SMPTE 408M-2006

This standard defines operational patterns 1c, 2c and 3c, as defined in SMPTE 377M section 7, for the exchange of MXF files that represent the following levels of file complexity:

--OP1c: A choice of 2 or more alternate material packages that play out selected tracks of either a single file package or two or more synchronized file packages,

--OP2c: A choice of 2 or more alternate material packages that play out selected tracks of either a sequence of single file packages, or a sequence of two or more synchronized file packages,

--OP3c: A choice of 2 or more alternate material packages that play out selected portions of tracks (edit list) from one or more file packages each of which may be referenced and synchronized at any given position along the timeline.

In each case, a top-level file package is linked to an essence container where each essence container may comprise either a single essence element or an interleave of multiple essence elements. Furthermore, in each case, one or more of the essence containers may be internal or external to the file.

This standard defines the operating restrictions, structural metadata objects and individual attributes that shall be applied to the MXF file format specification to achieve interoperability when exchanging an MXF file with these operational patterns.

These operational patterns require the use of body partitions for internal essence containers. Subdivision of each essence container by using body partitions is optional.