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What are Codecs

Whether you make your own video and audio files available on the Internet or want to use existing resources, there are a host of different player programs, codecs, and file formats available. Here we guide you through the jungle of MPEG, AVI, MKV & Co. On the one hand, the relationships between the different components of the system are explained. This will solve puzzles for example why only certain AVI videos are displayed on your computer and how you can solve such problems. On the other hand, the advantages and disadvantages of the different formats and methods are explained. In this way, you can evaluate what quality you can expect from an audio or video file and which files are particularly suitable for your purposes.

As an end user, you are particularly familiar with one type of program: playback programs (or “players”). They play audio or video files and are therefore the software equivalent to CD or DVD playback devices. The program interface contains elements of a remote control: there are buttons for play, forward, backward, pause, etc. B. Windows Media Player, VLC Player, or Apple iTunes. Instead of inserting a data carrier, the files must be opened on the software players. Audio and video files can only be opened by a player if it can do something with the file format used.

File formats

The digital data with which analog video or audio signals are represented can be organized in various formats. This can best be explained for a single image – there are multiple ways to store individual pixels in a file. For example, if the image points are stored one after the other from left to right or first from top to bottom in the file it is of course a convention that must be specified. The way a color value is stored must also be clearly defined. These and many other specifications are determined by the respective file format. To store the data, a predefined encoding rule is always followed, which is ultimately decisive for the data to be interpreted correctly. Perhaps the difference between individual formats is better understood if you think of them as different data carriers: CDs, large and small discs, tapes, etc. they may contain audio data, but you still cannot put a disc in the CD player! The MPEG, Quicktime or Matroska formats are equally different. These formats are also known as container formats. The container can easily be imagined as a box that in turn contains various audio and video codecs. These codecs can encode and decode files, that is, compress a signal for transport, and then decompress it again during playback. if you think of them as different data carriers: CDs, large and small discs, tapes, etc. can contain audio data; however, you cannot put a disc in the CD player. The MPEG, Quicktime or Matroska formats are equally different. These formats are also known as container formats. The container can easily be imagined as a box that in turn contains various audio and video codecs. These codecs can encode and decode files, that is, compress a signal for transport, and then decompress it again during playback. if you think of them as different data carriers: CDs, large and small discs, tapes, etc. can contain audio data; however, you cannot put a disc in the CD player. The MPEG, Quicktime or Matroska formats are equally different. These formats are also known as container formats. The container can easily be imagined as a box that in turn contains various audio and video codecs. These codecs can encode and decode files, that is, compress a signal to transport it and then decompress it again during playback. The MPEG, Quicktime or Matroska formats are equally different. These formats are also known as container formats. The container can easily be imagined as a box that in turn contains various audio and video codecs. These codecs can encode and decode files, that is, compress a signal to transport it and then decompress it again during playback. The MPEG, Quicktime or Matroska formats are equally different. These formats are also known as container formats. The container can easily be imagined as a box that in turn contains various audio and video codecs. These codecs can encode and decode files, that is, compress a signal to transport it and then decompress it again during playback.

Many different codecs for playing video and audio data
In the living room, the various playback devices are often combined into one system, so multiple devices are not necessary. Different playback programs work the same way: they can read and play different formats. A separate codec is used for each format. These are snippets that only do one job: encode and decode audio or video information. Each codec can be used to write and read exactly one format. Different codecs are used for different formats; correspond roughly to the individual technical components of your stereo system. But instead of a K device for playing discs and a C device for playing DVDs, there is an M codec for playing audio in MP3 files and a W codec for playing video according to the MPEG-4 standard in MP4 files. Most of the players already have multiple codecs built in and therefore can play multiple file formats. There is also the possibility for a player to learn to understand other file formats by adapting additional codecs. Just as you can connect additional devices to your stereo system, such as an old record player or a high-end CD player, the players can be upgraded with plug-ins. A codec plugin is independent of a specific player and can be used by different players. Additional codecs are required, eg. Eg B. if you want to play newer or rarely used file formats with your playback software.