - MultimediaWiki". wiki.multimedia.cx. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Windows - Official Site for Microsoft Windows 10 Home & Pro OS, laptops, PCs, tablets & more". www.microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  21. ^ VirtualDub VirtualDub documentation: codecs Archived 2011-05-16 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on 2009-11-28
  22. ^ MPEG4 Part 2 Video Decoder MSDN documentation: Profiles and Levels Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on 2009-11-28
  23. ^ "Office 365 for Mac, Office 2016 for Mac". office.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  24. ^ "Telestream Press Release". telestream.net. Archived from the original on 10 September 2006. Retrieved 10 September 2006.
  25. ^ "Knowledge Article: Flip4Mac Player: Why is Telestream charging for Flip4Mac Player". Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  26. ^ "Knowledge Article: Flip4Mac retired as of July 1, 2019". Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  27. ^ "Sorenson Media - Next Generation Television Starts Here". Sorenson Media. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  28. ^ "Sony Creative Software - Vegas Pro 8 - Technical Specifications". sonycreativesoftware.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  29. ^ "Supported file formats in Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0". adobe.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  30. ^ "EMS - PLAYOUT - CG - MAM - INGEST - ENCODER - IP MULTIVIEWER". www.easymediasuite.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  31. ^ "Windows - Official Site for Microsoft Windows 10 Home & Pro OS, laptops, PCs, tablets & more". www.playsforsure.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  32. ^ a b "Microsoft Media Player shreds your rights". theinquirer.net. Archived from the original on 7 September 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Windows Media Video.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Windows_Media_Video&oldid=1220327746"