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Four Character Codes(FourCC) was introduced by Microsoft to clearly identify
video data stream formats. The set of codecs that are four characters in
length have unique values assigned to each format and pixel layout allows
video frames to be passed between file and codecs by ensuring the FourCC
of the source frame matches a supported codec.
When you play a media file the FourCC is identified and
the registered codec for that type is brought into use. If that codec is a
compression codec, the media file will be decompressed by the selected
codec and played.
The simplest method of finding out a media files FourCC is
by using a hex editor. Load the media file into the hex editor and search
for the name of the
FourCC
In the above example I have loaded a DivX3.11 alpha test file, this
file uses the Microsoft Mpeg 4 codec, but has been modified by someone and
called DivX 3. At
this moment I don't know its DivX3.11 alpha. By looking at the code above
you can see it shows the Fourcc as DIV3 by looking this up from a
FourCC list you will be able to tell what codec is needed to play this
file.
This list only shows the ones you may be interested in, FourCC codecs
come out all the time, its never easy to put a full list of them together,
but I will include one soon.
|
FourCC |
Company |
Comments |
|
|
|
|
|
DIV3 |
DivX;)- MPEG4 |
Install, DivX 3.11 alpha, This is the slow motion codec,
optimised for low motion source material. I hear that this codec is
an illegal, hacked M$ MPEG4 V3 codec. |
| DIV4 |
DivX;)- MPEG4 |
Install, DivX 3.11 alpha, This is the fast
motion codec, optimised for fast motion source material. Not used much, DIV3
produces higher quality, but now and then this also shows up in some
AVI's |
|
DIVX |
DivX |
Install, DivX 5, The DivX 4 is an open source codec, but
since DivX version 5 the company is now charging for this codec, and
has trademarked "DivX" DivX 5 can also be used to decode DivX 4
(OpenDivX) DivX 4.11, DivX 4.8 |
| DX50 |
DivX |
Install, DivX 5, The now final version of the open source codec. The DivX company
who now charge for this codec. |
|
XVID |
Xvid |
Install, Xvid, When DivX 5 was released, a group of people continued the open
source Project Mayo, and come up with this. DivX=Xvid backwards. So
far this codec has given more problems than any of the others put
together. |
|
AP41 |
Angel Potion |
Angel
Potion, another illegal hacked version of the M$ Mpeg 4 codec, this
one was supported by the SMR "Fake" movie company, its use resulted
in most people complaining about violet coloured movies. You don't
need the SMR Angel Potion codec at all !!! |
| MP42 |
Microsoft |
Installed by Windows
Media Tools, however with
MP43 M$ don't want people using it to make AVI's, only ASF.
V4.00.0.3688 of The Mpg4c32.dll contains all 3, and is apparently
unlocked for AVI |
| MP43 |
Microsoft |
| MPG4 |
Microsoft |
| Not used much |
|
HFYU |
Huffy |
Not used at all for sharing, but has its
uses for video capturing |
|
MJPG |
Mjpeg |
Another not used sharing, but has its
use |
|
WMV1/2
MP43 |
Microsoft |
Not AVI, this codec is Microsoft's WMV
it is the MP43 that is used to make the .ASF files which
sometimes confuses people when ASF are renamed to AVI or AVI renamed
to ASF/WMV |
You could use a
hex editor
to find out these things (vdub also has hex editor built in), however there are programs that are much more
advanced for finding these details, and I recommend Gspot for this job
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