ST 2067 Standards

IMF is a file-based media format that simplifies the delivery and storage of audio-visual masters intended for multiple territories and platforms.

Overview Document - Interoperable Master Format
IMF is a file-based framework for the exchange and processing of multiple content versions (airline edits, special edition, languages…) of the same high-quality finished work (feature, episode, trailer, advertisement, etc.) destined for distribution channels worldwide. Specialization of the IMF Framework designed to meet the requirements of specific domains is achieved through the definition of IMF Applications. Provisions common to all IMF Applications are specified in SMPTE ST 2067-2 (“Core Constraints”), while separate documents contain provisions specific to individual IMF Applications.

Core Constraints
This document specifies provisions used by multiple IMF Applications. These provisions include essence and metadata constraints, but exclude image essence constraints, which are specified along with other parameters by each IMF Application.

Composition Playlist
This standard specifies the Composition Playlist (CPL) for the Interoperable Master Format (IMF). The Composition Playlist is a representation of a single version of a finished IMF composition (feature, episode, trailer, advertisement, etc). It contains the information necessary to describe the composition and synchronize its underlying essence; e.g., for playout or transcoding. It is an extensible, human-readable structure designed for file-based operations.

Essence Component
This standard defines the IMF Essence Component, an OP1a MXF structure for interchange of audio, picture and data essence. It defines data structures for interchange at the signal interfaces of networks or storage media, but does not define internal storage formats for compliant devices or mappings for particular essence encodings. It also defines metadata expressions used to communicate allowable variations in the formulation of an IMF Essence Component.

Common Audio Labels
This standard defines Universal Labels, names and symbols for common Audio Channels, Soundfield Groups and Group of Soundfield Groups for the purpose of labeling IMF audio essence. This standard also provides informative guidance on naming additional Audio Channels, Soundfield Groups and Group of Soundfield Groups that may be defined in the future.

Sidecar Composition Map
This document defines the Sidecar Composition Map structure, which allows a Sidecar Asset to be associated with a Composition Playlist.

Application #2E
This specification defines IMF Application #2E. It is a specialization of the IMF Framework. Application #2E is meant for studio applications where a TV or movie title is transformed into multiple content versions (airline edits, special edition, languages…) that are made available to multiple consumer distribution channels (Internet, optical media, broadcast…) across multiple territories and over the span of many months to over a year. It uses image essence coded as a JPEG 2000 codestream and audio essence coded as linear PCM.

Application #3
This document defines Compositions for IMF Application #3, i.e. the parameters of Image/Audio/Data Essences, Track Files, and the constraints of Composition Playlist. It is based on Image Essence coded as a MPEG-4 Visual Simple Studio Profile codestream and Audio Essence coded as linear PCM. Compliant implementations need not implement all formats and format values, manufacturers are encouraged to indicate supported formats.

Application #4 Cinema Mezzanine
This document specifies compositions for IMF Application #4. IMF Application #4 is a specialization of the IMF Framework. It is intended for the exchange and preservation of cinematographic content after digital postproduction, either sourced from film or from digital media. In particular, it supports Digital Cinema Distribution Master (DCDM) content as specified in the ST 428 family of specifications. To simplify implementation, IMF Application #4 reuses constraints from IMF Application #2 whenever appropriate.

Application #5 (ACES)
This document specifies Compositions for IMF Application #5. It is a specialization of the IMF Framework. Application #5 targets archival applications where a TV or movie title is to be archived as a single, high-quality set of master files from which one or more content versions can be derived. It features SMPTE ST 2065-1 (ACES) image essence of arbitrary spatial and temporal resolution with individual frames encoded as ACES images. The transformation of Application #5 Compositions to the output formats appropriate for different distribution channels is specified in other documents and outside the scope of this document. To facilitate Output Profile List processing, Annex A defines Pixel Color Schemes, as specified in SMPTE ST 2067-101, for the use with IMF Application #5.

IMF Application UHDTV Program Workflow (AVC)
This document specifies a new IMF Application as a specialization of the IMF Framework to improve UHDTV program workflows in broadcasting stations mainly in terms of processing time and storage capacity, enabling late editorial changes to a completed master program file to be carried out efficiently.

The new IMF Application targets UHDTV image essence coded as an AVC stream and audio essence coded as a linear PCM stream with reference to the program exchange standards used by, but not limited to, Japanese broadcasting stations.

ST 2067-70:2024

Application ST 2019-1 (VC-3)
ST 2067-70 IMF Application #7 ST 2019-1 VC-3 – Public Committee Draft (Public CD) Different user groups have manifested an interest in having a broadcast-ready format like VC-3 available to use with the IMF workflows. Having an application that natively uses VC-3 allows to achieve that avoiding need for any transcode operation. This document specifies an Application of the IMF framework specified in SMPTE ST 2067-2. The Application covers usage of the VC-3 codec as specified in SMPTE ST 2019-1. The goal of the public CD period is to encourage implementers to discover any issues with the application as well as to encourage interoperability between implementations. The initial public CD period is anticipated to be 6 months to allow time for preliminary implementations to appear and test.

ST 2067-71:2024

Mapping VC-6 into IMF
SMPTE is pleased to announce the availability of SMPTE ST 2067-71 Mapping VC-6 into IMF as a public Committee Draft document available on the SMPTE website. This document joins the public Committee Draft of SMPTE ST 2117-10 Mapping VC-6 into the MXF Generic Container and enables the development of MXF and IMF workflows utilizing VC-6 video compression.

Output Profile List
An Output Profile List (OPL) defines the transformation of selected virtual tracks of a single Interoperable Master Format (IMF) Composition into deliverables appropriate for downstream distribution channels. This transformation consists of a sequence of parameterized steps, called Macros. This document specifies the basic Output Profile List structures and processing model, independently of the underlying essence kinds.

Output Profile List Common Image Definitions and Macros
This document specifies definitions, data structures and Macros applicable to image essence for use with the Interoperable Master Format (IMF) Output Profile List framework.

Common Image Pixel Color Schemes
This document defines Image Pixel Color Schemes, as specified in SMPTE ST 2067-101, that are of general use to Interoperable Master Format (IMF) Applications.

Common Audio Definition and Macros
This document specifies definitions, data structures and Macros applicable to audio essence for use with the Interoperable Master Format (IMF) Output Profile List framework.

Dynamic Metadata for Color Volume Transform (DMCVT) Plug-in
This Standard specifies a method for adding Dynamic Metadata for Color Volume Transform (DMCVT) as specified in SMPTE ST 2094-2 to IMF Applications. This standard defines: a DMCVT track file to carry DMCVT metadata as specified in SMPTE ST 2094-2; a DMCVT virtual track.

Immersive Audio Bitstream Level 0 Plug-in
This document specifies requirements for a plug-in mechanism to add Immersive Audio Bitstream (IAB) essence, as specified in SMPTE ST 2098-2, to IMF compositions.

ST 2067-202:2023

Isochronous Stream of XML Documents (ISXD) Plug-in
This SMPTE Standard specifies a method for wrapping isochronous streams of XML documents in a manner consistent with the Interoperable Master Format (IMF) Essence Component. Only a Frame Wrapping method is defined. Clip Wrapping and Custom Wrapping are not considered.

This document defines:

• an ISXD Track File to carry ISXD data as specified in an application;
• an ISXD Virtual Track for use in an IMF Composition Playlist.

ST 2067-203:2023

Audio with Frame-based S-ADM Metadata Plug-in
This document specifies a plug-in mechanism to add Metadata Guided Audio (MGA) Signals with Serialized Audio Definition Model (S-ADM) metadata essence to IMF Compositions. S-ADM is specified in ITU-R BS.2125. The MGA Signal and its mapping into MXF is specified in SMPTE ST 2127-1. The mapping of MGA Signals with S-ADM audio metadata is specified in SMPTE ST 2127-10.

ST 2067-204:2026-05

Interoperable Master Format — Audio with ADM Metadata Plug-in
This document specifies a plug-in mechanism to add audio with Audio Definition Model (ADM) metadata to IMF Compositions. ADM is specified in Recommendation ITU-R BS.2076. The mapping of ADM metadata (and other audio metadata RIFF Chunks) to MXF is specified in SMPTE ST 2131.

RDD 45:2022

Application ProRes
This document specifies an Application of the IMF framework specified in SMPTE ST 2067-2:2020. The Application follows the Image Characteristics, Track File and Composition constraints specified in SMPTE ST 2067-21:2020 whenever possible, and uses the Apple ProRes codec specified in SMPTE RDD 36.

Application DPP (ProRes)
Building on the pioneering work of SMPTE who created a Mastering Format (IMF) for Feature Films, the DPP and the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) have collaborated to develop a SMPTE Registered Disclosure Document for an IMF Application based on the requirements common to many in the broadcast and online sector. This SMPTE Registered Disclosure Document is based on the image formats referred to in ITU-R BT.2100 and references SMPTE ST 2067 Interoperable Master Format suite of standards and SMPTE RDD 45 Interoperable Master Format - Application ProRes.