The authoritative work on file formats for global film and
television!
The FILE INTERCHANGE HANDBOOK is a must-have reference for every
film and video professional moving to computer based production and
distribution. It is the only book that gives a complete scrutiny
and breakdown of all file formats for the transfer of images, sound
and metadata.
Geared to a global audience, this text will get you the information
that you need to learn this brand-new technology. Upcoming industry
trends are mapped out alongside technology standards in this
complete guide.
Learn the purpose, functionality, and structure of each standard
format with this single major reference on file interchange. This
handbook is the one-stop resource you want for this essential
technology.
Table of contents:
Intro--Brad Gilmer, Gilmer & Associates, Inc.
1. History / background--Hans Hoffman, EBU
2. Metadata dictionary--Oliver Morgan, Metaglue Corporation
3. Digital Picture eXchange (DPX)--Dave Bancroft, Thomson
4. General eXchange Format (GXF)--Bob Edge and Ray Baldock, Thomson
Grass Valley
5. Material eXchange Format (MXF)--Jim Wilkinson, Sony, and Bruce
Devlin, Snell & Wilcox, Ltd
6. Advanced Authoring Format (AAF)--Phil Tudor, BBC
7. Windows Media 9-Advanced System Format (ASF)--Nick
Vicars-Harris, Microsoft Corporation
8. Apple QuickTime--George Towner, Apple Computer, Inc.
Praise for the File Interchange Handbook:
"Brad Gilmer has assembled a timely and valuable reference work
covering the technical and structural aspects of file formats and
wrappers used for processing program content. The book provides a
clear, concise description of the file wrapperstogether with
valuable background and applications information. It has been
tailored for the practicing engineer and technical manager.
Chapters on the SMPTE Metadata Dictionary and the Advanced
Authoring Format are particularly relevant. This book is a valuable
reference work for every practicing broadcast and teleproduction
engineer, every Information Technology professional, and those in
the telecommunications field who are actively involved in the
manufacturing, management, transport or delivery of media and
entertainment content."
- Gavin Schutz, Chief Technology Officer, Ascent Media Group
"I found this book to be an excellent up to date reference manual
and a "must read" for anyone currently involved in the design and
implementation of multimedia facilities. It helped me to gain a
better understanding of issues that must be addressed as we
transition our stations from traditional base band audio video
environments to a file based IT infrastructures."
- Ira Goldstone, VP chief technology officer Tribune Broadcasting
"In the mid '90s, CNN and other broadcasters recognized the need
for standardized file exchange of broadcast material. Our
technology plans mapped a path to an integrated production
environment that was based on video files instead of video streams.
With these new systems, we wanted to ensure that we could continue
to leverage the best technology for the various parts of our
production systems while taking advantage of more efficient content
access. This created a strong need for open, standardized methods
of exchanging video files that would support a variety of
compressions and Metadata. These protocols needed to handle
everything from simple fileexchange to complex authoring formats
for content in active production. Because of these needs, CNN
pushed the industry to create several of the formats discussed in
detail in this book and provided active user requirements during
their creation. Within the next year, CNN will have systems in
place that use MXF for file exchange between our production
editing, playback and archive systems. And we have decided that all
future systems will support MXF and AAF."
- Gordon Castle, Senior Vice President, CNN Technology
"Worldwide, the transition from traditional video systems to those
based on IT is creating opportunities in all quarters. Enter the
ubiquitous use of the file; files for archive, streamed files,
just-in-time file transfers, proxy files, video server files,
compositional metadata files, digital cinema files and the list
goes on. Our industry was in desperate need for a file format
guidebook until this reference came along. This is just what the
doctor ordered. The formats in this book will become the
cornerstones of all professional video systems for years to come.
Don't get left behind. The file format train is leaving now and
this book is your ticket to ride."
- Al Kovalick, Strategist and Pinnacle Fellow, Pinnacle
Systems
The only major reference on file interchange
A complete reference by the leading thinkers and innovators
For a global audience on a "need to know" topic