These FAQ questions about audiovisual preservation were written by Richard Wright for PrestoCentre in 2013 and updated in 2019. They provide an introduction to the wealth of information from the Presto Projects and PrestoCentre, now part of the AVA_Net Library. They are meant to give brief answers to the basic questions.
So Many Standards, so Little Time: a History and Analysis of Four Digital Video Standards
This dissertation focuses on standards for digital video – the social aspects of their design and the sociotechnical forces that drive their development and adoption. This work is a history and analysis of how the MXF, JPEG 2000, FFV1 and Matroska standards have been adopted and/or adapted by libraries and archives of different sizes. Well-funded institutions often have the resources …
Sustainability of Digital Formats
The preservation of digital objects involves crucial decisions regarding the most suitable file formats to be employed. The options are several and the selection is not always easy. This website lists 7 important factors (disclosure, adoption, transparency, self-documentation, external dependencies, impact of patents, technical protection mechanisms) to be considered that apply across digital formats and influence the feasibility and cost of …