Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with codec

Best video codec for DVD ripping?

Otis — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:37:40 -0800

What are the best video compression settings (codec, bitrate etc.) for ripping DVDs (that I own)? These files will sit on a NAS and be streamed over a wireless G network for viewing on a standard definition TV with XBMC. I already have quite a few video files on the NAS that stream perfectly over this connection. Now I'd like to store part of my DVD collection on the NAS too to watch using XBMC. I don't have a ton of drive space, so I'd like something with good compression. (Not enough room for full isos of everything). What codec offers the most "bang for the buck" when it comes to compression? We are mostly talking 24 minute TV shows here. This is not an HD TV. Looking for something approximating broadcast TV quality. Any suggestions on codec, bit rate etc.? Should I do a two-pass encode? Thanks!

What's the best way to dump all information about a video file?

crawl — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:44:22 -0800

What's the best way to dump *all* information about a video file? I'm pulling my hair out trying to figure out the difference between some video files. One will stream over the web to my iphone -- the other will not. Another will start playing immediately in flash -- yet another one has to be downloaded completely before it starts to play. As far as I can tell from VLC and ffmpeg, these files are all identical, but clearly there's something different between them. How do I get all the encoding information for the files so I can compare them?

Powerpoint and video - how hard can it be? Suggestions for codecs or video formats that will work, please...

handee — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 04:41:50 -0800

I have a presentation which includes a number of videos. They don't play. I am assuming this is a codec problem - but as the videos are mpeg-2 maybe this isn't the case (I thought that by going for an old codec they were more likely to work). PowerPoint 2007, XP. I have admin rights so can install extra codecs, and I have linux with ffmpeg/mplayer so I can convert the videos. What should I do?

I want my CCTV

striker — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:03:02 -0800

Video file needs codec to play, which I have; how do I convert it to something that doesn't need this codec? We can save .avi files from our CCTV camera dvr setup. Then for people to view them, they have to install a Geo MPEG4 codec. I would like to be able to do something to convert these files so they can be viewed without this. I want to be able to hand it to a neighbor or police and just have them open in windows media player or whatever.

Sample video file here: http://www.creativemethod.com/cg/cam1.avi
Codec that I use is here: http://www.creativemethod.com/cg/CCTVCodec.rar
What is the simplest way to do this? Thanks!

Wanted: codec for g64 files

DreamerFi — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:47:53 -0800

A friend gave me some video files, about 30Mb in size, that have ".g64" as a file extension, and I've been unable to play them - vlan has shown the top of a partial frame, and that's it. They're supposedly from a fairly recent CCTV system, but I've been unable to find out the manufacturer. Anybody got a clue for me?

Which codecs can I remove?

bwg — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:57:45 -0800

Does anyone know of a way to determine which codecs might be obsolete or no longer necessary? Either an application that scans and reports which ones could be removed, or a list that explains if a certain codec is no longer needed?

Example: if I have IndeoR video 5.10, do I still need 4.5 and R3.2? I understand they're different algorithms, but what's the likelihood of needing 3.2?

Or is 5.10 a version that also decodes 3.2?

Looking for the video conversion gods to smile favorably upon me

dino terror — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:35:17 -0800

If I take a random video file, say Xvid with AC3 audio and I want to convert it to play on my mobile device (say Symbian S60 v3), is this a simple procedure nowadays? In other words, should I invest in converter software and a good video player for my phone, or am I entering a quagmire of codec errors? My phone runs Symbian S60 v3. I purchased CorePlayer for it which has an impressive list of supported formats. For the converter I prefer a Mac based solution.
I am mainly thinking of TV show rips from DVDs that I am either ripping myself or acquiring already ripped to DivX/XviD format.
Several years ago I learned to rip DVDs to VCDs and it was a hell of a procedure. I am looking for a 'one touch' solution or nothing!

Why does my cell phone break up when I have hold music?

slavlin — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:07:44 -0800

Why does my cell phone break up when I have hold music? I have the LG enV cellphone with Verizon service in the US. I can hear fine when I am talking to someone, but as soon as I get hold music, the line cuts in and out, sometimes cutting the hold music so low that I can't tell it is there. This even happens if I put my mic on mute. It does not seem to matter if I am using a headset or not.

Can you suggest what might fix this and/or what is causing it?

How can I encode DVDs to play on Tivo?

psmealey — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 05:49:03 -0800

Can I encode my dvd's for Tivo using Handbrake, MPEG streamclip or similar tool? Does TiVO employ a compression scheme that one of these tools can out put DVDs to or is it proprietary? Or is there another, better way to rip DVDs so that I can load them up on my Tivo box (using the Tivo desktop)?

Help me hear the difference

JulianDay — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:12:34 -0800

Software to ABX audio files (on a Mac)? Is there free software to ABX audio files at different bit rates on a Mac?

I want to see if I can hear the difference. I found one suggestion about doing it through iTunes with a random playlist, but ideally I'd like software that lets me rate the files as I listen to them so I can see how my impressions compared to reality after the test.

I'd like software for a Mac, but if something is Windows only I have an old computer running XP that I can use.

.avi agony

t0astie — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 04:45:48 -0800

I have a couple of different .avi files I want to play… and for the life of me I cannot get them to work. Have spent about four hours downloading what feels like every codec and media player under the sun.

I have tried: VLC media player; DivX; ffdshow; AVI Movie player; Media Player Classic, Windows Media Player 10, the KLite Codec Pack (Full) and the XP Codec pack. GSpot doesn't recognise the codec. Nothing works.

I'd write the files off as a bad show, but they're from a couple of different sources, so I'm pretty sure it's something at my end, not the files themselves.

Also among the bunch of things I need to look at are some .mkv files. Those are from still another source. And VLC won't play them either.

Which sort of convinces me further the problem is at my end somewhere.

Can anyone suggest anything else at all before I start ripping my hair out in sheer frustration?

open source, real-time, video streaming?

gen — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 19:17:38 -0800

What options are there for a real-time, open source, video streaming (ogg Theora?) codec/platform/service? I have heard of Flumotion but was wondering if there are others like it in the US or Asia.

Movie transcoding advice: Does anyone have a good recipe?

colecovizion — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 09:52:25 -0800

Movie transcoding advice: Does anyone have a good recipe? I have a Canon SD700 which makes 640x480 video, 30 fps, mono, in the MJPEG AVI format. Unfortunately, while these files are pretty good quality, they are not compressed really well. I'd like to archive them in a more compressed form while retaining about 90% of the quality. I've tried a number of codecs (Divx, Xvid, Quicktime H264, 3ivx, Sorenson 3, etc), but haven't found a good combination of settings to balance the file size and the quality. I've been hoping to use a bit rate in between 2000-3000, however so far the video tends to lose its texture. Maybe I'm being unrealistic.

Here are the best "recipes" I've found so far:

1. XVid - Original size, original framerate, 2 pass, 3000kbs, MP3 mono 128k, 41000hz.

2. Quicktime - appleTV default settings (H264, aac). I'm not very sure of the original settings, they seem VBR.

Notes:

* I have a Intel Mac Pro, so I can use a program on either "side."
* As long as the codec isn't too far off the beaten path, I'll use it
* If required, I don't care if the program/codec costs money. I'm more focused on results right now
* I'm not concerned about speed, just quality

Any recommendations, tweaks that I'm not using? I know these settings are subjective, but I'm hoping someone has some insight or experience with this particular source movie.

Save me from proprietary codecs...

coolin86 — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 07:27:30 -0800

How should I convert about 7000 wma to a more compatible format? Many years ago, when starting to rip my CDs, my codec of choice was wma. At the time it seemed wma offered better quality (to my ears) at the same file size as mp3. Therefore, all of my music was ripped at 96kbps wma. And downloaded music was converted down(when ripped at a higher bitrate) to that format as well.

I'm sure that many people cringed when reading that, but through some tests I found that I could not discern the difference in 95% of my music between 192k mp3 CBR and my 96k wma. I liked having the extra hard drive space in exchange for perfect sound quality. I never really had any regrets until now.

I am trying to switch to Ubuntu 100% but that can be difficult with wmas. I currently have it working fine but tagging programs can be difficult and many media players (mainly mpd) are not compatible with wma and plugins are often unstable. So I want to make a switch to another format probably mp3. I understand that mp3 is still a proprietary codec but unfortunately, it seems to be the most compatible with software and hardware.

So, how should I convert them and to what bitrate? I was thinking 192k mp3 VBR. That seems to be similar to the quality of my music and offer a good balance of quality and file size. And I was probably going to use DB PowerAmp but am open to any suggestions (hopefully F/OSS) of Windows or Linux software. I currently have about 7500 songs using about 13.6 GB but I will probably clean that up to around 6000 songs. Also, will I lose any quality in the conversion process?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Let me know if any more information is needed. Thanks in advance.

Encoding DV for computer playback?

kamelhoecker — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 09:52:53 -0800

What's the best way to encode DV for playback on Mac and Windows? I'm editing in Final Cut and would like output that doesn't mess with the aspect ration (no fat/squished heads), no interlacing jaggies, and can play on a G4 ibook or Pentium4 without stuttering. (Bonus points if the file size is smaller than DV!) Final Cut outputs .mov files that contain the DV. The problem with these files is that by default "high quality" is off - so you need Quicktime Pro to go into movie options and check a box and resave. (if you don't, you only see half the resolution.) Another problem is that quicktime on windows cannot play the file at high quality without stuttering (Pentium4 mobile). Media Player can play it - but only in low quality (it ignores every other scan line and looks terrible.)

Exporting from Quicktime (6.5 Pro) always gives me nasty interlacing jaggies. (i tried sorensen 3, h263, apple mpeg4...) I can't believe Apple doesn't provide any way to de-interlace.

Are there other options?

Also, if I can squeeze in a related question: What is the correct aspect ratio for NTSC DV on a computer screen? I know DV has rectangular pixels and computers have square pixels - so some conversion is required. 720x480 looks a bit wide (fat heads) and 640x480 a bit too narrow (squished heads).

Which audio format is for me?

Coolcan2 — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 20:43:15 -0800

Which format/bit rate should I store my music to get the most out of my er6 headphones? I want to get the best audio quality but with the lowest file size. Which format/bit rate should I store my music to get the most out of my er6 headphones?
I want to get the best audio quality but with the lowest file size.

So I'm guessing a lossless codec is not for me. I'm using a 20gb iRiver, that is running the open source firmware called Rockbox. It pretty much supports every kind of obscure format.

Right now I have my music stored in aac+ 48bit, which is great for listening on my phone, and keeping on my laptop since the file sizes are nice and tiny. But I understand that if I want to get the best audio experience out of my shiny new earphones I would want to use a different format. Inform me of your wonderful codecs!

Help me find an app which converts qcp files.

Izzmeister — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:05:16 -0800

software to convert .qcp files to mp3 or wav? I have QCP extension files from my Treo (voice memos) which i have emailed to myself.

these show up as qcp files. I know I can convert them via http://media-convert.com for free, for example- but Ideally i like a freeware or shareware program which could do this for me.

thank you!

What can I do to restore audio in Flash after using Rythmbox?

jchgf — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 13:45:32 -0800

Linux audio: I don't get any audio in flash videos (i.e. Youtube) after listening to FLAC's and MP3's in Rythmbox (even after I close the program) until I reboot. Am I supposed to "free" the audio codecs after using them in one software? Linux Ubuntu 6.06, Mozilla Firefox, codecs installed by Automatix. Yes, am a newbie.

WinMac Media Player

spaceman_spiff — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 19:05:34 -0800

Daily Show on a Mac Windows Media Player is, at least on a Mac, nearly unuseable for embedded video, and Flip4Mac likewise (WMP skips and jumps, and F4M never gets past the buffering stage). However, some sites (the Daily Show, for instance) use nothing but. While I am aware that many such clips end up on YouTube, I'd like to use Comedy Central's site instead.

Anyone have a suggestion?

Questionable video codecs; how do I get rid of them and what ones do I need?

Botunda — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 06:56:39 -0800

I have installed a questionable codec pack. Now video doesn't work correctly and I can't burn DVDs. How do I remove the codecs that I installed and what codecs should I be using? I installed "Ace Mega Codecs Pack (Every Video Codec You Will Ever Need)" against my better judgment (alcohol was involved) and now I can't seem to burn DVDs. Also Windows Media Player doesn't want to play any of the movies that I have saying that I don't have the right codec installed when I've played them before on this machine.

So, how do I get these dang'd codecs off my machine without removing the basic ones that I need.

Where do I get the basic ones if I do end up removing them in this process?

Is there a comprehensive list of what I do and do not need based upon my current needs? I just want to be able to burn edit and burn movies to DVD.

Best Codec for Youtube Videos?

sswiller — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 08:18:54 -0800

What is the optimal Quicktime Codec to use when compressing Quicktime movies for You Tube? I use Sorenson3 encoding because I'm told that this is best for the web, but I wonder if this holds true for Quicktime files that have been uploaded to Youtube or Myspace or Google Videos and converted to Flash. Also, do certain types of content hold up better with one type of codec rather than another? For example, shooting an outdoor basketball game verses an indoor wedding.

DivX to .SWF conversion always converting without a sync.

cheero — Mon, 22 May 2006 21:53:11 -0800

DivX to .SWF conversion always converting without a sync. I have a video that is an .AVI (DVcodec), I converted it to DivX via VirtualDub and later on converted it from DivX to .SWF via (Flash Video Studio 1). For some unknown reason, whenever it gets converted to .SWF, the audio/video are not in sync. The main reason why I did this is because more people can see flash videos rather than DivX (at least my friends group.) I am looking for the correct way to convert this so it does not keep coming out of sync.

I've tried converting the raw file (the avi/dvcodec) one and it converts it to flash just fine, however, the file size is rather large, I am also looking for a way to compress it a little bit.

If it helps, the original avi file (DvCodec) is 270MB. When I convert it to DivX via VirtualDub, the size is knocked down to about 26 with almost no quality loss. So the third step is where I get shafted, which is the conversion to SWF which normally works, but never when I do it via DivX to .swf. Is there an alternative way? Should I convert the original file via VirtualDub to some other codec and then try to do in Flash Video Studio? Or is there another way I should do this entire procedure?

Any help is greatly welcomed. Thank you in advance!

Alternate video format other than DV

cowmix — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 08:08:58 -0800

What is the best alternate video format to archive DV video. I have about a terabyte (85 hours) of DV footage sitting on my harddrive. I would like to render the footage into a lower footprint (yet high quality) format for storage. My ideal would be if I could use my 300gig external drive for this purpose. I would like to use a format that FCP could later consume and edit with ease too.

What does everyone know about XVID settings that I don't?

chudmonkey — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 09:50:31 -0800

double-pronged question about working with XVID I download TV shows using BitTorrent on occasion, and I find the bulk of the videos I download are encoded similarly so half-hour programs and hour-long programs are almost always ~175 Mb and ~350 Mb in size, respectively. (with commercials removed, of course.)

I understand the basics of codecs and rendering, have several low-to-high-end apps that can covert video, and have played with the XVID configuration panel, but I just don't know what settings to apply to create video files like the ones I download.

Considering that there are hundreds of identically-encoded videos added to BitTorrent every week, I feel like there must be some standard format or setting being used, and I feel like an idiot for not being able to find anything using Google. Can anyone tell me what I should be doing?

And since we're on the topic, I'm also wondering if there is any means by which someone could erase a few frames from within a XVID-encoded video without having to re-encode the video to save the changes. For example, if I download a show that has 25 seconds of blackness where a commercial break should have been, can I trim out that blackness without having to re-encode?

Curse you, iTunes

Pontius Pilate — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 13:47:12 -0800

Windows stuttering sound problems - codec issues? So my two-month old HP Windows laptop is doing something strange sound-wise. When I try to play anything in iTunes, the playback stutters and is generally very garbled. The file that is being played progresses normally (that is, it doesn't just stutter at a specific point), but the playback is terribly distorted.

When I play the same files (all mp3 format, by the way) in WinAmp or Windows Media Player, however, everything sounds just fine. I get this same problem on occasion when playing some movies on my laptop - I sometimes have to switch between VLC player and Windows Media Player to see which one works better and has no sound distortion. I should note, though, that when playing a movie, the sound distortion is markedly less prominent (to a point that it's only a minor annoyance rather than something that precludes me from listening to music completey).

I am somewhat befuddled here. I for the life of me can't recall if I've opened up iTunes on my laptop before this past week when I've discovered the problem, and I am thus not sure if the problem has been present since I got the laptop. Thinking back on it, the first time I've ever had the laptop stutter was after I installed Warhammer 40K recently - the in-game audio was completely screwed up, and I had to play the game on mute. Could that have mucked things up? I've reinstalled Windows Media Player in hopes that doing so would reinstall the basic video / audio codecs and fix things, but it didn't seem to do anything.