Frequently Asked Questions
Codecs
What is a Codec?
A codec is an acronym for coder-decoder. A codec is technology for compressing and decompressing data.
Why do I need to know about codecs?
Media available electronically is often compressed to conserve disk space and reduce download times using a codec.
Many file formats such as .avi files contain data encoded using a specific codec. In order to view them, you require that codec installed on your PC.
Attempting to play back such files using Windows Media Player, QuickTime Player, TriDef Media Player, etc, will result in an error if you do not have the correct codec installed.
What are some of the more popular video codecs used on the Windows platform?
XviD, DivX, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) and MJPEG are some common examples. There are many resources available on the internet discussing these formats in detail such as fourcc.org and Wikipedia.
How can I tell which codec I need to play my files?
Sometimes the filename itself may indicate the codec. You should be able to look at the file Properties (Right-click on file and select Properties) and select the Summary Tab, you should find the information there.
Where can I download some of the more popular codecs from?
Please refer to our links webpage, which contains a Codecs section for download links.
|
