It is not uncommon to find mystery data files in old file folders or flash drives that you haven't used in a while. Or perhaps you received some crucial files from a co-worker in a format you don't recognize. If the file in question has the extension .RTV, you have a video file.
The RTV File
- The RTV file extension is used by video recording and editing products from NewTek. It is a proprietary format, so for the most part, you won't be able to open or use RTV files in any software that isn't from NewTek. RTV files contain uncompressed video data in full D1 resolution. When NewTek devices are recording real-time video, they save it in an RTV file. Use your NewTek product or the software it came with to open the file.
NewTek
- The NewTek company makes products, both electronics equipment and software tools, for live video production and 3D animation. One example is Lightwave 3D, used to produce 3d models and animations, and another is the 3Play, a device that can quickly create HD replays of live footage. If you have a mysterious RTV file on your hard drive, chances are it is because you work with graphics for TV, film, games or software, and you use one of NewTek's products.
Uncompressed Data
- The RTV file format is used to store uncompressed, real-time video data. This means that it is tailored to lay down video data as it comes, without trying to use any tricks or algorithms to reduce the file size. Many video formats, such as AVI or MPEG, are compressed. A clever encoding scheme has been used to reduce the amount of binary data needed to represent the video (which often results in lower video quality). This isn't true of RTV video files.
Resolution
- RTV video files come at a standard resolution known as D1. D1 actually means 720 pixels by 480 pixels per frame. D values are one way of communicating resolution in the video industry. In addition to D1, you can also have video resolutions of cropped D1 (704 by 480), half D1 (352 by 480), quarter D1 (352 by 240), two-thirds D1 (480 by 480) and even three-fourths D1 (544 by 480).
