Convert H264 to OGV
About H264
This is not a playable video file, but a raw video stream encoded with the H.264 (also known as AVC) codec. H.264 is the most widely used video codec on the planet, found in everything from Blu-ray discs to web streaming. A raw .h264 file is the pure video data without any audio or container information. It must be 'muxed' into a container like MP4 to be widely playable.
About OGV
OGV is a free, open-source video container format developed by the Xiph.Org Foundation. It is the video--toting sibling of the OGG audio format. OGV files most commonly use the Theora video codec and the Vorbis audio codec, both of which are open and patent-free. It was an early contender for the HTML5 video standard.
H264 vs OGV
| Feature | H264 | OGV |
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Support | false | true |
| Subtitle Support | false | true |
| DRM Support | false | false |
| Quality Rating | 5 | 3 |
| Patent Status | patented | patent-free |
| Year Introduced | 2003 | 2003 |
| Developed By | ITU-T/ISO/IEC | Xiph.Org Foundation |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between H.264 and MP4?
H.264 is the codec—the algorithm that compresses the video. MP4 is the container—the 'box' that holds the H.264 compressed video, an audio track, and subtitles. Think of H.264 as the book's content and MP4 as the book's cover and binding.
How do I play a .h264 file?
Most standard media players cannot play raw .h264 streams. You would typically need a specialized player like VLC or use a tool like FFmpeg to combine it with an audio stream into a standard MP4 or MKV container file.
Why isn't OGV more popular?
While OGV is a capable, open-source format, the Theora video codec it uses is less efficient than modern codecs like H.264 or VP9. Google's push for WebM (which uses the more efficient VP8/VP9 codecs) as the open standard for web video largely relegated OGV to a niche role.
Is OGV the same as OGG?
Ogg is the container format. An .ogg file usually contains only audio (typically Vorbis). An .ogv file contains both video (typically Theora) and audio. Sometimes, video files are also given the .ogg extension, which can cause confusion.
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