Sustainability of Digital Formats: Planning for Library of Congress Collections

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MPEG-2, Simple Profile

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Format Description Properties Explanation of format description terms

Identification and description Explanation of format description terms

Full name Information technology -- Generic coding of moving pictures and associated audio information (formal name) MPEG-2 (common name) , Simple Profile
Description Permits the use of Intra-coded (I) frames and predicted (P) frames. A conformance point for this bitstream exists at the Main Level, with a broadcast-stream picture size of 720x576 pixels (non-square pixels), color sampling of 4:2:0, and a maximum data rate of 15 Mb/s.
Production phase Generally a final-state (end-user delivery) format.
Relationship to other formats
    Subtype of MPEG-2, MPEG-2 Video Encoding (H.262)

Local use Explanation of format description terms

LC experience or existing holdings See MPEG-2_family
LC preference See MPEG-2_family

Sustainability factors Explanation of format description terms

Disclosure Open standard. See MPEG-2.
    Documentation See MPEG-2
Adoption [Not widely adopted? Less widely adopted than Main Profile?]
    Licensing and patents See MPEG-2.
Transparency See MPEG-2.
Self-documentation See MPEG-2.
External dependencies See MPEG-2.
Technical protection considerations See MPEG-2.

Quality and functionality factors Explanation of format description terms

Moving Image
Normal rendering Good support.
Clarity (high image resolution) See MPEG-2. At a given picture size, data rate, and encoding algorithm, MPEG-2_SP (Simple Profile) will produce less clarity than MPEG-2_MP (Main Profile) or MPEG-2_422 (4:2:2 Profile).
Functionality beyond normal rendering See MPEG-2.

File type signifiers and format identifiers Explanation of format description terms

Tag Value Note
Filename extension mpg
mpeg
There is no explicit MPEG-2 file format; MPEG-2 content "ready to be delivered" is exchanged in files with these extensions.
Internet Media Type See related format. 

See MPEG-2

Magic numbers See related format. 

See MPEG-2


Notes Explanation of format description terms

General  
History  

Format specifications Explanation of format description terms


Useful references

URLs


Last Updated: 02/17/2017