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Understanding Codecs
According to Wikipedia, "A codec is a device or program capable of performing encoding and decoding on a digital data stream or signal." In plain English I'd put it this way: a codec allows one to read and save audio and video files, often for the purposes of saving space.
The best known example of a codec is MP3. It compresses bulky audio files such as WAV to much smaller MP3 files.
All codecs involve a trade off between the amount of compression and the resultant quality. If you compress too much the quality loss may become intolerable. Information scientists are always coming up with smarter ways to get more compression with less quality loss. That's one of the reasons why there are so many codecs and it's also why newer ones will keep popping up.
So why is this important to you as a computer user? Because to play an audio or video file that has been compressed by a particular codec you need the corresponding codec on your PC in order to decompress the file and play it.
Out of the box, a brand new PC will be capable of playing certain kinds of media. By default it will be able to play audio CD's, WAV files, certain kinds of AVI files, and Windows WMV files. However, there are a lot of other file formats which it will not be able to play, so additional codecs are needed for the computer to be able to decode those files and play them.
In fact, most computer users have encountered the situation of trying to play a video file only to be frustrated to find they don't have the codec. As a result the video won't play.
There are tools available to help overcome this problem, such as VideoInspector, a freeware program that identifies the codecs used in a particular video and helps you find a download location.
While you can install individual codecs in order to play a particular media file, it's more common to install a whole collection: a codec pack. The idea is to give end users a "one stop" installation of a lot of codecs so they don't have to hunt down particular codecs when they come across a file they cannot play. On top of that, tproofreado add to all of the confusion, if you have a 64 bit operating system like Windows XP 64 or Vista x64, you will require 64 bit versions of these codecs.
That sounds handy but there's a catch. Some codec packs contain proprietary codecs of doubtful legality. Typically this involves the use of codecs that are altered versions of existing codecs developed by other companies. Often this is done to avoid copyright issues, but it's sometimes done to extend functionality so the PC can play more file types. However, since almost all codecs are released under a license agreement which prohibit alteration, these altered versions are still likely to be illegal.
It's not only the law you have to be concerned about. Using an altered codec may cause problems on your PC. It all depends on how professionally the alterations were made. Unfortunately, you have no way of knowing this in advance.
The following codecs and codec packs are considered to have legality issues hanging over them:
- DivX 3.xx codec - This version and the many varieties of it are altered versions of the Microsoft MPEG-4 V3 codec. It is considered old by today's standards. The current version of the DivX codec is now considered legal.
- Asus Video codec - Another variation of Microsoft's MPEG-4 codec.
So where can you find free, legal codec packs that will let you view the media you need to view? The following is a list of codec packs that are legal and free to download and install on your PC:
- K-Lite codec pack: (Initially included some commercial codecs without any redistribution agreement, they have been removed from the codec pack) http://codecguide.com/
- XP Codec Pack: http://www.xpcodecpack.com/
- FFDShow Tryouts: http://ffdshow-tryout.sourceforge.net/
- Combined Community Codec Pack: http://www.cccp-project.net/
- Vista Codec Package: http://shark007.net/vistacodecpackage.html
- Vista Codec Package x64 components: http://shark007.net/x64components.html
- Windows 7 Codecs: http://shark007.net/win7codecs.html
Be aware that you may have an illegal codec pack installed on your PC even if you didn't download it. That's because a number of media players come with codec packs as part of the installation package. Often these codec packs show up in the Windows Control Panel Add/Remove programs applet, so you can uninstall them there if you wish. If they are not shown in Add/Remove programs, they will still be visible from the Windows Device Manager.
To see the codecs installed on your PC, right click on the My Computer icon, and select Properties/Hardware/Device manager/Sound Video Game Controllers. You can then select either of the Audio Codecs or Video Codecs items. For each items the codecs are listed under the properties tag. If you want to, you can also uninstall any unwanted codecs from the same location.
Sources:
-
"Windows Media Player for Windows XP Supported Codecs": http://support.microsoft.com
/kb/291948 -
"The default codecs that are included with Windows Media Player 9 and 10 "http://support.microsoft.com
/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us ;899113 -
Wikipedia entry for "Video Codec": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
/Video_codec -
Wikipedia entry for "Codec": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
/Codec -
List of Codecs by FOURCC: http://www.am-soft.ru/fourcc
.html -
Wikipedia entry for "K-Pack Codec Pack": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K
-Lite_Codec_Pack
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Comments
Thanks Joe for such an interesting and insightful article. I have a few questions though,
1. VLC's Wikipedia entry says, "At least one recent release of the VLC media player software is able to read video and audio data from DVD discs that incorporate Content Scramble System (CSS) encryption, even though the VLC media player software does not have a CSS decryption license.[34] The unauthorized decryption of CSS-encrypted DVD content and/or the unauthorized distribution of CSS decryption tools may violate the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act."
How can we be sure that VLC is LEGAL in the US, if it includes libdvdcss? Can you quote reliable sources? Is DMCA OK with it?
2. KLite Codec Pack contains (I believe) Real Alternative and Quicktime Alternative. These alternative packs apparently had issues with the original makers of Quicktime and RealPlayer which perhaps led the maintainer of these alternative packs to remove them from the site completely. The makers had used original Real codecs to make their codecs.
From Wikipedia: On July 15, 2010, both Quicktime Alternative and Real Alternative were removed from their main distribution website, and on July 25, 2010 QT Lite and Real Alternative Lite followed suit.[citation needed] The maintainer of these software packages, CodecGuru, refuses to discuss the reason for the removal, saying "that discussion is not wanted here."[citation needed] CodecGuru also actively deletes or edits any posts on the Codec Guide forum that mention the two codec packs and their removal. Repeated posting about the topic results in users being banned from the forum.
Is there a way to know if KLite Mega includes or excludes QT/Real alternative codecs? How can it play QT/Real files if it doesn't have the alternative codecs?
3. Many Linux distros like Linux Mint include plenty of codecs. Why can't Ubuntu include them if they are free and legal?
Your answers will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
This category currently has no editor (although it was maintained by Joe previously). In any case, this is a comments section and questions like this should be asked in our forum.
File Hippo has Codec Packs K-Lite and 007 Shark
K-Lite Codec Pack 6.80 (Full) 14.10MB (Freeware)
K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 6.80 19.14MB (Freeware)
Codec Pack All-In-1 6.0.3.0 9.59MB (Freeware)
Vista Codec Package 5.9.0 Shark007 - 21.00MB (Freeware)
Windows 7 Codecs 2.7.3 Shark007 - 23.03MB (Freeware)
http://www.filehippo.com/software/multimedia/codecs/
On the "Best Free Media Player" page, it lists "We recommend ffdshow, Real Alternative, QuickTime Alternative and WinAmp Alternative packages" with MPCHC, but on this page other codecs are listed. A more comparative listing is NEEDED here.
For example, would the K-Lite codec pack (basic) be an option to ffdshow, or are those basically two completely different, complementary codec packs? Does a K-Lite pack (standard for example) include Real Alternative, or should users install both? etc...
How do can play .divx or .xvid to play on Vista? I have KMP and WMP. I downloaded ffdshow but don't know where to put it. What folder? What media player? Where in the folder? Thanks for any help.
If you are running a 32 bit version of Vista, you just run the installation file for ffdshow and it will do the rest. Afterward, any media player you have will automatically use the codecs that ffdshow installed.
If you are on a 64 bit version of Vista, then ffdshow will not work. You will have to use the Vista Codec Package x64 components (http://shark007.net/x64components.html). Again, simply run the installation package and afterward your media player will automatically use the appropriate codec.
I hope this helps.
Thanks. It worked perfectly. Previous to your reply I installed VLC Player and that worked too. But now I have more options. I have a 32 bit Vista and had downloaded the zip file version of ffdshow. This time I used ffdshow-tryout with the recommended settings.
A minor correction for your opening paragraph - encoding doesn't necessarily involve compression. Most people may encode to a lossy format from a lossless format however this isn't always the case. For example, you can encode MP3 source files into a PCM audio format.
Besides possibly illegal versions of altered versions, you may also have codecs that have been developed by reverse engineering - this is a more likely source of compatible but freely available codecs.
You are correct. The coding doesn't have to be to a compressed format. I have made a sleight edit to the first paragraph that hopefully addresses this better.
Thanks.
The Link to Video Inspector points to an install package for windows that is infected with spyware
You are referring to VideoInspector. I had that software before on my PC, and yes, its flagged positive by some security software. I think its due to the presence of RelevantKnowledge which is bundled with the software. Its considered an adware, which can be tough to remove. I just downloaded the file and uploaded it to VirusTotal, and the result was 6/40. So, according the result, it can be considered as false positive. But, due to the presence of RK, it can be considered as adware. Sumo, the update checker software from the same site, also contains RK, and therefore the lite version is preferred, and recommended. Users can decide themselves whether to use the software or not. Personally, I prefer MediaInfo from Sourceforge, which is similar software, and in continuous development.
Does anyone know the difference between "K-Lite Codec Pack 5.90 (Full)" and "K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 5.90"? They have about 10 mb difference in size, so i believe it is important to know which one to download.
Have a look at this page :
http://www.codecguide.com/klcp_contents_comparison.htm
The Mega pack contains more codecs, specifically more VFW codecs and ACM codecs, as well as Real Alternative codecs.
yeah the GSpot program is excellent also...
I found this a good article on video codecs :
http://www.divxland.org/codecs_intro.php
Lots of other good articles there on the site.
FFDShow is definitely great.
I think your link should lead to the ffdshow tryout page instead. the link you are currently listing is extremely outdated.
Thanks for the heads-up. I've updated this article with the new link to ffdshow-tryouts.
Come on! Early versions of DivX might have been altered versions of Microsoft's codec, but the latest versions most certainly are not - and considering how widely used they are, they are certainly not "old". Check Wikipedia next time!
And I'll take the questionably legal alternatives to Real and Quicktime over the slow, bloated official versions any day.
I can't believe you didn't mention VLC! To this date, I've never read anything about dealing with codecs without reading about VLC. VLC comes packaged with all codecs you'll ever need, except for RealMedia and Blu-Ray.
VLC is a media player and, yes, it does come with its own codecs for playing a large variety of media, but VLC is not a codec in and of itself. This article only discusses codecs and what they are... not the media players involved.
VLC is mentioned in the "Best Free Media Player" article here: http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-windows-media-player-replaceme...
This is the best codec article I have ever read. Now I understand so much more. Still have a couple of questions if I may. How do you know what codecs are in which pack? Does it matter if you install several packs ie. could they have the same codecs in them, will they overwrite with different versions?
Great site which I only found this morning. Thanks :)
Thank you for your kind comments.
The web site that develops a particular codec pack usually has a listing of each codec included in their pack. In the case of CCCP, they don't list the codecs on their web site, but they are listed during the installation of the codec and you have the option of selecting which ones you want to install.
On the whole it has been my experience that it does not matter if you install several codec packs. Some will say that the more codec packs you install the slower your system will become, but I have not found this to be the case. Some packs will have some overlap and have some of the same codecs. Those codecs, if already installed on your PC, will get overwritten, but it won't make any difference to the general PC user who is simply looking to play different types of media. For the hard-core audiophiles and videophiles, it will make a huge difference because they are looking for the best possible encoding and decoding quality possible.
I'm glad you are enjoying the site. I hope this answers your questions.
Thankyou. All answered now :)
Hi Joe I am new to tech support your column understanding Codecs was very helpful thank you .
I've been computer savvy for decades but was somewhat flummoxed by missing codec issues reoccuring when upgrading computers. This is the first place I've ever seen a clear broad enough overview of the topic, yet with and sufficient detail to help a hapless or even experienced user navigate the inevitable bumps missing codecs create.
Alex
very well explained and i am usually totally lost on computer jargon
thanks harry
Very easy to understand what is codecs.
Good effort.
GSpot Codec Information Appliance - http://www.headbands.com/gspot/ is another a handy tool for identifying codecs used in media files.
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