The WAVE format is the most common interchange format on the Internet. Some current web browsers have a built-in media player that will play WAVE sound files. It streams-in the sound as opposed to downloading, opening, and playing the sound. Modem bandwidths restrict RealAudio's usefulness. Top of Page Video File Formats Video is an information-intensive medium.
Files representing even short video clips require many megabytes of storage.
Storing and transmitting such large files is seldom practical, so video typically is compressed after or during the digitization process. At this point, LC usually contracts our for this work. The technology that compresses the video also must decompress it as the video plays back. Within the American Memory Historical Collections, all movies available now are black and white and silent. However, MPEG and QuickTime versions of these motion pictures will be available soon.