Sustainability of Digital Formats: Planning for Library of Congress Collections
Sustainability of Digital Formats: Planning for Library of Congress Collections |
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| Introduction | Sustainability Factors | Content Categories | Format Descriptions | Contact | |
| Full name | MXF Operational Pattern 1a (OP1a) |
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| Description |
Operational Pattern (OP) for a file with a single playable essence comprising a single essence element or interleaved essence elements, i.e., the content may consist of multiple, interleaved tracks of picture and sound. According to an Avid promotional booklet (link available through Internet Archive), OP1a files are "nicely self-contained and can work well in applications where each file represents a complete program or take . . . [but] may be less applicable to content authoring steps such as non-linear editing, where programs are created by slicing and dicing different sections of source material." The latter application is better served by MXF_OP-Atom. |
| Production phase | Middle state |
| Relationship to other formats | |
| Subtype of | MXF, Material Exchange Format (MXF) |
| Has subtype | MXF_OP1a_UNC, MXF File, OP1a, Uncompressed Images in Generic Container |
| Has subtype | MXF_OP1a_MPEG-2, MXF File, OP1a, MPEG-2 in Generic Container |
| Has subtype | MXF_OP1a_SDTI-CP, MXF File, OP1a, SDTI-CP in Generic Container |
| Has subtype | MXF_OP1a_DV-DIF, MXF File, OP1a, DV-DIF in Generic Container |
| Has subtype | MXF_OP1a_JP2_LL, MXF File, OP1a, Lossless JPEG 2000 in Generic Container |
| Has subtype | MXF_OP1a_JP2_LSY, MXF File, OP1a, Lossy JPEG 2000 in Generic Container |
| Has subtype | MXF_OP1a_D-10, MXF File, OP1a, D-10 in Generic Container |
| Has subtype | MXF_OP1a_AES3, MXF File, OP1a, AES3 Audio in Generic Container |
| Has subtype | MXF File, OP1a, with other essence types in Generic Container, not described at this time. |
| Used by | IMF_Package, Interoperable Master Format (IMF) |
| LC experience or existing holdings | See MXF |
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| LC preference | See MXF |
| Disclosure | Open standard. Developed by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), a member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). |
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| Documentation | SMPTE 378M-2004, Material Exchange Format (MXF) -- Operational pattern 1A (Single Item, Single Package) |
| Adoption |
OP1a is supported in many commercial devices and systems. It is central to various MXF Application Specifications (profiles from user communities), including the Public Broadcasting System, the initial developer of AS-03, for use in the non-real-time distribution of programs to member stations. The SAMMA device used to reformat videotapes outputs OP1a files. |
| Licensing and patents | See MXF |
| Transparency | See MXF |
| Self-documentation |
See MXF. Accessibility Features See MXF. |
| External dependencies | See MXF |
| Technical protection considerations | See MXF |
| Tag | Value | Note |
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| Filename extension | See related format. | See MXF. |
| Internet Media Type | See related format. | See MXF. |
| Magic numbers | See related format. | See MXF |
| Header partition pack key (MXF) | 06 0E 2B 34 04 01 01 01 0D 01 02 01 01 01 09 |
UL for OP1a Operational Pattern declaration in Header Partition Pack |
| Other | See note. | NARA File Format Preservation Plan ID has no corresponding entry as of May 2025. |
| Pronom PUID | fmt/200 |
See http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOM/fmt/200. |
| Wikidata Title ID | See note. | Wikidata has no corresponding entry specifically for MXF OP1a as of May 2025. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1893311 for the general MXF Material Exchange Format entry includes links to the PRONOM PUID for OP1A (fmt/200) but this is not an exact match. |
| General | |
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| History |
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