File Format with Archive Encryption File Format with Archive Encryption

File Format with Archive Encryption

Maria Scieranska

Question

What is the file Format with Archive Encryption?

Applies To

  • Archive Encryption
  • Archive
  • Video API
  • Opentok Encryption 

Answer

When encryption is enabled for archives, the recordings are generated in MPEG Transport Stream (.TS) format rather than MP4. This change is due to the specific requirements and constraints of encrypted archiving.
 
The MP4 container is designed for storing complete media files and requires the entire file to be available before it can be fully written. This means that MP4 files need to handle media headers and metadata up front, which isn't compatible with the need for encrypted archiving. 
 
Encrypted archiving requires that media be encrypted before it is written to disk to ensure that data is never stored in an unencrypted state. The MPEG Transport Stream (.TS) format is more suited for this purpose and allows media to be written in chunks, making it possible to encrypt each segment independently without needing to know the full duration or size of the entire archive in advance. 

Additional Information