Universal Access
Based on the File Format Chart, this table presents the condensed pros and cons of the MKV file format for preservation in and of itself. The follow list contains the features MKV has in common with other file types that have influenced their use as access and preservation formats.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Highly flexible: can contain almost any video or audio coding format, and supports all major video and audio formats; it contains more features than most other file formats | Best used with FFV1 Codec, which is not yet standardized, but sill powerful and open-source and recommended by Library of Congress and PREFORMA) |
| Lossy or Lossless option | Modestly adopted |
| Non-proprietary | Need a DirectShow parser filter for Windows machines (although this filter is a Windows default and an uncommon issue) |
| Well-documented | Still evolving |
| Transparent, easily accessible digital and self-documentation | More complicated than AVI, which means a larger file size |
| Can hold an unlimited number of video, audio, still pictures, and subtitle tracks as well as other arbitrary files such as XML | Reputation is tainted by it's online origin |
| Various technical and descriptive metadata located in the wrapper and in the tagging section | |
| Can add metadata without re-writing the entire file | |
| Supported by the PREFORMA project in addition to Library of Congress and FADGI |
This list contains useful attributes the MKV file format shares with other similar file formats in addition to its other features.
| Supports 3D objects |
| Capable of running on PC and MAC OS's |
| Can contain both audio and video data |
| Contains its own metadata and a level of self-documentation |
| Supported and Used by Library of Congress and FADGI |
