Codecs Question

[Tammy]

Hi,

Could someone tell me what are the two most common video and audio
codecs used to record .avi files for windows (all versions) and Apple?
What file types does Apple use for movies and macs? Would I use the
same codecs for mpeg?

Thank you.

 

[Lorne Smith]

The most common format on PC's tends to be DiVX for AVI's but for Apples I'd
guess it's the Quicktime format...

Quicktime is it's own proprietry format and DiVX is a variation on
Microsofts MPEG4 (not to be confused with MPEG1 (VCD) or MPEG2 (SVCD/DVD).

HTH

Lorne

 

[Lorne Smith]

Well, DiVX is NOT a Microsoft provided codec and is not part of Windows, nor
can WMP automatically download it. I say it's the most common because most
video content online tends to be in this format. Generally, the majority of
codecs can be automatically downloaded by WMP and it's not an issue.

To see a list of codec, open control panel and go to the System applet, then
go to the Hardware Devices section and when the tree displays, expand the
Audio and Video tree. In the properties of one of the options in there ( I
forget which) will list the currently installed video codecs...

HTH

Lorne



WMP9 will use whichever codec the media was encoded with, just like any
other player.

 

[Tammy]

Thanks again Lorne. Since I'm new to video in windows, all this codec stuff is
confusing. What I'd like to do is edit a family movie on my new software and
then burn it to a cd-r in avi format (and/or in an apple format) that my
relatives can play on either their PC's or Apples. Two files on one disc that
will play across several ages and versions of computers.