Useful guides and tutorials related to codecs and multimedia.

234 guides on codecs, media players and the tools around them.
Screenshot of gui_vs_cli__a_comparison_of_two_software_interfaces.htm

GUI vs CLI: Which Interface Should You Actually Use?

11 Aug 2026 39.374 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 how_to_synchronize_subtitles.htm

How to Fix Out-of-Sync Subtitles

11 Aug 2026 62.355 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 using-vlc-for-screen-recording.htm

How to Record Your Screen With VLC

10 Aug 2026 5.419 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_to_download_hevc_video_extension_for_free.htm

How to Download HEVC Video Extension for Free

9 Aug 2026 97.452 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 how-to-download-directx-11-3-and-12.htm

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

9 Aug 2026 8.777 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-does-directx-and-d3d11-for-video-decoding-work.htm

DirectX and D3D11 Video Decoding, Explained Simply

9 Aug 2026 12.818 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 best-media-players-for-eac3-playback.htm

Best EAC3 Players for Android in 2026

9 Aug 2026 89.077 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 vmd-codec-for-mx-player-download-install-guide.htm

VMD Codec for MX Player - What Actually Works

8 Aug 2026 9.869 views
Which kind of .vmd file you actually have, and how to play Sierra VMD video on MX Player when it is the video one.
0 READ
Screenshot of playing-xvid-files-on-vlc-player.htm

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

8 Aug 2026 64.007 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
Screenshot of get-your-custom-codecs-working-again-with-mx-player.htm

MX Player Custom Codec Not Working? Fix It

8 Aug 2026 64.554 views
What to do when MX Player stops accepting a custom codec that used to work - match the pack to the app, or roll back to a version that takes it.
4 READ
Screenshot of quick-guide-to-using-xvid-codec-with-mx-player.htm

Xvid on MX Player - Why You Do Not Need a Codec

7 Aug 2026 26.159 views
Why MX Player needs no Xvid codec, and what to check when an old AVI file stutters, shows artefacts or plays with no sound.
0 READ
Screenshot of xvid-codec-for-windows-11-do-you-actually-need-it.htm

Xvid Codec for Windows 11: Do You Actually Need It?

7 Aug 2026 684 views
Whether you still need to install the Xvid codec on Windows 11, what plays old AVI files without it, and the one case where installing it is still the answer.
0 READ
Screenshot of choosing-the-right-mx-player-custom-codec.htm

Which MX Player Custom Codec Do You Need?

6 Aug 2026 95.088 views
Which MX Player custom codec file to download - AIO, neon64, neon or x86 - and why the version now matters more than your device architecture.
5 READ
Screenshot of xtream-codes-explained-how-they-work-and-differ-from-m3u.htm

Xtream Codes Explained: How They Work and Differ From M3U

6 Aug 2026 3.179 views
A plain-English explainer on Xtream Codes logins and how they differ from a plain M3U playlist link.
0 READ
Screenshot of is_my_pc_able_to_play_h265_hevc_media_files.htm

Does My PC Support HEVC? Check H.265 Hardware Decoding

5 Aug 2026 117.005 views
How to tell whether your PC decodes H.265 in hardware or in software, and what to change when 4K playback stutters.
3 READ
Screenshot of a_quick_guide_to_fast_convert_heic_files_with_xnconvert.htm

How to Convert HEIC to JPG in XnConvert

5 Aug 2026 15.720 views
A short guide for anyone whose iPhone photos will not open on their PC, batch converting HEIC to JPG in the free XnConvert.
0 READ
Screenshot of hevc-codec-for-windows-free-download-for-windows-11-and-10.htm

HEVC Codec for Windows: Free Download for Windows 11 and 10

5 Aug 2026 1.665 views
The free, official way to add HEVC (H.265) playback to Windows 11 and Windows 10, plus the fixes for when the codec will not install.
0 READ
Screenshot of how-to-fix-eac3-audio-not-supported-in-mx-player.htm

EAC3 Audio Not Supported in MX Player? Fix It

4 Aug 2026 763.430 views
Fix the "EAC3 is not supported" error in MX Player by installing the custom codec that matches your app version - updated for MX Player 3.x.
22 READ
Screenshot of is_vp9_better_than_h264_.htm

VP9 vs H.264: Which Video Codec Should You Use?

31 Jul 2026 18.282 views
VP9 and H.264 compared on compression, hardware support, encoding speed and licensing, with copy-paste encoder settings and a straight recommendation.
0 READ
Screenshot of navigating-hevc-video-extensions-for-windows.htm

Navigating HEVC Video Extensions for Windows

30 Jul 2026 40.118 views
For Windows users, the landscape can be particularly nuanced, with multiple options available to unlock HEVC playback capabilities.
0 READ