Buzz
Computer users are no strangers to the term codec. However, it can be said that up to 90% of us users do not know what codec is. Therefore, in the article below, Mytour will introduce you to detailed information about what codec is.
What is Codec? Why is Codec important?
What is Codec?
Codec is a term derived from the words code and decode, referring to a program or computer software used to compress large files or convert between Analog and digital sound. You will often see this term associated with audio and video, used to talk about audio codecs and video codecs.
Why is codec important?
Music and video files are very large in size, making it difficult for users to share these files over the Internet. To speed up downloads, mathematical codecs are used to encode or compress the transmission signal, then decode it to view or edit. Without codecs, downloading video and audio files would take 3 to 5 times longer than it does currently.
How many codecs are needed?
There are hundreds of different codecs used on the Internet, and users will have to use a combination of these codecs to play files.
There are codecs for compressing audio files, video files, files streamed over the Internet, video conferencing, playing MP3s, and capturing screenshots.
Some users also use obscure codecs to compress files they share on the Internet. When users download, they will not know which codec to use to play their files. Typically, you will need about 10 to 12 different codecs to play music and movies.
Some popular codecs
In addition to popular codecs like MP3, WMA, RealVideo, RealAudio, DivX, and XviD, there are many other codecs.
AVI is a fairly common file extension that you will see on video files, but AVI is not a codec, it is a container format that can use many other codecs. Hundreds of codecs are compatible with AVI content, so it can be difficult to identify which codec is needed to play your video files.
Identifying the necessary codec for downloading and installation
Because there are many different codec options, a codec pack remains the best choice. A codec pack contains multiple codecs in the same file. There is much debate about the need for multiple codec files, but it is clear that using a codec pack will be easier when users need to download and play files.
Here is a list of codec packs that users should consider:
- CCCP (Combined Community Codec Pack) is one of the best codec packs for users to download. CCCP is for those who frequently share and watch videos online. Codecs in this pack can help play 99% of video formats. Consider using CCCP if your computer needs codec updates.
- X Codec Pack is free, packs all codecs into one, has no ads or spyware, and does not take too long to download. X Codec Pack is one of the most comprehensive and essential codec packs for playing all major audio and video formats.
- K-Lite Codec Pack allows playback of all popular movie file formats. K-Lite comes in 4 types: Basic, Standard, Full, and Mega. If you only need to play DivX and XviD formats, Basic is enough. The Standard pack is more common, including everything most users need to play popular formats. The Full pack is suitable for users with higher demands, as it not only provides many codecs but also supports encoding.
- Essentially, the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack is a comprehensive pack containing everything you need. The Mega pack even includes Media Player Classic.
If you are a fan and frequently use Windows Media Player, you will often see the software indicating a 4-character code about a codec it needs. You can then search for this codec on the FOURCC website to find the missing codec.
Alternatively, another way to download codecs is to download a media player that contains codecs. Sometimes media players also install popular and important codecs by default when you first install the software. VLC is a fairly good choice because this media player can play all types of file formats.
Mytour has just introduced and explained to you what a codec is? The popular codec packages today. To decode codecs, play videos with complex codec formats best, readers should use one of the best movie viewing software. If you have any questions or comments, please leave your comments below the article.
