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All about CODECS - Questions and Answers

 

"Codec" is a technical name for "compression/decompression". It also stands for and "coder/decoder". All of these variations mean the same thing: a codec is a computer program that both shrinks large movie and audio files, and makes them playable on your computer. Codec programs are required for your media player to play your downloaded music and movies. Very similar to why we zip files before we transfer them elsewhere, to reduce the transfer time.


Content creators use codecs because a compressed file takes up less storage space on your computer and can be transferred across the Internet more quickly and smoothly. When you play a digital media file, Windows Media Player uses a codec to decompress the file. Codecs are used to create and play nearly all music or video files on your computer or on Web sites. A codec can consist of two components — an encoder and a decoder. The encoder compresses a file during creation, and the decoder decompresses the file so that it can be played. Some codecs include both components, while other codecs only include one. For example, if you install a DVD playback program on your computer, the program will likely install a codec that only includes an MPEG-2 decoder, which allows you to play the DVD on your computer. You would not be able to use the decoder to create

your own DVD.

 

Below are listed - by name and purpose - some of the most popular audio/speech and video codecs.

AUDIO CODECS
- AAC: music with digital rights (DRM)
- ACELP.live: music (VoiceAge)
- AIFF: music (Macintosh)
- AU: music (Sun)
- MP3: music (Fraunhofer IIS)
- Ogg Vorbis: music (open source standard)
- RA, RAM: music (RealNetworks streaming)
- WMA: music (Microsoft)

 

VIDEO CODECS
- AVI: movies (Microsoft)
- Cinepak: movies (SuperMac Technologies)
- H.261: videoconferencing (ITU)
- H.263: videoconferencing (ITU)
- H.264: videoconferencing (ITU)
- Indeo: movies (Intel)
- MPEG-1: movies (Moving Pictures Experts Group)
- MPEG-2: movies (Moving Pictures Experts Group)
- MPEG-4: movies (Moving Pictures Experts Group)
- RM, RV: movies and streaming (RealNetworks)
- Sorenson: movies (Sorenson Media)
- WMV: movies and streaming (Microsoft)

 

 

CODEC Tools

 

Did you download a movie video recently and later found that the audio or the video part of the movie does not play? This has to do with a missing audio or video Codec. To know which Codec you need to play your favorite video files correctly, you may use one of these tools discussed in this article. These tools help you find out the Codec used in a particular media file, and then download the appropriate Codec from the web.

VideoInspector is a tool designed to provide you with as much information as possible about your video files. With VideoInspector you’ll know why your video files has no sound or refuses to play correctly.

 

AVIcodec is a very useful tool that helps you identify the codec used by video files. As you may know, most video files have a simple AVI, MPEG etc. extensions, however some of them may require additional codecs like DivX or VCD and others. When trying to run such a file, and you don’t have the proper codec installed, you will get an error message, or may be limited to audio playback only.

 

GSpot is a tool that provides you with detailed information about the codec used audio and video files. It can tell you whether an AVI file uses DivX or XviD, and which version, what type of MPEG codec is used (DVD format or not) etc.

 

 

CodecInstaller is a Windows program that detects the Audio and Video codecs installed on your system, analyzes files to understand which codecs they require and suggests you to install them.

 

 

CODEC FAQs

 

Are all codecs and file formats the same?

No, although it can be confusing because they sometimes have the same name. You can think of a file format as a type of container. Inside the container is data that has been compressed by using a particular codec. For example, a file format such as Windows Media Audio contains data that is compressed by using the Windows Media Audio codec. However, a file format such as Audio Video Interleaved (AVI) can contain data that is compressed by any of a number of different codecs, including the MPEG-2, DivX, or XVid codecs. AVI files can also contain data that is not compressed by any codec. Consequently, you might be able to play some AVI files and not others, depending on which codecs were used to compress the file and which codecs you have installed on your computer.

For the same reason, you also might be able to play the audio portion of an AVI file, but not the video portion.

 

 

If you should ever need to reinstall your codecs go here.

http://www.free-codecs.com/guides/How_to_install_default_codecs_in_Windows_XP_2000.htm

 

 

How to Get the Codecs Downloaded Automatically to Windows Media Player

http://www.free-codecs.com/guides/How_to_Get_the_Codecs_Downloaded_Automatically.htm

 

 

If you get a message that you're missing a codec when you try to play a file, click the Web Help button on the message.

 If you know the name of the codec you want to find, you can go directly to WMPlugins.com Codec

 

 

How do I tell what codec was used to compress a file or what codecs are installed on my computer?

To determine what codec was used with a specific file, play the file in the Player, if possible. While the file is playing, right-click the file in the library, and then click Properties. On the File tab, look at the Audio codec and Video codec sections.

 

OR

 

Use a non-Microsoft tool, such as GSpot Codec Information Appliance or Sherlock–The Codec Detective

 

 

Do I need to install any special codecs to play Windows Media Audio and Video files?

Installing codecs is not typically necessary if you are running Windows Media Player 10 or later because the latest Windows Media audio and video codecs were automatically installed on your computer when you installed the Player. However, if you think your codecs are corrupted or out of date, you can download and install the latest codecs from the Download Center.

 

 

What are the codecs I should download and install?"
There is no single best answer to this question. There are so many codec choices. The easiest option is to

download "codec packs".

Download XP Codec Pack 2.3.8 - XP Codec Pack is one of the most completed codec packs

 

or the Mega Pack

Free-Codecs.com :: Download K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 3.9.5


 

Troubleshooting your codecs:   First you need to find what audio/video Codecs are on YOUR Windows XP PC

Go to the START MENU
Select CONTROL PANEL
Select SOUNDS, SPEECH & AUDIO DEVICES
Select SOUND & AUDIO DEVICES
The following Sound and Devices window will then appear:

 

 

Select Audio Codecs from the list and then click the Properties button.
The following Audio Codecs Properties window will appear:

 

 

By selecting the codec and then selecting properties you get the following:

 

 

This window shows you more information about each individual codec installed on your system. For instance, is it enabled and functioning correctly? It also allows you to perform some basic troubleshooting, by allowing you to disable the codec, if you suspect it of causing problems on your system! These same instructions can be followed to view and troubleshoot the Video Codecs installed on your system!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   
   

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