Sustainability of Digital Formats
 Planning for Library of Congress Collections

Operational Pattern (OP) for a file with a single playable essence comprising a single essence element or interleaved essence elements, i.e., the content may consist of multiple, interleaved tracks of picture and sound. According to an Avid promotional booklet, OP1a files are "nicely self-contained and can work well in applications where each file represents a complete program or take . . . [but] may be less applicable to content authoring steps such as non-linear editing, where programs are created by slicing and dicing different sections of source material." The latter application is better served by MXF_OP-Atom.

OP1a is supported in SONY and Avid commercial devices and systems. In 2006-07, the Public Broadcasting System was standardizing an Application Specification (MXF_AS-PBS), for use in the non-real-time distribution of programs to member stations, and this AS indicates that OP1a is generally to be used (exceptions are to use OP2a). The SAMMA device used to reformat videotapes outputs MXF_SAMMA, which is believed to use OP1a.