In a VAST (Video Ad Serving Template) XML, multiple media files can be included to ensure compatibility across various devices and network conditions. Required media files are those with specific properties — such as format, bitrate, and resolution — that must be declared in the VAST XML for the VAST tag to be accepted.

Required media file settings in Advalidation

Advalidation can help you list the required media files based on your requirements. You must give the required media file a name of your choosing, and then select from the below options:

• Format — xflv, mp4, webm, x-msvideo, quicktime, 3gpp, javascript, x-shockwave-flash, x-mpegURL, wav, ogg, mpeg
• Resolution: Width (px) & Height (px) — both fields need to be filled out in order for the resolution to be measured by Advalidation
• Min bitrate — set the Minimum bitrate value of your choice in kbps — leave blank to indicate no Minimum threshold
• Max bitrate — set the Maximum bitrate value of your choice in kbps — leave blank to indicate no Maximum threshold (Unlimited)

Please note 1: not all fields are mandatory -> only Format is a mandatory field.

Please note 2: there is limit to the number of required media files you can add to your specification.

Required media files

Once set up, you must select one of the below options:

• Require all of the media file definitions above
• Require at least one of the media file definitions above
• Require only one (fail if more) of the media file definitions above

Warn for discrepancies between declared and actual properties of the media files

When this setting is enabled, Advalidation will flag any tag for which the declared properties differ from the actual media files.

Warn for duration discrepancies between media files

When this setting is enabled, Advalidation will flag any duration discrepancies between media as part of the QA report.

Advalidation's recommendation

We recommend enabling this setting when working with VAST tags with specific media files requirements.

We also recommend having this setting selected: Warn for discrepancies between declared and actual properties of the media files.