(1) (enCOder/DECoder) A hardware circuit that performs analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) and digital-to-analog (DAC) conversion. When analog signals are entered into a computer, cellphone or other device via a microphone or video source such as VHS tape or analog TV, an ADC creates the raw digital audio or video samples. Quite often, the results are then further compressed to save bandwidth (see definition #2).
(2) (enCOder/DECoder or COmpressor/DECompressor) Software or hardware that compresses and decompresses audio and video data streams. The purpose of this type of codec is to reduce the size of digital audio samples and video frames in order to speed up transmission and save storage space.
The goal of codec designers is to maintain audio and video quality while compressing the binary data further. Lossy methods are widely used, which actually discard bits that most people cannot hear or see. The algorithms may be implemented entirely in software, in which case the PC does all of the processing. In handheld devices, the codecs are chips.
Codecs Are Specialized
Speech codecs are specialized audio codecs that look for voice patterns and characteristics. Since the human voice falls into a much more limited audio range than music, a speech codec is able to compress voice conversations even further. For a list of popular codecs, see codec examples. See companding, codec switching and lossy compression.
(2) (enCOder/DECoder or COmpressor/DECompressor) Software or hardware that compresses and decompresses audio and video data streams. The purpose of this type of codec is to reduce the size of digital audio samples and video frames in order to speed up transmission and save storage space.
The goal of codec designers is to maintain audio and video quality while compressing the binary data further. Lossy methods are widely used, which actually discard bits that most people cannot hear or see. The algorithms may be implemented entirely in software, in which case the PC does all of the processing. In handheld devices, the codecs are chips.
Codecs Are Specialized
Speech codecs are specialized audio codecs that look for voice patterns and characteristics. Since the human voice falls into a much more limited audio range than music, a speech codec is able to compress voice conversations even further. For a list of popular codecs, see codec examples. See companding, codec switching and lossy compression.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- x264 Video Codec r1318 (Windows)
- This is a free library for encoding H264/AVC video streams. The code is written from scratch by Laurent Aimar, Loren Merritt, Eric PetitOS X, Min Chen (vfw/asm), Justin Clayvfw, Mans Rullgard, Christian Heine asm, and Alex Izvorski asm. Some key features include CAVLC/CABAC, Multi-references, Intra: all macroblock types (16x16, 8x8,...
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- Software downloads 2009-11-04
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- Software downloads 2009-11-03
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- Software downloads 2009-11-02
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- With DVD Ripper Premium you can convert any DVD movies to MPEG-1, MPEG-2, AVI (DivX, XVid, MP43, YUV). It enables you to watch and copy DVD movies on any DVD drive. Combining powerful functionality with a straightforward interface, DVD Ripper Premium provides an easy way to transfer DVD information onto...
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- Dxtory is a movie capture tool only for DirextX/OpenGL application. In order to acquire data from Surface Memory directly, It operates very much at high speed. Arbitrary cropping and free scaling are supported by hardware. The codec of Dxtory can record original pixel data as it is. A quality can...
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- Apple TV update looks good but doesn't offer much more
- I second your thoughts, Sam.The updates were nice, but hardly worth it from the functional standpoint. Yes, Netflix would be nice, although iTunes provides most, if not all, of what Netflix would, doesn't it?One thing Tim Cook mentioned during the most recent earnings call was that Apple was going to...
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- This codec JPDM Decoder: QuickTime Video Decoder Component JPDM web and Desktop vision Under GPL (Based on ffmpeg-SVN's libavcodec.) This codec allows you to visualize through Quick Time videos created with KandaluLite software. Override QuickTime native default H.264 decoder. Support B-frame, and some Main/Hi Profile features. B-Pyramid is...
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- MediaInfo 0.7.24 (Windows)
- MediaInfo supplies technical and tag information about a video or audio files. Example of information are codec, bit rate, frames per second, width, height, count of channels, duration, title, author, language of subtitles, name of chapters. Multiple means to view information (text, sheet, tree, and HTML) and you can customize...
- Software downloads 2009-10-30
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- K-Lite Mega Codec Pack is a collection of codecs, DirectShow filters and tools. Codecs and DirectShow filters are needed for encoding and decoding playing audio and video formats. The K-Lite Mega Codec Pack is designed as an user-friendly solution for playing all your movie files. With K-Lite Codec Pack you...
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- Windows 7 Codec Pack 2.2 (Windows)
- The Windows 7 Codec Pack is a simple to install package of codecs/filters/splitters used for playing back music and movie files. After installation you will be able to play 99.9% of files on the Internet. Also included in the package are a number of encoder codec's, allowing you to encode...
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- K-Lite Codec Pack Full 5.3 (Windows)
- Full supports even more audio and video formats. It also has encoding support for various formats. This package is for power users and people who do video editing/encoding.K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of codecs and related tools. Codec is short for Compressor-Decompressor.Codecs are needed for encoding and decoding playing...
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- K-lite Codec Pack Corporate 5.3 (Windows)
- Corporate Edition is a special version for use in a corporate environment. It is similar to the Full version, minus a few items, but alomst just as powerful. It has a strong focus on open-source software. K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of VFW/ACM codecs, DirectShow filters and tools. Codecs...
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- K-lite Codec Pack Basic 5.3 (Windows)
- Basic contains only the most essential things. It contains everything you need to be able to play the two most popular and widespread formats: DivX and XviD. With this you should be able to play DVDrips and TVrips. K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of VFW/ACM codecs, DirectShow filters...
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- Standard contains everything you need to play all the most commonly used formats. This package should be enough for the average user.K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of VFW/ACM codecs, DirectShow filters and tools. Codecs and DirectShow filters are needed for encoding and decoding playing audio and video formats. The...
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