Audio and Moving Image Format Identification Guide by SPEC Format Type

Table of Contents

Audio

Audio cassette analog

  • 8-track
  • audio cassette, other
    • Use for Audio cassette formats with no established format name in SPEC, noting the format name in the AMI Preservation Notes field.
  • Compact cassette
  • Fidelipac cartridge
  • Microcassette
  • Minicassette
  • Sanyo Micro Pack 35 cartridge

 

Audio cassette digital

  • ADAT
    • Audio recoded on S-VHS cassette
  • Betamax/PCM
    • Audio recorded on Betamax or VHS cassettes
  • DA-88
    • Audio recorded on Hi-8 cassettes
  • DAT
  • U-Matic/PCM
    • Audio recorded on U-Matic cassettes
  • VHS/PCM

 

Audio film

  • selenophone reel

 

Audio grooved belt

 

Audio grooved cylinder

 

Audio grooved disc

 

Audio optical

 

Audio reel

 

Audio wire

 


Video

Video cassette

 

Video optical

 

Video reel

 


Film

  • 8mm film [LEGACY]
    • Use for 8mm film reels that can not be inspected at the time of the SPEC AMI object record creation. The format will be updated during film inspection.
  • 8mm film, silent
  • 8mm film, optical sound - DO NOT USE
  • 8mm film, magnetic sound
  • Super 8 film [LEGACY]
    • Use for Super 8 film reels that can not be inspected at the time of the SPEC AMI object record creation. The format will be updated during film inspection.
  • Super 8 film, silent
  • Super 8 film, optical sound - DO NOT USE
  • Super 8 film, magnetic sound
  • 16mm film [LEGACY]
    • Use for 16mm film reels that can not be inspected at the time of the SPEC AMI object record creation. The format will be updated during film inspection.
  • 16mm film, silent
  • 16mm film, optical sound
  • 16mm film, magnetic sound
  • 35mm film [LEGACY]
    • Use for 35mm film reels that can not be inspected at the time of the SPEC AMI object record creation. The format will be updated during film inspection.
  • 35mm film, silent
  • 35mm film, optical sound
  • 35mm film, magnetic sound
  • 35mm filmstrip
  • 9.5mm film, silent
  • Double 8mm film, silent
    • Rare to encounter this format developed and not split. Double 8mm refers to a film stock cartridge loaded with 16mm film that shoots moving images on one half of the surface, then is reloaded and shoots on the other side. The processing lab then splits the film in half and splices it together for one continuous regular 8mm reel. Here is one example of a moving image work created using unsplit Double 8mm film: Double 8 (2016) by Christine Perschon
  • 16mm film, optical track
    • A production element where only the image of the optical soundtrack is present near one edge, there is no picture throughout the reel.
  • 16mm film, full-coat magnetic sound
  • 35mm film, optical track
    • A production element where only the image of the optical soundtrack is present near one edge, there is no picture throughout the reel.
  • 35mm film, full-coat magnetic sound