1.19.4. Note regarding formats

Please keep in mind that the file format of audios and videos is key to playback on end devices. Flash videos cannot be started on Android or Apple iOS since these operating systems don't support Flash. When using a certain streaming server it can occur that not all users are able to start your files. Streaming servers require a certain player; however, this player is not always compatible with each and every operating system.

In OLAT, the following video and audio formats are at your disposal:

FLV and F4V: When transmitting videos (the so-called streaming) one often uses Flash videos («.FLV» and «.F4V»). This format has been developed by Adobe Systems. In order to playback video content you need a plug-in such as the Adobe Flash Player (proprietary but available for free). As of version 6 videos can be loaded via the RTMP Streaming Server and as of version 7 via HTTP. The Flash Video Container supports the video codecs Sorenson (an alternative to MPEG-4 ASP H.263 Codec), VP6 (by On2), and MPEG-4 (H.264 standard).
MP4 and M4V: The multimedia file format MP4 can be used with various programs (Apple Quicktime, Windows Media Player, VLC, etc.) and other browser plug-ins. The MP4 Container can include either videos (codecs: MPEG-4 Part 2, MPEG-4 Part 10 (AVC/H.264), MPEG-2 Video, and MPEG-1 Video) or audios (codecs: MPEG-4 Part 3, AAC, MP3, MP2, and MP1) as well as sub-titles and graphics. To make things easy «.m4v» and «.mp4v» are meant only for videos (MPEG-4 video streams), whereas «.m4a» is meant for audios (MPEG-4 Part 3, AAC, or for the codec Apple Lossless) exclusively.
MP3: MP3 comprises the audio formats «MPEG-1 Audio Layer III» and «MPEG-2 Audio Layer III». Audio files are stored digitally compressed; however, only those parts will be lost that people aren't able to hear anyway. The necessary amount of data can be reduced severely. This is why this format is now the established standard for storage and transmission on different end devices as well as the Internet. Depending on the end device or operating system all you need is a plug-in or playback program for your content as well as the MP3 codec (proprietary but available for free).

Other multimedia formats are additionally at your disposal. You can embed these (cf. «Step 3: Embed video in single page», chapter «Six steps to use videos in the course element «Single page») by selecting the option «Embed/edit multimedia».

Flash: Flash is a program by Adobe Systems to develop and present multimedia or interactive content. It is designed to show and animate graphics or video clips. It is also possible to process user input by means of the format «SWF» (Shockwave Flash). All you need is a plug-in such as the Adobe Flash Player (proprietary but available for free) to playback your content. Further details can be found in the section «FLV and F4V».
Quicktime: Quicktime is developed by Apple and represents a multimedia platform offering applications, file formats, and programming environment. It differentiates between videos and multimedia. The multimedia format («.mov» or «.qt») can contain audio, video, effects, as well as text. In order to playback your content you have to first install the Apple Quicktime Player or any other adequate plug-in. Further details can be found in the section «MP4 and M4V».
Shockwave: Shockwave is another file format by Adobe Systems and not to be mistaken for the format Flash «SWF». «.dcr» files can contain audio as well as pictures. In order to playback your content you need a plug-in (only available for Windows and Mac OS; Mac OS only fully supports Shockwave as of version 11).
Windows Media: This platform developed for Microsoft Windows offers various applications and formats. The multimedia format («.asf», «.wma», «.wmv» or «.wm») can contain audio and video. In order to playback your content you have to install the Windows Media Player or any other adequate plug-in first.
Real Media: RealMedia is the general term for file formats by the company RealNetworks. It distinguishes between RealAudio («.ra»), RealVideo («.rv», «.rm», and «.rmvb») as well as meta-file formats («.ram» and «.rpm»). In order to playback your content you have to install the RealPlayer or any other adequate plug-in first.