Useful guides and tutorials related to codecs and multimedia.

A tour of every Microsoft PowerToys utility for Windows 10 and 11, which four to enable first, and the ones that earn their place in a media workflow.

The real reason DaVinci Resolve costs nothing, what Blackmagic gets back through hardware and Studio licences, and where the free version actually stops.

EAC3 track will not play on your TV or phone? Convert it to AC3 or AAC free with XMedia Recode, keeping the video untouched so it takes minutes, not hours.

A plain-English guide to picking the right free Nikon tool on Windows, whether you just want RAW thumbnails or a full editor.

Why DTS and AAC are not really rivals, and what to do when your TV refuses to play a DTS track.

The one command that installs a DirectShow filter on Windows, plus the elevation and 64-bit rules that stop it working.

A plain-English guide to the difference between codecs and containers, and how to work out which one is stopping your file from playing.

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.

A 2026 comparison of MPC-BE and MPC-HC, two actively maintained free Windows players, and which one suits your files.

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.