| The word codec is obtained from two words - | | | | furthermore see that AVI is one of the most |
| Encode/Decode and a codec is basically any | | | | common formats for video and is supported by |
| software that is used for encoding and decoding. | | | | various devices such as portable devices and |
| In the sphere of video there are different | | | | some handheld devices such as cellular phones. |
| criterion which exist for video with the most | | | | Some individuals may have had a situation where |
| common being the Moving Picture Experts Group | | | | they attempted to play a video file but could only |
| standard which is more commonly dubbed MPEG. | | | | hear audio but saw no video. This happens |
| The MPEG standards which are most common | | | | because the player they are using can open the |
| are MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 and they define | | | | container format but does not have the codec |
| the video and audio criterion for Video CD's or | | | | installed to decode the video stream inside the |
| VCD, DVD video and Blu-Ray and HD video | | | | container but the audio stream is still playable. |
| respectively. | | | | A popular codec online is DivX which currently |
| While there are various implementations and | | | | follows the MPEG4 standard and is backward |
| companies that market software or hardware for | | | | compatible permitting for playback of MPEG |
| encoding video, once they are using a specific | | | | standards created before MPEG4. If a video is |
| standard they must always stick to the | | | | encoded with DivX video and MP3 audio but DivX |
| requirements of the standard. An example of two | | | | is not installed on the computer then the scenario |
| various companies that use a particular standard | | | | described above where there would be audio but |
| would be Microsoft and Apple which market high | | | | no video might happen. In order to address this |
| definition video encoding software packages which | | | | circumstance one can download the free DivX |
| export to WMV for Microsoft and MOV for Apple. | | | | codec and install it to play their video. |
| Having seen instances of the various criterion and | | | | Having now touched on codecs and container |
| the different types that may be available you are | | | | formats we see that AVI is a container and can |
| one step closer to picking an AVI codec for your | | | | have both a video stream and an audio stream |
| encoding or decoding requirements. But then there | | | | included in it. Based on your needs after seeing |
| is something else you need to know which is that | | | | what the capabilities of the different free and paid |
| AVI itself is not a codec but a container format. | | | | codecs are, you may then make your own AVI |
| A container format is just as the name says - a | | | | file by simply instructing your encoding software |
| container, and in video a container holds audio and | | | | to use a particular codec for audio and video and |
| video together in a single file that is played back | | | | then export the completed product to the popular |
| by a player that you can install or comes | | | | AVI format. |
| pre-installed on your computer. You will | | | | |