In this blog article, we will provide information about what MOV is, its relationship with QuickTime, and how it became the basis for MP4. Let’s get started.
What is MOV?
The QuickTime File Format (QTFF) is a file format used natively by the QuickTime framework. It has three file extensions.
It is a type of container format that can hold audio, video and text.
The .MOV file format is a multimedia container file format used by QuickTime, Apple’s framework for handling video, audio and other multimedia content. It stores audio, video and text (such as subtitles) in a single file, and can support multiple tracks, making it versatile for various media types.
MOV files can use different codecs to compress and store media, allowing for high-quality playback. It is commonly used for video editing and professional media production, and is compatible with both macOS and Windows platforms when QuickTime or compatible software is installed.
QuickTime File Format (.MOV) Overview
QuickTime is a multimedia container format. This means it can store different types of media (like audio, video, and text) in a single file. Here’s how it works:
Tracks:
QuickTime file can contain multiple tracks, with each track dedicated to a specific type of data. For example, one track may store video, another may store audio, and another may store subtitles.Each track either contains digitally encoded media data (such as a video or audio stream) or a reference to media stored in a separate file.
Atoms and Hierarchical Structure:
Tracks in a QuickTime file are organized using a system of atoms, which are the basic building blocks of the file structure.A parent atom can either contain other atoms or store data, such as media or editing instructions. However, an atom can’t perform both functions at the same time—if it’s a parent atom, it won’t store media data, and if it stores data, it won’t act as a parent atom.
One of QuickTime’s strengths is editing flexibility. The format allows the media data to be referenced but not necessarily embedded directly in the file. This has key benefits:
Data Reference:
QuickTime can store abstract data references, meaning it doesn’t need to copy the actual media data each time you edit. The file just points to the media, which allows for more efficient editing.In-Place Editing:
Because of the way data is stored and referenced, QuickTime can edit in place. This means you can change or edit the media without needing to duplicate or rewrite the data, which saves space and improves efficiency.
QuickTime (.MOV) vs. MP4 Containers
Interchangeability:
QuickTime and MP4 containers are quite similar, as both support the same MPEG-4 formats, including video and audio codecs. In a QuickTime-exclusive environment, meaning a system or software that only uses QuickTime, you can often interchange QuickTime (.mov) files and MP4 files without major issues, as they both rely on the same MPEG-4 codecs.
MP4’s Broader Support:
However, MP4 is more widely adopted as an international standard, which gives it broader compatibility, particularly with hardware devices. For example, devices like the PlayStation Portable (PSP) and many DVD players support MP4 files natively.
On the software side, MP4 is supported by most DirectShow and Video for Windows codec packs, whereas QuickTime File Format (QTFF) is not as widely supported. As a result, MP4 is often the more versatile choice, especially when it comes to playback across different platforms.
QuickTime as the Basis for MPEG-4
The QuickTime file format was officially recognized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as the foundation for the MPEG-4 file format. This means that many components of the QuickTime format were integrated into the creation of the MPEG-4 standard.
In 2001, ISO published the QuickTime file format specification, which became the basis for the MPEG-4 file format specification.
MP4’s Creation:
The MP4 (.mp4) file format was introduced in 2001 as an updated version of the MPEG-4 Part 1: Systems specification from 1999 (ISO/IEC 14496-1:2001).
MP4 was developed to provide a standardized way to store multimedia content, such as video and audio, ensuring compatibility across various platforms and devices.
Revisions to MP4:
In 2003, the MP4 file format was revised and replaced by MPEG-4 Part 14: MP4 File Format (ISO/IEC 14496-14:2003).
This revision refined the original MP4 format, providing clearer guidelines on how multimedia content should be stored in the file format. The MPEG-4 Part 14 specification also improved the handling of audio and video streams within the MP4 container.
ISO Base Media File Format
The MP4 file format was generalized into the ISO Base Media File Format, which defines a basic structure for time-based media files like video and audio. This format also became the foundation for other multimedia formats.
Some formats based on the ISO Base Media File Format include:
- 3GP (used in mobile phones)
- Motion JPEG 2000 (used in high-quality video systems)
Conclusion
In this article, we learned that MOV is a file format related to the QuickTime framework developed by Apple, how it works and how it became the basis for other notable formats like MP4, as well as other ISO formats like 3GP. Hopefully, this has increased your knowledge of the MOV file format. Let us know what you think, and feel free to ask any questions in our forum.