The aim of this section is to give you a greater understanding of the technical aspects involved in corporate video production

When raw video data is converted into a file, it can often result in very large file sizes, which can cause a number of problems. Since a CD can only hold around 800MB (megabytes) of information, it puts restrictions on the amount of video that can be used in multimedia presentations and the like. These large files also make it impossible for video images to be viewed through the internet, as modems can only transmit and receive information at a limited speed. (see about bitrate) 

Video encoding and compression allows larger video files to be converted into smaller files enabling them to incorporated into both online and CD based multimedia presentations

The MPEG has become the standard video encoding format, and although a very complex method of encoding, it is based around a very straightforward concept. MPEG video encoding works by removing and unnecessary data from the file, for example, if there were several frames at the beginning of a corporate video sequence, showing the outside of the company headquarters, as the shot is mostly stationary, the crucial data is shared between these frames and unwanted data (for example still images that are repeated across frames) is deleted from the file creating a smaller, more responsive file.

For detailed information about video encoding and MPEGs, see video encoding types

A codec is used to compress and decompress audio and video data, hence the name codec. They are used to reduce the size of raw video data, which can create very large file sizes. A codec works alongside your media player to reduce the file size. If a particular codec is used to compress the file, then the same codec must be used to decompress the file, so codecs are often provided with the compressed audio/video file that is to be supplied. Codecs are extremely effective at keeping video file sizes to a minimum.

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