Useful guides and tutorials related to codecs and multimedia.

231 guides on codecs, media players and the tools around them.
Screenshot of how-to-access-iphone-file-system-on-pc-with-3utools.htm

How to Access Your iPhone File System on PC With 3uTools

26 Aug 2026 7.320 views
A step-by-step guide to browsing and exporting iPhone folders from a Windows PC with free 3uTools, and opening the HEIC and HEVC files that come across.
0 READ
Screenshot of elevate_your_nikon_workflow_with_these_recommended_software_solutions.htm

Nikon RAW on Windows: Which Codec or App You Actually Need

25 Aug 2026 6.136 views
A plain-English guide to picking the right free Nikon tool on Windows, whether you just want RAW thumbnails or a full editor.
0 READ
Screenshot of mp4_splitter__a_filter_for_playing_mp4_files.htm

How to Configure MP4 Splitter for Smooth, Stutter-Free Playback

25 Aug 2026 7.317 views
A four-step walkthrough for wiring the free MP4 Splitter DirectShow filter into MPC-BE, for MP4 files that stutter, black-screen or refuse to open.
0 READ
Screenshot of is_dts_better_than_aac_.htm

Is DTS Better Than AAC? Why That Is the Wrong Question

24 Aug 2026 16.505 views
Why DTS and AAC are not really rivals, and what to do when your TV refuses to play a DTS track.
0 READ
Screenshot of what_s_the_difference_between_decoding_encoding_recoding_and_transcoding.htm

Encoding, Decoding, Transcoding and Remuxing Explained

24 Aug 2026 96.112 views
The five things you can do to a video file, and why four of them cost you quality that the fifth does not.
0 READ
Screenshot of how-to-play-mkv-files-on-windows-11.htm

How to Play MKV Files on Windows 11 (and Why Some Refuse)

20 Aug 2026 715 views
Windows opens MKV on its own, so when one refuses to play the fault is a track inside it - here is how to find which one and fix it.
0 READ
Screenshot of how_to_install_uninstall_dll_and_ax_files.htm

How to Register and Unregister DLL and AX Codec Filter Files

19 Aug 2026 648.775 views
The one command that installs a DirectShow filter on Windows, plus the elevation and 64-bit rules that stop it working.
10 READ
Screenshot of what_codecs_should_i_use.htm

What Is a Codec? The Plain-English Guide

19 Aug 2026 267.150 views
What a codec actually is, why everything you watch is compressed, and whether you still need to install any.
0 READ
Screenshot of decoding_codecs_and_file_formats.htm

Codecs vs Containers: Why Your Video File Won't Play

18 Aug 2026 15.117 views
A plain-English guide to the difference between codecs and containers, and how to work out which one is stopping your file from playing.
0 READ
Screenshot of how-to-burn-an-iso-to-dvd-with-imgburn.htm

How to Burn an ISO to DVD With ImgBurn

18 Aug 2026 6.691 views
The five steps that burn an ISO to disc correctly in ImgBurn, plus the write speed setting that quietly causes most failed discs.
0 READ
Screenshot of best-lame-mp3-encoder-settings-for-music-podcasts-audiobooks.htm

Best LAME MP3 Settings for Music, Podcasts and Audiobooks

18 Aug 2026 8.436 views
One table of LAME VBR settings for music, podcasts and audiobooks, and where to enter them in LameXP, winLAME, Audacity and CDex.
0 READ
Screenshot of flac__the_lossless_audio_codec_demystified.htm

FLAC Explained: Play, Convert and Archive Lossless Audio

18 Aug 2026 24.135 views
The lossless format explained in plain terms, with the players that handle FLAC out of the box and the free encoders worth using to build an archive.
1 READ
Screenshot of downloading-free-nero-multimedia-tools.htm

Is Nero Still Worth It? The Free Tools and What Beats Them

17 Aug 2026 6.644 views
Nero hands out four free programs and sells the rest, so here is which ones are worth installing and which free rival does the same job better.
0 READ
Screenshot of audio_file_conversion_made_easy_with_foobar2000.htm

Convert Audio with foobar2000 - FLAC to MP3 and More

17 Aug 2026 45.402 views
Both foobar2000 conversion routes - Quick Convert for a fast one-off, the full Converter for folder structure and presets, plus the encoders MP3 output needs.
0 READ
Screenshot of mpc-be_vs_mpc-hc_which_media_player_is_right_for_you.htm

MPC-BE vs MPC-HC in 2026: Which One Should You Install?

17 Aug 2026 55.974 views
A 2026 comparison of MPC-BE and MPC-HC, two actively maintained free Windows players, and which one suits your files.
1 READ
Screenshot of playing_hevc_files_on_vlc_media_player__easy_setup_and_playback.htm

How to Play HEVC Files in VLC Media Player

17 Aug 2026 278.384 views
The complete VLC setup for H.265 video, from hardware acceleration to fixing choppy 4K playback, green screens and audio that drifts out of sync.
8 READ
Screenshot of how_to_play_flac_files_in_windows_media_player.htm

How to Play FLAC Files in Windows Media Player

17 Aug 2026 30.324 views
Which Windows versions play FLAC in Media Player without a codec, which ones need one, and how to fix a library that files every album under Unknown Artist.
2 READ
Screenshot of how-to-install-ffmpeg-for-audacity.htm

How to Install FFmpeg for Audacity

14 Aug 2026 20.521 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 73.124 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 25.178 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