|
Introduction
What are codecs?
The word "codec" is short for "coder-decoder". It can
either be hardware or software that can compress or decompress data.
Because of the limitations of the Internet and the fact that some people
still have slow connections, minimizing the files size while maximizing
the amount of media became paramount.
Digital movies in raw format are very large files, So movies are
compressed using various codecs, each codec has its own unique advantages
and disadvantages. Some codecs make very small movies, but with low image
quality, While others make small movies of quality but decompress much
slower.
Unlike file compression packages (WinZip for example) that requires you
to decompress a file before being able to use its contents, codecs
decompress media files "On-the-fly" so you can view the movie from its
original compressed format.
There are many different types of codecs in use on the internet, and
new ones arriving regular. This guide concentrates on the codecs that the
majority of people are using. If some other codec becomes more popular in
the future then it would need to be undated again, but for now it contains
what people are using to mainly share movies.
Identifying codecs
The simplest way to identify what codec is in use would be to use a hex
editor and view the headers of the movie. The headers contain important
information See this guide on FourCC . However
there are programs around that make this task much more user friendly.
Gspot
By far the most widely used program is Gspot, you only need to load into
it a media file for it to tell you what codec was used to make that file.
It will also try to discover what your system is using to decompress that
file and play it. However this does not always work to plan, and sometimes
your told that your system contains everything needed to play the file,
but it still does not play, or it may play video but have no audio.
Virtual Dub
File > File information
Finding out what codecs are being used in movies, is usually needed
because you have a problem. The movie may play without any video, or
without sound. It is then necessary to find out what codecs are in use so
that you can install them.
In the passed people recommended codec packs. The idea was that it was
not necessary to find out what was missing, if you installed them all. The
"Cure-all" idea comes with many problems, where one particular
home movie was
playing just fine, you now find it does not play at all. In addition to
these types of problems, codec packs are released with Demo codecs, and
some of those demos install spyware. Always purchase the codec, and
install separately.
There have been reports of people seeing a red logo displayed
throughout a home movie they made, or their firewall asking if you want to
block some application that wants to access the internet. There have been
thousands of people with problems, and they have all been caused by codec
packs. You don't need them !
Playback
If you only want to playback the movies you have downloaded, there are
some players that come with their own filters and codecs, so using those
might mean you wont need to install a codec at all. There are also some
codecs that will decompress other formats, for example DivX 5 could be
used to decompress Xvid, this again has its own set of unique problems.
Some players that could be used
BSplayer
This player is popular among those who use subtitles
Zoom Player
Popular with those who playback movies via a TV out card to watch your
their TV
Stamp3
VideoLAN and
DivX Player
and others like Power DVD
By far the most widely used player is the one that comes installed with
Windows. Windows Medial Player, but new released of this have also come
with problems. Windows Media Player V6 is still installed on most systems,
even if you have an updated version of it.
Encoding
If you intend to do any encoding of media files, then you will need to
install the popular codecs, and you will probably want a player just to
verify things are working as they should. Windows Media Player v6 uses
less resources than any of the others, and is ideal for testing your
playbacks at each stage.
Codecs in use
These are the popular codecs and are mostly used to share movies
DivX 5 Pro
DivX ;-) MPEG4 Hi-Res Video Codec - 3.11alpha release (Low motion, fast
motion, DivX audio)
Microsoft MPEG 4, V1 V2 V3 Install V4.00.0.3688
Mpeg 2 Ligos Technology LSX-MPEG Suite v2.0 for Mpeg 2 playback
and for TMPGEnc
Note: I have heard that this is a hacked Illegal Microsoft codec, but not
able to confirm this.
Fraunhofer Mp3 Pro
Moonlight
Odio Dekoda V1.23, Universal AC3/MPEG Audio (Layer 1/2/3)
Decoder
Mpeg 1, Installed by Windows
Xvid
Others, you don't need these
installed
DivX 4.11
DivX 4.8
Morgan Multimedia (M-JPEG)
WMV M$
Mov Quicktime
ASF M$
RM RealProducer
Installation
DivX Pro, Current V5.0.5
This is downward compatible for DivX 4 (Not 3.11 alpha)
DivXPro505Bundle.exe
Installation:
Run, DivX.Pro.v5.0.5.exe
See readme.txt for the rest
DivX ;)- 3.11
Alpha
Warning, I have heard this may be an illegal hacked Microsoft codec, but
cannot confirm this
This has Low motion, and fast motion
DivX.inf
DIVX_c32.ax
DivXa32.acm
DivXc32.dll
DivXc32f.dll
L3codeca.acm
Register_DivX.exe
Installation:
Run, Register_DivX.exe
If asked for disk, give location where you ran the file from.
M$ MPEG 4, V1,2,3
V4.00.0.3688, Unlocked for use of V3 in AVI, not just ASF
mpeg4fix.inf
Mpg4c32.dll
Installation:
Right click mpeg4fix.inf and select install
Mpeg 2 filter
Use this when you want to convert Mpeg 2 in TMPGEnc +
LSX MPEG Encoder Suite 2.0.exe
Installation:
Run LSX MPEG Encoder Suite 2.0.exe
Fraunhofer Mp3 Pro
Get higher bitrates with this MP3 codec.
Mpeg 3 layer codec Fraunhofer.exe
Installation:
Run, Mpeg 3 layer codec Fraunhofer.exe
AC3 Audio
Moonlight
Odio
Dekoda DirectShow? filter V1.23, binary (71,855 bytes, ZIP)
Freeware
Download
MoonLight
Odio Dekoda v.1.23
Updated with WinZip self
installer
mlcom.ax
reg.bat
regsvr32.exe
Installation:
Make a folder on your hard drive at C:\Program Files\AC3OdioDec
Unpack the contents of the zip file to that folder.
Now double click the Reg.bat to register the filter and its location.
Don't delete the folder afterwards.
Xvid
Download XviD-04102002-1.exe Freeware
Use only the stable release
XviD-04102002-1.exe
Installation:
Run, XviD-04102002-1,exe
Un-install after use.
You can also test
your system by using my test files. Download and play the
files. They should all look and sound the same. If one of them gives you
problems, you can tell by its name what codec to install. If you are doing
any encoding, you should also try to encode them, this also may show up a
problem.
Test files
These should be played in Windows Media Player 6 to get a better
indication that your system is working correctly.
Each movie clip has been created in stereo with channel 1 having a 800hz
tone and channel 2 a 1000hz tone.
Not meant has a test of your stereo
AC3 has 3/2 (L, C, R, l, r) LFE again not meant has a Dolby test, if you
can hear the buzz then you have an AC3 codec installed and working.
Discuss this article in our forum
Members Only! Join Here
|
