Preservation

Physical Media Summary

The Physical Media Summary gives a brief description of the physical media types  produced from the digitization of original record materials at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The table links out to more detailed information about each media type in the “When is this Format Used?” column. This information can also be found in our Reformatting Approach pages.

Physical Media Type 

Description 

When is this Format Used?

CD-R Output

"Red Book" or Compact Disc Digital Audio system (CD-DA) format

 

Previous delivery mechanism in the NARA Research Rooms for digitized sound recordings

 

Compact Disc 

This digital media type is produced as an Digital Output from Audio Source product

DVD 

Authored DVD format (DVD-Video)

 

Previous delivery mechanism in the NARA Research Rooms for digitized moving images

DVD

 

This digital media type is produced as a Digital Output from Motion Picture Film Source product

 

This digital media type is produced as a Digital Output from Video Source product

Motion Picture Film Black and White Negative

Film Output from Motion Picture Black and White Positive Film (Reversal, Fine Grain, and Prints)

Printed with one-light timing

Products are DNS (Duplicate Negative, Silent) and DNC (Duplicate Negative, Composite) 

Film stocks used are 2234 and 3234

This analog media type is produced as a Film Output from Motion Picture Film Source product

Motion Picture Film Color Negative

Film Output from Motion Picture Color Positive Film (Reversal, Interpositive, and Prints)

Printed with one-light timing

Products are INSK Internegative, Silent, Color) and INCK (Internegative, Composite, Color)

Film stocks used are 2272/3272 and 3272/3273

This analog media type is produced as a Film Output from Motion Picture Film Source product

Motion Picture Film Black and White Positive

Film Output from Motion Picture Black and White Negative Film

Printed with scene-by-scene timing

Products are FGMS (Fine Grain Master, Silent) and FGMC (Fine Grain Master, Composite)

Film stocks used are 2366 and 3366

This analog media type is produced as a Film Output from Motion Picture Film Source product

Motion Picture Film Color Positive

Film Output from Motion Picture Color Negative Film (including Color Reversal Intermediate)

Printed with scene-by-scene timing

Products are MPPSK (Master Projection Print, Silent, Color) /PPSK (Projection Print, Silent, Color), and MPPCK (Master Projection Print, Composite, Color)/PPCK (Projection Print, Composite, Color)

Film stocks used are 2383 and 3383

This analog media type is produced as a Film Output from Motion Picture Film Source product

Motion Picture Negative Soundtrack

Film Output from Motion Picture Positive Film Soundtrack or digital product Motion Picture Film Maximum - Soundtrack Audio Data [MPD-P6]

May be printed from a film source soundtrack or from a preservation-quality WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) file

Product is DNT (Duplicate Negative Track)

Film stocks used are 2234/3234 and 2374

This analog media type is produced as a Film Output from Motion Picture Film Source product

Motion Picture Positive Soundtrack

Film Output from Motion Picture Negative Film Soundtrack

Product is MPT (Master Positive Track)

Film stocks used are 2366 and 3366

This analog media type is produced as a Film Output from Motion Picture Film Source product

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