Useful guides and tutorials related to codecs and multimedia.

236 guides on codecs, media players and the tools around them.
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 891 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 649.082 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 267.256 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 15.239 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 best-lame-mp3-encoder-settings-for-music-podcasts-audiobooks.htm

Best LAME MP3 Settings for Music, Podcasts and Audiobooks

18 Aug 2026 8.675 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 24.368 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 how-to-burn-an-iso-to-dvd-with-imgburn.htm

How to Burn an ISO to DVD With ImgBurn

18 Aug 2026 6.930 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 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 56.707 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 downloading-free-nero-multimedia-tools.htm

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

17 Aug 2026 6.764 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 45.891 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 how_to_play_flac_files_in_windows_media_player.htm

How to Play FLAC Files in Windows Media Player

17 Aug 2026 30.686 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 playing_hevc_files_on_vlc_media_player__easy_setup_and_playback.htm

How to Play HEVC Files in VLC Media Player

17 Aug 2026 280.340 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-install-ffmpeg-for-audacity.htm

How to Install FFmpeg for Audacity

14 Aug 2026 20.875 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 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 25.365 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 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 73.309 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 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 1.843 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 12.383 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 video_encoding_wars__staxrip_vs_handbrake.htm

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

12 Aug 2026 12.610 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 is-ffmpeg-better-than-paid-media-encoders.htm

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

12 Aug 2026 6.419 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 5.788 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