Guide To Video Formats
ABLE delivers evidence in a variety of different formats.
Following is a condensed guide to help sort out the differences.
H.264 (the iPOD format)
It's a conferencing format, it's a high-definition DVD
format, it's a desktop video format, it's a portable video
format ... ALL IN ONE. H.264 is the next big thing. The
standard of the upcoming High Definition DVDs. The new standard
in business video conferencing. The video format of the
Video iPod and downloadable TV shows from the iTunes store.
We've done extensive testing of H.264 both deposition video
conferencing and deposition recording, and the results are
astounding. High quality video conferencing can be achieved
for much less internet bandwidth, allowing us to conference
from almost anywhere with a broadband connection. H.264
video deposition files take a fraction of the space of MPEG-1,
and are easier to edit. An entire 7-hour deposition in high-quality
can fit one just one CD-ROM. Furthermore, H.264 is extremely
portable ... would you like your deposition fed to a video
cellphone? We can do it.
Beyond video conferencing, H.264 most pressing use for
litigation would be for deposition playback. A standard
Apple iPod (current model) can hold over 300 HOURS of deposition
video! Plug the iPod into the court projector and hit "play"
The H.264 files ABLE makes instantly at depositions can
also be played on any computer. A free H.264 player for
Windows
and Macintosh
computers can be downloaded here.
The best of all worlds ... great video and sound in a small
file that's built to travel.
VHS ~ Launched in 1976 by the JVC electronics
company, VHS (or Video Home Standard) tapes feature a 1/2
inch analog tape that is wrapped around a spinning drum
head assembly. It's advantages are almost universal acceptance
for courtroom playback, but it suffers for poor picture
quality and large physical size.
MPEG-1 COMPUTER FILES ~ Established in
1992, this standard from the Motion Picture Experts Group
was established to achieve VHS video quality in a computer
data file. Video Deposition MPEG-1 files are traditionally
delivered in a reduced picture size at a frame and compression
rate that equals one video hour per one CD-ROM. Depositions
longer than one hour are delivered on DVD-ROM disc. The
advantage to computer video files (rather than tapes) are
portability and random access. Hours of testimony can be
stored on computer hard drive or office server and instantly
retrieved. Computer video files can be further enhanced
by the syncronized marriage of the time-stamped stenographer's
transcript and the video capture. Once the files are prepped
("Sync-To-Text"), precise clips can be played
when using trial management software. Simply highlight the
words you want to hear.
DVD / MPEG-2 ~ Established in 1994, MPEG-2
became popular as the video data compression scheme ("codec")
used in consumer DVD players (1998), and digital television
streams through cable and satellite (1999). It offers noticeably
better video quality than VHS, and has all of the random-access
advantages of MPEG-1, but is difficult for many computers
to run reliably. For this reason, we deliver MPEG-2 files
in standard consumer DVD format playable in most inexpensive
machines. During Trial or Settlement, law firms that don't
have large trial management software suites can request
deposition segments digitally edited to DVD, complete with
well-organized menus.
