Codec problems

[gerthwin]

Hi, I recently joined as a member and can't get half of the vids to work because, after downloading them, it comes up with the following error message on windows media player:

Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The Player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file.


Is there anything anyone can do to help?!

[biGGie]

Hi Gerthwin,

Usually that means your computer does not have the software to decode the video so you can view it through the various media players like,

Windows Media Player
DivX Player
VLC
Media Player Classic

Whats a CODEC?

Videos are compressed and coded and also decompressed and decoded via a codec (short for COde/DECode). There are many different codecs used for videos (each have advantages and disadvantages with quality, size and compatibility) and many have come and gone over the years.

This causes confusion to a lot of people and it is easy assumption to think all .AVI's are the same as each other. There are many types of .AVI, just like there are many types of .MPG Think of an .AVI or an .MPG or .MPEG as a wrapper and the video is whats inside, then you'll have the right idea.

What to do!

For most people if you install some of the common codecs this should allow you to play most of the videos. Do this in conjunction with installing a few different media players (like the ones mentioned above) and it should be enough to get the video to work.

One of the most commonly installed codecs (not bundled with Windows) is DivX. The DivX codec (with player software) can be downloaded from,

http://www.divx.com/divx/play/download/

This will allow you to play DivX encoded .AVI's either through the player they supplied or through Windows Media Player.

For more info about DivX take a look around at...

http://www.divx.com
and
http://www.videohelp.com/play#divx

If this does not help try,

http://www.facialforum.net/showthrea...=5799#post5799

Failing this then you can try a codec mega pack (where someone was kind enought to provide most of the codecs in one easy install). One like k-lite from,

http://www.free-codecs.com/K_Lite_Co...k_download.htm

should help.

Remember that once a codec is installed it usually means that any media player has the ability to use it and play back the video, some are better than others. Its up to you to decide which one you like the best.

If it is a hjsplit issue

We use a program called hjsplit to split video into smaller parts so we can post large videos here (due to filesize limits of the forum software). You will need to use it to rejoin the video parts before it will play fully. You can download hjsplit from,

http://www.freebyte.com/hjsplit/

Good luck and let us know how you get on!
biGGie.

[Vladmyr]

I personally use the k-lite code pack and have had very few vids I'm ever unable to play.

[wifeuser]

Most of the vids here are usually AVI's (they are easier to compress to save space and uploading to the group -- and storing for the server). Some vids are also WMV's (and they will play on the Windows Media Player with no problem.

For the MPGS (which there are a few here...) you can use the codecs that are already installed on your machine (Most computers with XP have a basic audio / video codec package) but you will need to add codecs to play different types.

For the AVI's here, you will need the DIVX or XVID codecs packs (like Biggie suggested.) If you have them installed, you can play the vids in either the Windows Media Player or the Divx Player, BS Player, or any other player you want. I usually encode my clips with DIVX 6 or XVID, and depending on quality or passes, the clips come out great.

Take Biggie's advice on his post on where to find the right codecs that will help you out .