Sustainability of Digital Formats: Planning for Library of Congress Collections

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MPEG-2, 4:2:2 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), 4:2:2 Profile
Description Permits the use of Intra-coded (I) frames, predicted (P) frames, and bidirectionally predicted (B) frames. The ISO/IEC specifications establish a conformance point for this bitstream at Main Level, with a broadcast-stream picture size of 720x576 pixels (non-square pixels), color sampling of 4:2:2, and a maximum data rate of 50 Mb/s. A separate SMPTE specification establishes High Level conformance, with a maximum picture size of 1920x1080, color sampling of 4:2:2, and a maximum data rate of 300 Mb/s.
Production phase Generally a middle state (broadcast production) format; may be used as a final-state (end-user delivery) format.
Relationship to other formats
    Subtype of MPEG-2, MPEG-2 Video Encoding (H.262)
    Used by MPEG-2_422_layer_2, MPEG-2 422 Profile, with Layer II Audio Encoding

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. Developed through ISO technical program JTC 1/SC 29 for coding of audio, picture, multimedia and hypermedia information by Working Group 11 (WG11) aka the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). Supplementary specification from the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).
    Documentation

ISO/IEC 13818-2:2000. Information technology -- Generic coding of moving pictures and associated audio information: Video. For a complete list of the ISO/IEC MPEG-2 specifications, see MPEG-2.

SMPTE 308M-1998. SMPTE Standard for Television -- MPEG-2 4:2:2 Profile at High Level.

Adoption MPEG-2-422 (4:2:2 Profile) is used by broadcasters and cablecasters who seek richer color information than MPEG-2_MP (Main Profile), especially for footage that may be edited or repurposed.
    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_422 (4:2:2 Profile) will produce greater clarity than MPEG-2_MP (Main Profile) or MPEG-2_SP (Simple 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 note. 

See MPEG-2


Notes Explanation of format description terms

General  
History  

Format specifications Explanation of format description terms


Useful references

URLs


Last Updated: 08/04/2021