Audio and Moving Image Format Identification Guide by SPEC Format Type

Audio cassette analog

  • 8-track
  • audio cassette, other
  • Compact cassette
  • Fidelipac cartridge

    Audio cassette digital

  • ADAT
    • Audio recoded on S-VHS cassette
  • Betamax/VHS/PCM (F1)
    • 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

      Audio grooved belt

  • Dictabelt

    Audio magnetic belt

  • Magnabelt/Executary

    Audio grooved cylinder

  • cylinder
  • cylinder, black wax
  • cylinder, brown wax
  • cylinder, blue amberol
  • cylinder, celluloid

    Audio grooved disc

  • disc [LEGACY]
  • disc, Edison Diamond disc
  • disc, Edison Voicewriter
  • disc, flexible
    • Many formats, Flexi discs most likely to be encountered
  • disc, gelatin
  • disc, lacquer, glass base
  • disc, lacquer, metal base
  • disc, lacquer, paper base
  • disc, metal
  • disc, other
  • disc, shellac
  • disc, vinyl

    Audio optical

  • Audio CD-R
  • Audio CD, pressed
  • Compact Disc [LEGACY]
  • Minidisc

    Audio reel

  • half-inch open-reel audio
  • half-inch open-reel audio, digital
  • one-inch open-reel audio
  • two-inch open-reel audio
  • quarter-inch open-reel audio
  • quarter-inch 4-track open-reel audio

    Audio wire

  • Wire

    Video

    Video cassette

  • Betacam
  • Betacam SP
  • Betacam SX
  • Betamax
  • [other]
  • D-1
  • D-2
  • D-3
  • D-5
  • Digital Betacam
  • Digital8
  • DVCam
  • DVCPro
  • HDCAM
  • HDCAM SR
  • HDV
  • Hi8
  • MII
  • MiniDV
  • MPEG IMX
  • S-VHS
  • S-VHS-C
  • U-matic
  • VHS
  • VHS-C
  • Video8

    Video optical

  • Blu-Ray
  • Laser Disc
  • VCD
  • Video DVD [LEGACY]
  • Video DVD, pressed
  • Video DVD+R
  • Video DVD+RW

    Video reel

  • half-inch open-reel video [LEGACY]
  • half-inch open-reel video CV
  • half-inch open-reel video EIAJ/AV
  • half-inch open-reel video other
  • one-inch open-reel video [LEGACY]
  • one-inch open-reel video Type A
  • one-inch open-reel video Type C
  • two-inch open-reel video Quadruplex

    Film

  • 8mm film, silent
  • 8mm film, optical sound
  • 8mm film, magnetic sound
  • Super 8 film, silent
  • Super 8 film, optical sound
  • Super 8 film, magnetic sound
  • 16mm film, silent
  • 16mm film, optical sound
  • 16mm film, magnetic sound
  • 35mm film, silent
  • 35mm film, optical sound
  • 35mm film, magnetic sound
  • 9.5mm film, silent
  • Double 8mm film, silent
  • 16mm film, optical track
  • 16mm film, full-coat magnetic sound
  • 35mm film, optical track
  • 35mm film, full-coat magnetic sound