[vincent_10_27]

Here are the most commonly used codecs by many anime medias.

3.) Audio
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-you might be wondering why to put the audio. It's because some files/containers require a different audio codec so that you will be able to hear the sound and voice from the anime.

Compressed Audio Data
Audio compression is necessary to lower the total file size. Eventhough audio files have lower sizes than videos, compressing the audio is better than lowering the stream quality just to minimize the file size.

-Real Audio Lossless(*.rm) -Audio data used for most Real Media Files. If you have Real Player Installed, you wont need to worry in finding a good codec for this. If you dont like the Real Player and just want the Real Codec itself. Get the Real Alternative.
Real Media Player: http://www.real.com/
Real Alternative(no player included): Free-Codecs.com :: Download Real Alternative 1.52 : Real Alternative will allow you to play RealMedia files without having to install RealPlayer/RealOne Player
Both has different advantages. Mainly that the Real Alternative doesn't come with a player hence you can play real audio in other players. While the Real Player streams the real audio at a better rate and when a new real audio codec is released, updates are easily attained.

-Windows Media Audio 9 Lossless/WMA(*.wma) -Audio data copyrighted by Microsoft for use with Windows. Usually, as common as it is, you wont have to worry finding a codec for the audio file(especially if you own a windows os). But for those people still having trouble, try getting a standalone player from one of the few mentioned above. All of those players has a built in *.wma decoder so you can playback Windows Media Files.

-Advanced Audio Coding/Apple Audio Codec(*.aac) - designed as an improved-performance codec relative to Mpeg Layer 3. AAC is promoted to be the successor of mp3. These are also the audio files that can played in an iPod. Quicktime Player or Quicktime Alternative are the solution for making this AAC to life.
Quicktime Player: Apple - QuickTime - Download
Quicktime Alternative: Free-Codecs.com : QuickTime Alternative 1.81 : QuickTime Alternative will allow you to play QuickTime files (.mov, .qt and other extensions) without having to install the official QuickTime Player.

-Vorbis(*.ogg) - most commonly used in conjunction with the Ogg container and is then called Ogg Vorbis. A compressed audio type as well. Decoder can be acquired here: Free-Codecs.com :: Download Vorbis Ogg ACM Codec 1.0 : Vorbis Ogg ACM Codec is a new audio compression format

-MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3/MP3(*.mp3) - i doubt if anyone here doesnt now this file type. All right, for a brief detail, mp3 is an audio data with better compression rate but not lowering the quality. To get a codec for this simply go here: Free-Codecs.com :: Download Fraunhofer MPEG Layer-3 Audio Decoder : Fraunhofer MPEG Layer-3 Audio Decoder enables playback of files encoded in the ever so popular MP3 music file format

-Dolby Digital(AC3) - usually this audio compression comes with some containers. Meaning this AC3 is not a standalone audio file itself. Though, I dont know whether or not a standalone AC3 file exists. This file is copyrighted by Dolby Digital to play surround sounds. For playback you need the AC3 filter. And you can get one here: Free-Codecs.com :: Download AC3 Filter 1.45 : AC3 Filter is a DirectShow filter for AC3 decoding

-Digital Theater System(DTS) - an audio compression similar to AC3 that play surround audio through multiple channels. Usually you wont need a codec for this audio data since it can be mostly found in DVD videos. And most DVD-players has built in DTS decoder. And to get a DTS working, you need to transport it through S/PDIF.

Uncompressed Audio Data
Audio files that aren't decreased in sizes, thus, maintaining a pure raw quality.

-Waveform audio format/WAV(*.wav) - This also has a compressed version but the decoder will work on both. WAV is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for storing audio on PCs. It can also be streamed in some containers if the encoders feels like doing so. Codecs can be acquired in all Players.


4.) Video
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-the core of playing anime. Please try understand as much as possible what every codecs need to be decoded. If you don't then, you'll be having a big trouble in your playback.

-H.264/MPEG-4 AVC(*.mp4) -is a digital video codec standard which is noted for achieving very high data compression. To decode you can use the FFdshow. get it right here: Free-Codecs.com : Download FFDShow MPEG-4 Video Decoder 2007-06-12, FFDShow MPEG-4 Video Decoder 2007-06-12 MMX and FFDShow MPEG-4 Video Decoder 2007-05-31 SSE : FFDSHOW is a DirectShow decoding filter

-MPEG-1(*.mpg/*.mpeg) -commonly used for VCD's.All standalone players mentioned above have the necessary codecs for playback of this file.

-MPEG-1 Layer 2/MPEG-2(*.mpg/*.mpeg) -yes it has the same extension as the MPEG. This file is now used for DVD videos. And same as MPEG-1, this video file can be played in all players mentioned above without the worry of installing a codec.

-MPEG-1 Layer 4/MPEG-4(*.mp4) -a standard used primarily to compress audio and video (AV) digital data. Sometimes this is encoded as a container. A successor to MPEG-2 but has a better compression options. For codecs, use the FFdshow : Free-Codecs.com : Download FFDShow MPEG-4 Video Decoder 2007-06-12, FFDShow MPEG-4 Video Decoder 2007-06-12 MMX and FFDShow MPEG-4 Video Decoder 2007-05-31 SSE : FFDSHOW is a DirectShow decoding filter

-RealVideo(*.rm/*.rmvb) -copyrighted format by RealNetworks. Real Videos are usually packed together with Real Audio to form .rm container. For decoding, get:
Real Media Player: http://www.real.com/
Real Alternative(no player included): Free-Codecs.com :: Download Real Alternative 1.52 : Real Alternative will allow you to play RealMedia files without having to install RealPlayer/RealOne Player

-Theora(*.ogm) -the video usually paired with OGG Vorbis to contain .ogm's. Not a very popular video codec. For playback, Free-Codecs.com :: Download Ogg DirectShow Filters 0.9.9.6 : With Ogg DirectShow Filters you can watch and if you want to, create, .ogm wrapped videos.


-DivX(*.divx) - the video format known as "MP3 of Videos". Divx uses lossy MPEG-4 Part 2 compression. It is a common codec nowadays. Became popular because of its ability to compress lengthy video into small file size while not losing much quality. Codec: DivX Codec - Free Codec Download - Compress Video Files - Video Compression Software

-XviD(free Character code, usually compressed in *.avi) - a free and open source MPEG-4 video codec. XviD was created by a group of volunteer programmers after the OpenDivX source was closed. This is the very rival of DivX. For codec : Free-Codecs.com :: Download Koepi's XviD Codec 1.1.2 : XviD is a video codec just like DivX. (this is Koepi's release)