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Free Windows-based media codec that allows advanced file compression without diminishing quality

Free Windows-based media codec that allows advanced file compression without diminishing quality

Vote: (99 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Xvid

Version: 1.3.7

Works under: Windows

Also available for Mac

Vote:

Program license

(99 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Xvid

1.3.7

Works under:

Also available for

Windows

Mac

Pros

  • Tons of different codecs
  • Unique external user tools
  • Free software package
  • Works with most Windows PCs

Cons

  • Extra tools might be difficult to use
  • Larger files may lag
  • Many more codecs than most people need

Most computer users find out very quickly that you can't just download anything off the Internet and expect it to play in your computer's media players, and so there are a lot of programs out there like XviD Codec to help transform your PC into a universal media player.

An Overview of XviD Codec

We've all been downloading a movie or show before, only to find out that it won't play on our Windows player or other media player. The thing that causes this is called the codec, which is basically just the functionality of your media player as it relates to media's embedded code or file extension. For instance, an avi file won't typically play on your Windows Media Viewer because it only accepts MP3, MP4, WMV, and other similar extensions. Though with a thorough codec pack like XviD Codec, what you end up with is a player that's practically universal and no longer has those issues playing files with strange and unrecognized codecs and extensions.

XviD Codec is a free licensed codec pack that actually comes with extra tools so that you can get those codecs where they need to go. For many players you have, downloading and installing the pack will instantly update said players. With others, however, you'll have to tick some boxes manually to ensure the player will recognize all the extensions, and this is where those extra tools might come in handy. You're actually getting a lot of codecs in this pack, and the package itself is 11.27 MB, so you know you're getting a lot. It works on most Windows operating systems but was designed specifically for Win 7. You shouldn't have any trouble with anything from XP to 10, however.

What XviD Codec Is and What It Does

Not only does this program allow for players to recognize extensions, but the compression ratios within this pack are also pretty good. For instance, when you're trying to play an MKV file and the codec has to basically translate it into a readable file for your existing player, a lot of quality could be lost due to the compression with most codec packs. With XviD Codec, you're getting very little quality loss; and for larger BluRay and HD files, you may experience no quality loss at all. This might be taxing on your player, so make sure you're not running a whole lot of other stuff in the background.

Rather than having the typical sort of user interface, this program allows you to access your Start menu and to find the Encoder/Decoder specs there. By doing this, you won't have to wait around for a program to launch. If you need to get inside of the codecs and switch some things around, you can do it all from your start menu.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Tons of different codecs
  • Unique external user tools
  • Free software package
  • Works with most Windows PCs

Cons

  • Extra tools might be difficult to use
  • Larger files may lag
  • Many more codecs than most people need