There are a lot of codecs out there, and it can be hard to know which one to use for a particular media file. Here’s how to play any media file with the right codecs:

  1. Choose the right codec for your device. Some devices have different codecs than others. For example, an iPhone has AVI and MPEG-4 video files, while a PC has Windows Media Video and MPEG-2 files. If you’re not sure which codec your device supports, consult your manufacturer or online resources.
  2. Choose the right format for your media file. Some media files are in different formats than others. For example, AVI is a video format that can be played on most devices, while MPEG-4 is a more powerful audio format that can only be played on high-end devices like those used by professional broadcasters or movie theaters. If you’re not sure which format your media file is in, consult its metadata or filename to see what type of data it contains and how to play it using the appropriate codecs.
  3. Use the correct encoding method for your device and media type.
    Some devices support multiple encoding methods (H264/MPEG-4 AVC/H265), so you’ll need to choose one method according to your device’s capabilities and media type (for example H264 for videos and AAC for audio). Some devices also support transcoding (changing an existing video into another format), so you’ll need to choose an encoding method that supports this as well (for example H264/MPEG-4 AVC/H265 for videos but also HEVC/VP9 for audio).

There must have been an occasion when you launched a video and got sound but no picture. The most likely cause is that you never had the correct codec installed, so here’s how to find out exactly which codec is needed to play any media file.

Finding the Codec

Head over to the developer’s website and grab a copy of CodecInstaller (full package).

Once downloaded, launch it and run through the install wizard.

Once you have it installed, launch it from the shortcut on your desktop, then click on the analyze file button.

Now you will need to select a file, once selected, you will be given a fairly detailed break down of the file. It looks like the file I chose is encoded with the FLAC codec.

A quick Google search takes us directly to the download page where i can grab a copy of the FLAC codec.

Of course you could always use VLC, but for those more conscious about what gets installed on their PC’s, this is a great alternative.