RealMedia is a proprietary
multimedia
Multimedia is a form of communication that uses a combination of different content forms such as text, audio, images, animations, or video into a single interactive presentation, in contrast to tradition ...
container format
A container format (informally, sometimes called a wrapper) or metafile is a file format that allows multiple data streams to be embedded into a single file, usually along with metadata for identifying and further detailing those streams. Notab ...
created by
RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of artificial intelligence and computer vision based products. RealNetworks was a pioneer in Internet streaming software and services. They are based in Seattle, Washington, United States. The company also p ...
with the
filename extension
A filename extension, file name extension or file extension is a suffix to the name of a computer file (e.g., .txt, .docx, .md). The extension indicates a characteristic of the file contents or its intended use. A filename extension is typically d ...
. RealMedia is generally used in conjunction with
RealVideo
RealVideo, or also spelled as Real Video, is a suite of proprietary video compression formats developed by RealNetworks – the specific format changes with the version. It was first released in 1997 and was at version 10. RealVideo is supported ...
and
RealAudio
RealAudio, or also spelled as Real Audio is a proprietary audio format developed by RealNetworks and first released in April 1995. It uses a variety of audio codecs, ranging from low-bitrate formats that can be used over dialup modems, to high-fid ...
, while also being used for
streaming
Streaming media is multimedia that is delivered and consumed in a continuous manner from a source, with little or no intermediate storage in network elements. ''Streaming'' refers to the delivery method of content, rather than the content it ...
content over the Internet. Typically these streams are in CBR (
constant bitrate
Constant bitrate (CBR) is a term used in telecommunications, relating to the quality of service. Compare with variable bitrate.
When referring to codecs, constant bit rate encoding means that the rate at which a codec's output data should be cons ...
), but a container for VBR (
variable bitrate
Variable bitrate (VBR) is a term used in telecommunications and computing that relates to the bitrate used in sound or video encoding. As opposed to constant bitrate (CBR), VBR files vary the amount of output data per time segment. VBR allows a ...
) streams named
RMVB
RealMedia Variable Bitrate (RMVB) is a variable bitrate extension of the RealMedia multimedia digital container format developed by RealNetworks.
As opposed to the more common RealMedia container, which holds streaming media encoded at a constant b ...
(RealMedia variable bitrate) has been developed.
Overview
A RealMedia file consists of a series of chunks that can be of several different types:
* ''.RMF'': RealMedia file header
* ''PROP'': File properties header
* ''MDPR'': Media properties header
* ''CONT'': Content description header
* ''DATA'': Data header
* ''INDX'': Index header
Supported audio formats
* RealAudio 1.0 (VSELP),
* RealAudio 2.0 (LD-CELP), 28_8
* AC3,
*
* Cook, cook
* ATRAC3,
* RealAudio Lossless Format,
* LC-AAC,
* HE-AAC,
Supported video formats
* ClearVideo (from helix spec)
* H.263, RV10
* H.263, RV13
* H.263+, RV20
* H.264 precursor, RV30
* H.264 precursor, RV40
* H.263+ (RV20), RVTR
See also
*
RealPlayer
RealPlayer, formerly RealAudio Player, RealOne Player and RealPlayer G2, is a cross-platform media player app, developed by RealNetworks. The media player is compatible with numerous container file formats of the multimedia realm, including MP ...
*
Container format
A container format (informally, sometimes called a wrapper) or metafile is a file format that allows multiple data streams to be embedded into a single file, usually along with metadata for identifying and further detailing those streams. Notab ...
*
Comparison of video container formats
These tables compare features of multimedia container formats, most often used for storing or streaming digital video or digital audio content. To see which multimedia players support which container format, look at comparison of media players.
...
*
Comparison of video player software
The following comparison of video players compares general and technical information for notable software media player programs.
For the purpose of this comparison, ''video players'' are defined as any media player which can play video, even ...
*
RealVideo
RealVideo, or also spelled as Real Video, is a suite of proprietary video compression formats developed by RealNetworks – the specific format changes with the version. It was first released in 1997 and was at version 10. RealVideo is supported ...
codecs
*
RealAudio
RealAudio, or also spelled as Real Audio is a proprietary audio format developed by RealNetworks and first released in April 1995. It uses a variety of audio codecs, ranging from low-bitrate formats that can be used over dialup modems, to high-fid ...
codecs
*
Helix
A helix () is a shape like a corkscrew or spiral staircase. It is a type of smooth space curve with tangent lines at a constant angle to a fixed axis. Helices are important in biology, as the DNA molecule is formed as two intertwined helices, ...
Community - the free and open source software project from
RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of artificial intelligence and computer vision based products. RealNetworks was a pioneer in Internet streaming software and services. They are based in Seattle, Washington, United States. The company also p ...
Digital container formats
Media
Media may refer to:
Communication
* Media (communication), tools used to deliver information or data
** Advertising media, various media, content, buying and placement for advertising
** Broadcast media, communications delivered over mass el ...
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