Real Media
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REAL media
REAL media is a semi-proprietary format used by/for REAL Networks. The original REAL container format (*.REL) was released in conjunction with Prodigy-Online in the late 1980s under REALNetworks' predecessor; RealTime Entertainment and contains an MIDI audio track and a Raster-Image CAD graphic track. Initially the format was limited to 1.42 Mb so a single download could fit on a floppy disk. No encoder software was ever released to the public and the format is now; for the most part; long dead.
Real AV originally released in 1995 via an agreement with CompuServe, and later AOL with the sale of Netscape to AOL-Time (Life) Warner.
Format/Extensions
Real Media is found in 4 variations: Real Media Container, Real Audio, Real Video, and Variable Bitrate. The container holds the version audio and video format in the same file.
Constant Bitrate
- Container Files are .rm
- Audio Files are .ra .rma .ram
- Video Files are .rv .rmv
Variable Bitrate
respectively
- .rmv .rmvb
- .rav .rmav
- .rvb .rmvb
Codecs
| Version; | - | Video | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | H.263 | lpcJ: IS-54 VSELP |
| 2 | - | H.263 | 28_8: G.728 LD-CELP |
| 3 | - | H.263 | dnet: Dolby AC3 |
| 4 | - | H.263 | sipr: Sipro Lab Telecom ACELP-NET |
| 6 | - | H.263 | sipr: Sipro Lab Telecom ACELP-NET |
| 7 | - | H.263 | cook: G2/Cook Codec |
| 8 | - | H.263/RV20 | atrc: Sony ATRAC3 |
| 9 | - | RV30 | raac: MPEG-4 LC-AAC |
| 10 | - | RV40 | racp: MPEG-4 HE-AAC |
| 8 VB | - | RV20 | atrc: Sony ATRAC3.5 |
| 9 VB | - | RV30 | MPEG-4 LC-AAC |
| 10 VB | - | RV40 | ralf: RealAudio Lossless Format |
Playback
In order to play the files you will need one of two things; either RealPlayer or the decoder for the codecs of both the formats inside the container.
- For Windows users you can download RealAlternative and VLC player or MediaPlayer Classic
- For Mac users; iLife should include everything you need; if not, download VLC player
- For Linux users you will need a decoder-filter pack and VLC player
