Encoding
Encoding is the process of converting the analogue form of the material (audio and video tapes, film, physical photos etc.) to a digital form, or from one digital form to another. For each media type there are a number of encoding protocols or formats commonly used - some proprietary, and some independent standards.

For example, an image may be stored in JPEG, GIF, postscript, PDF, MS Word or plain text format, an audio file may be stored in WAV, AU or MIDI format, and a video may be stored in Quicktime, AVI, H-263, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 format. Usually this is done in hardware, but software encoding is becoming more common. For video, the different protocols, or codecs, produce formats which can be delivered over different quality services. Details about the encoded material - such as the encoding method, parameters, and delivery rates - need to be recorded in a database, so that the appropriate encoded version of selected material can be delivered to the end-user.

Since the material being encoded could be from original materials and of significant value and quantities, it could be desirable to use software that tracks the source material during the entire encoding process prior to it being delivered.