A reference guide to video search, codec, and format terminology. From AAC to WebM, every term explained in plain language.
A
AAC
Advanced Audio Coding. A lossy audio compression format widely used in MP4 containers, streaming services, and Apple devices. Successor to MP3 with better quality at similar bitrates.
AVI
Audio Video Interleave. A multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft. While largely superseded by MP4 and MKV, AVI files remain common in legacy archives and surveillance footage.
B
BRAW
Blackmagic RAW. A visually lossless codec developed by Blackmagic Design for their cinema cameras. Offers high image quality with smaller file sizes than uncompressed RAW.
Blake3
A cryptographic hash function used in video management for file deduplication. By computing a unique fingerprint for each file, duplicate footage can be detected instantly without comparing pixels.
C
CinemaDNG
An open RAW format for cinema cameras based on Adobe DNG. Stores each frame as a separate file, offering maximum flexibility in post-production at the cost of very large file sizes.
Codec
Short for coder-decoder. A codec compresses video or audio data for storage and decompresses it for playback. Common video codecs include H.264, H.265, and ProRes.
D
Diarisation
The process of segmenting an audio recording by speaker identity. In video search, diarisation lets you filter transcripts by who is speaking, not just what was said.
DNxHD / DNxHR
Avid's family of production codecs. DNxHD targets HD resolutions; DNxHR extends support to 4K and beyond. Widely used in broadcast and post-production for their predictable performance in NLE timelines.
E
EDL (Edit Decision List)
A plain-text file that describes a sequence of edits by timecode. EDLs are used to move edit decisions between different software and systems. FrameQuery can export search results as EDLs.
F
Face Recognition
An AI technique that detects and identifies human faces in video frames. Once faces are indexed, you can search for every appearance of a specific person across your entire library.
FCPXML
Final Cut Pro XML. An interchange format used by Apple's Final Cut Pro to import and export project data including timelines, clips, and metadata.
FLV
Flash Video. A container format originally developed by Adobe for streaming over the web. While Flash is deprecated, FLV files still exist in many video archives.
Frame Rate
The number of individual frames displayed per second of video, measured in fps. Common rates include 24 fps (cinema), 25 fps (PAL broadcast), 30 fps (NTSC), and 60 fps (high motion).
H
H.264
Also known as AVC. The most widely adopted video codec in history, used in everything from YouTube to Blu-ray discs. Offers a good balance of compression efficiency and decoding performance.
H.265 / HEVC
High Efficiency Video Coding. The successor to H.264, delivering roughly 50% better compression at the same quality. Used for 4K streaming and modern camera recordings.
I
Index / Indexing
The process of analysing video content and building a searchable data structure from it. A video index may include transcripts, detected objects, faces, scene boundaries, and visual embeddings.
L
LosslessCut
An open-source tool for lossless trimming and cutting of video files. FrameQuery can export search results in LosslessCut-compatible format for quick extraction of matching segments.
M
MKV
Matroska Video. An open-standard container format that can hold virtually unlimited tracks of video, audio, and subtitles. Popular for archival and high-quality video storage.
MOV
Apple's QuickTime container format. Commonly used by Apple devices and professional cameras. Supports a wide range of codecs including ProRes and H.264.
MP4
MPEG-4 Part 14. The most universal video container format, supported by virtually every device and platform. Typically contains H.264 or H.265 video with AAC audio.
MXF
Material Exchange Format. A professional container format designed for broadcast and post-production workflows. Carries rich metadata alongside video and audio essence.
N
NLE (Non-Linear Editor)
Software for editing video in a non-destructive, random-access manner. Examples include Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro.
O
Object Detection
An AI technique that identifies and locates objects within video frames (cars, animals, tools, text, etc.). Enables searching footage by what visually appears in it.
P
ProRes
A family of lossy-to-visually-lossless codecs developed by Apple. ProRes variants (422, 422 HQ, 4444, RAW) are the standard intermediate codecs for professional video editing.
Proxy
A lower-resolution copy of footage used for faster editing. Proxies reduce the load on editing hardware while preserving the ability to conform back to the original media.
R
R3D (RED)
RED's proprietary RAW format. R3D files store minimally processed sensor data at very high resolutions (up to 8K), offering maximum flexibility in colour grading and post-production.
Resolution
The number of pixels in each dimension of a video frame. Common resolutions include 1920x1080 (Full HD), 3840x2160 (4K UHD), and 7680x4320 (8K).
S
Scene Detection
The automated identification of scene boundaries within a video based on visual changes. Breaks footage into logical segments for easier browsing and search.
Semantic Search
Search that understands the meaning behind a query rather than just matching keywords. For example, searching 'happy crowd' can find footage of cheering audiences even if those exact words were never spoken.
Shot Type
A classification of camera framing such as close-up, medium shot, wide shot, or extreme close-up. AI-based shot type detection helps editors find specific framings quickly.
T
Timecode
A timestamp embedded in video that uniquely identifies each frame, typically in HH:MM:SS:FF format. Timecode is essential for synchronising footage, logging, and edit conforming.
Transcription
The conversion of spoken audio into text. In video search, transcription with word-level timestamps allows you to jump directly to the moment a specific word or phrase was spoken.
V
Video Index
A searchable database derived from analysed video content. A comprehensive video index includes transcripts, visual embeddings, detected objects, faces, and scene boundaries.
Voice Recognition
The identification of individual speakers by their vocal characteristics. Combined with diarisation, voice recognition lets you search for what a specific person said across multiple videos.
W
WAV
Waveform Audio File Format. An uncompressed audio format that preserves full audio quality. Commonly used for production audio, sound effects, and archival recordings.
WebM
An open media container format developed by Google, typically containing VP8/VP9 or AV1 video with Opus or Vorbis audio. Designed for efficient web delivery.
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