Sustainability of Digital Formats
 Planning for Library of Congress Collections

Format Description Categories >> Browse Alphabetical List>> Back

Identification and description

Full name	Windows Media Video File with Windows Media 9 Codec
Description	File format based in ASF (Advanced Systems Format) that wraps a Windows Media 9 video bitstream.
Production phase	Generally a final-state format for end-user delivery.
Relationship to other formats
Subtype of	WMV, (Windows Media Video)
Contains	WMV9, video codec
May contain	WMA9, audio codec
May contain	WMA9_PRO, professional audio codec

Local use

LC experience or existing holdings
LC preference	See WMV

Sustainability factors

Disclosure	See WMV and ASF
Documentation	See WMV and ASF
Adoption	Not known to the compilers of this document.
Licensing and patents	See ASF for link to pages covering licensing of Windows Media and the Advanced Systems Format.
Transparency	Depends upon algorithms and tools to read; will require sophistication to build tools.
Self-documentation	See ASF
External dependencies	See WMV
Technical protection considerations	See ASF

Quality and functionality factors

Moving Image
Normal rendering	Good support.
Clarity (high image resolution)	See WMV9
Functionality beyond normal rendering	See WMV
Sound
Fidelity (high audio resolution)	See WMV9
Multiple channels	See WMV9

File type signifiers

Tag	Value	Note
Filename extension	See note.	See WMV
Internet Media Type	See note.	See WMA
Magic numbers	See note.	See WMA
ASF GUID	See note.	See WMA

Notes

General
History

Format specifications

• See Disclosure under Sustainability factors.

Useful references