Skip to content
414-223-4380
[email protected]
trimarq logo
  • Home
  • Work
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
Video Events

The Best Video File Types

March 23, 2012  by Betsy Johnson

As technology evolves, there is an ever-increasing number of file types for distributing your video. So which is which? Which file type is best for each project? And what do all those lettered file extensions stand for, anyway?  To help better understand them, we’ve come up with a primer of a few commonly used file types to help you weed through the many, many options available. These are just some of the many – and the preferences and uses are constantly changing.

Extension Stands for Best for…
MOV/QuickTime QuickTime Developed by Apple, but supported on both Windows and Apple computers. For movies with sound.
WMV Windows Media Video Streaming and downloading from the web; compression; video on Windows computers. It can be anywhere from low-quality to high-def video depending on the compression.
MPEG4/H264 Moving Picture Experts Group 4 Streaming and downloadable web content as well as broadcast content. Has a higher compression. H264 also comes in an “Apple version,” which is used for high-quality video.
MPEG Moving Picture Experts Group There is a variety of MPEG formats. MPEG1 is mainly made for PowerPoint presentations and web-based videos. MPEG2 is mainly for creating DVDs and broadcast content.
AVI Audio/Visual Interleaved Storing and playing back movie clips with sound on Windows PCs. Considered a much older format and not used as often – doesn’t compress as well as newer formats.
FLV/SWF Flash video Online videos using Adobe Flash Player.
3GP Third Generation Partnership Project Video generated on 3G mobile phones.

We generally steer clients away from using AVI, since it’s an older, less efficient file type; the same goes for MPEG1. Flash (FLV/SWF) is not really supported anymore in the video world (you can’t even see a Flash website on an Apple portable device!), so we try to find other options for those videos too. We’ve noted that MOV/QuickTime is the preferred file type at Tri-Marq, but we can convert any file type if they are in a different format.

In the coming weeks, check back to see our discussion as we get more in-depth about video, including what you really want to know: Just what can we upload to YouTube??

Posted in Video ProductionTagged 3gp, apple, avi, codec, file, file type, flash, flv, h264, mov, mpeg1, mpeg4, prores, quicktime, streaming video, swf, tri-marq, trimarq, video, wmv, youtube

Post navigation

Previous: Making the Connection
Next: Video-Sharing Sites
Tri Marq vimeo Tri Marq youtube Tri Marq facebook Tri Marq linkedin

Blog

  • Meet the Staff | Betsy Johnson
  • Mix it Up | Making Repeat Venues Feel Fresh
  • Meet the Team: Ryan Denzer
  • Are You Marketing Without Video?
  • Meet the Team: Justin Foren

Contact

Headquarters:

507 S. 2nd Street, Suite 145
Milwaukee, WI 53204

+1 (414) 223-4380
[email protected]

Instagram

Happy Independence Day 🇺🇸 Wishing you a rela Happy Independence Day 🇺🇸 Wishing you a relaxing holiday filled with friends and fun from all of us at Tri-Marq!
Tri-Marq's expert event producers never aim for be Tri-Marq's expert event producers never aim for better or even best; we always aim for flawless. 

#eventproduction #trimarq #CorporateEvents #clienttestimonial
Get to know Betsy Johnson, VP of New Business and Get to know Betsy Johnson, VP of New Business and world traveler, in our latest meet the staff feature, link in bio!
#trimarq #meettheteam #eventproduction #videoproduction
#tbt In early February, Tri-Marq partnered with Tr #tbt In early February, Tri-Marq partnered with TricorBraun for their 2025 North American Sales Meeting at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel in Texas.

From producing the general session to providing tech support for breakout rooms, capturing headshots and event photography, and filming testimonials, we were proud to be a full-service partner for this multi-day event. When the welcome reception outgrew its original space late in the planning process, we quickly adapted the general session setup to keep the event flowing seamlessly. #eventproduction #liveevents #corporateevents #trimarq
Just like with people, no two brands are exactly a Just like with people, no two brands are exactly alike, even if they’re walking into the same room. Learn how we make repeat event venues feel new for every event in our latest blog, link in bio!
The @wilson.center.arts continues to shine as a co The @wilson.center.arts continues to shine as a cornerstone of creativity and community in Greater Milwaukee. Each year, their "Big Event" brings together supporters to celebrate the power of the arts and the impact of their programming.

Tri-Marq was proud to once again collaborate with the Center to produce a video for this prestigious event. This year’s video focused on an amazing collaboration that brought a multi-Grammy-winning artist to both the stage and to share at a local school, showing how the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center contributes to the community beyond its walls to share the love of the arts with all ages.

It serves as a powerful tool for both awareness and fundraising and a testament to the importance of the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center as a hub of artistic excellence.

Copyright © 2025 All rights reserved. Tri-Marq Communications, Inc. and Tri-Marq Events, Inc.