What type of file is a codec

If you spend any time editing or outputting video, you will come across the term Codec. Because there are so many of them, and it is difficult to tell the difference between them, we put together a quick look to help you get started. If you can understand certain terms, you can better decide which one fits your needs.

What do they do? In the simplest terms, because video files are so large, you need a way to make them smaller. The codec encodes, compressing the data for storage or sending, then decompresses for playback or editing.

A codec is a computer code that performs its function whenever the file is called up by a piece of software. Codecs can also be used in a physical piece of hardware, like your camera, turning incoming video and audio into a digital format. This happens in real time, either at the point of capture or the point of playback. The codec also reverses the function and turns digital video and audio signals into a playback format. The hardware compresses your video and audio data into a manageable size for viewing, transfer or storage.

Then you decide which one is the best fit your needs. Lossless codecs are just like they sound. They reproduce video exactly as it is without any loss in quality. Lossy codecs, on the other hand, lose a small amount of information, but can compress material into a much smaller format.

Lossy codecs are great for compressing data that needs to be sent via e-mail or uploaded to the internet. Use caution when choosing a lossy Codec. Some color shifting is seen in some formats. Overall, all codecs work toward the same end: put your data into a manageable file type with as little loss of quality as possible. Transformative codecs cut up the material into smaller chunks before actually compressing it.

This creates a smaller file. The most widely recognized family of codecs are based on MPEG standards. This is the organization that sets and codifies the standards. There are a number of primary MPEG formats and a multitude of derivative types. MPEG-1 is a data stream which reproduces with incredibly high quality. One drawback is that MPEG-1 allows only for progressive scanning.

Progressive scanning is a method of storing and displaying moving images where all of the lines of the image are drawn in sequence. This is in contrast to interlaced scanning, where all the odd lines of an image are drawn first, then all of the even lines are drawn. MP3, while lossy and quite small, is the standard for nearly all digital music storage devices, audio players and retail sites.

MPEG-4 files use both progressive and interlaced video. Many different codecs can be used with an. AVI file, which means that this format has more flexibility in choosing a balance between quality and size. However, these files tend to be larger than the previously mentioned formats, which makes it less ideal for the web and more ideal for storing movies on a computer.

The codec used by these files results in small file sizes but poor quality. This format is useful if you are sending video to someone with an older Windows computer. MOV and. QT files were developed by Apple to use with its Quicktime player. These files are of high quality but large in size. And they have poor compatibility with non-Quicktime players. This format is useful if you intend to archive a high-quality video on an Apple computer. FLV and. SWF files were designed by Adobe as the video file format for Flash.

The use of these file formats has declined rapidly as Flash has become less popular, especially after Flash support ended for iOS devices. The use of these formats is only recommended if you need to support a legacy system that can only accept this type of file. These files use the H.

MPG file. Choosing the right video file format depends entirely on what you plan on using the video for. You should choose a format that achieves the quality of video you require, but nothing more. Unnecessarily high-quality video files can be unwieldy to move, share, convert, and manage. In addition, how the video files will be viewed is important.

Not all programs, browsers, and devices can open a specific video format. Consider a couple of scenarios:. In summary, the most common video file types are:. There are certain times when it is best to use one file format over another, and often, you have to convert between file formats. Get started for free with Filestack today.

Skip to content. Sign Up Free Log In. One more well-known codec worth mentioning is H. It can use both lossy and lossless compression depending on the settings that you choose frame rate, frame size, and file size. DivX is a commercial codec, while XviD is its open source alternative. The DivX codec can compress lengthy video segments into small sizes while maintaining relatively high visual quality. However, this video codec has been only gaining popularity and is not yet supported by all the media software.

Hardware Acceleration Support. The best option to determine a codec in your video is install free software that will do the job for you. Here are what you should do to identify a codec:. MediaInfo is one of the most popular tools to show you complete information about your multimedia file. The software will guide you to a site where you can download the necessary codecs. Sometimes it even shows what media player can reproduce video files of a kind.

For example, the software suggests using QuickTime to play MP4 files. GSpot is a choice of advanced users. It provides a huge amount of information about a file.

However, in case you have a large collection of old video files, you might find it helpful. SuperEasy Codec Check can be used both by beginners and professional users.