Useful guides and tutorials related to codecs and multimedia.

228 guides on codecs, media players and the tools around them.
Screenshot of how-to-install-lame-mp3-encoder-on-windows.htm

How to Install LAME MP3 Encoder 4.0 on Windows 10 and 11

16 Aug 2026 6.340 views
A plain-English walkthrough of every way to get LAME MP3 Encoder 4.0 running on Windows, from the command line to Audacity to no install at all.
0 READ
Screenshot of how-to-install-ffmpeg-for-audacity.htm

How to Install FFmpeg for Audacity

14 Aug 2026 20.285 views
The two-minute fix for Audacity refusing to open M4A, WMA and AC3 files, including what to do when it cannot find the FFmpeg library.
0 READ
Screenshot of what-is-a-xmpeg-file-how-to-open-convert-and-stay-safe.htm

Don't Open a .xmpeg File Before Reading This

14 Aug 2026 72.947 views
What a .xmpeg file really is, why the Efimer Trojan uses the extension as bait, and how to check or delete one without infecting your PC.
3 READ
Screenshot of mpeg-video-standards-explained-mpeg-1-mpeg-2-and-mpeg-4.htm

MPEG-1 vs MPEG-2 vs MPEG-4: What the Difference Actually Is

14 Aug 2026 25.016 views
A plain-English map of the MPEG family, from MPEG-1 and MP3 through DVD-era MPEG-2 to MPEG-4, H.264, HEVC and the .mp4 container itself.
0 READ
Screenshot of get-this-app-from-play-store-error-on-android-how-to-fix.htm

'Get This App From Play Store' Error on Android - How to Fix

13 Aug 2026 1.158 views
A plain-English fix for the Android error that lets an app install and then refuses to let it open.
0 READ
Screenshot of the_3_most_popular_video_codecs_used_worldwide.htm

The 3 Most Popular Video Codecs Used Worldwide in 2026

13 Aug 2026 11.869 views
A plain-English look at the video codecs that actually carry the world's video in 2026, and which one you need installed on your PC.
0 READ
Screenshot of is-ffmpeg-better-than-paid-media-encoders.htm

FFmpeg vs Adobe Media Encoder: Which One Should You Actually Use?

12 Aug 2026 6.144 views
A practical comparison of FFmpeg and Adobe Media Encoder, with real commands, real subscription costs, and the free middle option most people actually want.
0 READ
Screenshot of screen-capture-like-a-pro.htm

How to Use Kalmuri: Screen Capture and Recording

12 Aug 2026 5.622 views
A plain-English walkthrough of Kalmuri, the free portable Windows tool that takes screenshots and records MP4 video from the system tray.
0 READ
Screenshot of video_encoding_wars__staxrip_vs_handbrake.htm

StaxRip vs HandBrake: Which Free Video Encoder Should You Install?

12 Aug 2026 12.381 views
A straight comparison of StaxRip and HandBrake, covering what the two free encoders actually share, where they really differ, and which one fits your machine.
0 READ
Screenshot of which-player-is-best-for-subtitles.htm

The Best Media Player for Subtitles

11 Aug 2026 31.035 views
A straight comparison of five free media players on the things that actually differ for subtitles - rendering quality, sync controls and built-in subtitle search.
2 READ
Screenshot of how-to-stream-videos-using-vlc-media-player.htm

How to Stream With VLC: Open a Stream URL or Send Your Own

11 Aug 2026 43.176 views
How to open a stream URL in VLC in about ten seconds, and how to broadcast your own video without picking the profile that silently fails.
0 READ
Screenshot of how_to_synchronize_subtitles.htm

How to Fix Out-of-Sync Subtitles

11 Aug 2026 62.067 views
Work out whether your subtitles are simply late or slowly drifting, then fix either one - with a keyboard shortcut while you watch, or permanently in a subtitle editor.
0 READ
Screenshot of gui_vs_cli__a_comparison_of_two_software_interfaces.htm

GUI vs CLI: Which Interface Should You Actually Use?

11 Aug 2026 39.152 views
A plain-English look at when a graphical interface saves you time, when the command line is faster, and why most media tools quietly use both.
1 READ
Screenshot of using-vlc-for-screen-recording.htm

How to Record Your Screen With VLC

10 Aug 2026 5.201 views
How to record your screen with VLC, set a frame rate that is not a slideshow, and add the system audio VLC leaves out by default.
0 READ
Screenshot of how-does-directx-and-d3d11-for-video-decoding-work.htm

DirectX and D3D11 Video Decoding, Explained Simply

9 Aug 2026 12.640 views
How DirectX and Direct3D 11 hand video decoding to your graphics card instead of your processor, and what you need for it to work.
0 READ
Screenshot of how-to-download-directx-11-3-and-12.htm

How to Get DirectX 11.3 and 12 - No Offline Installer Exists

9 Aug 2026 8.412 views
Why there is no DirectX 12 offline installer, how to get DirectX 11.3 and 12 on Windows 10 and 11, and how to read what dxdiag tells you.
0 READ
Screenshot of how-to-use-makemkv-for-free.htm

MakeMKV Beta Key August 2026

9 Aug 2026 79.695 views
The current MakeMKV beta key, how long it lasts, and what to do on the day it stops working.
0 READ
Screenshot of best-media-players-for-eac3-playback.htm

Best EAC3 Players for Android in 2026

9 Aug 2026 87.638 views
Which media players handle EAC3 audio without any codec setup, which one to avoid on a modern phone, and when to fix MX Player instead.
0 READ
Screenshot of how_to_download_hevc_video_extension_for_free.htm

How to Download HEVC Video Extension for Free

9 Aug 2026 86.949 views
Get the genuine HEVC Video Extension free - the direct Store link, or the Adguard method when that fails, plus the fix for Windows 10.
182 READ
Screenshot of playing-xvid-files-on-vlc-player.htm

Play Xvid Files in VLC - And Fix It When It Fails

8 Aug 2026 63.673 views
Why VLC plays Xvid files without any codec, and what actually fixes playback when an old AVI stutters, shows artefacts or will not open.
0 READ