Press Release 06/2008

SuperEasy Codec Checker 1: Free-of-charge video- and music analysis for problematic cases

Time and again, the play-back of digital videos or music files causes problems or is rejected completely if the system does not provide the appropriate codecs. The free full version SuperEasy Codec Checker helps and shows with a mouse click which codecs have to be used. Thanks to a 4CC-manipulation the tool sometimes even gives immediate help.

It is absolutely frustrating if a newly loaded video- or music file simply refuses to be played. Often enough this has nothing to do with the format as the available computer software supports this. The reason for the refusal can rather be found in the used codec. If for example an AVI-video file has been created using the Xvid-codec, this codec is compellingly required on the target computer in order to play the video.

Manfred Heppmeier of SuperEasy Software GmbH & Co. KG: "If the user knows that a certain codec is missing, he has two possibilities to solve the problem. He can either retrofit the codec or he can convert the multimedia-file to another format - with SuperEasy Video Converter for instance. It goes without saying that first of all he has to find out which codec is required. The free-of-charge SuperEasy Codec Checker assists him with the analysis."

SuperEasy Codec Checker 1: What kind of codec do you use?

The SuperEasy Codec Checker asks a video- or music file the crucial question: "What kind of codec do you use?"

A button on the tool’s surface helps to open a video- or music file. The program immediately tells you which format and which codec is used – an information which normally is difficult to get. It also informs you about file size, playing time, bit rate and available DRM-protection.

For videos, the program reveals resolution, frame rate, bit rate, total number of frames and aspect ratio. For video stream, the tool indicates bit rate, number of channels, sampling rate and bits per sample.

SuperEasy Codec Checker 1: 4CC-Manipulation as last resort

Some video players are really nitpicking. They refuse the play-back of a video just because the file header shows the wrong identification. Often enough, however, they would be able to play the videos nevertheless. Those who don’t feel like encoding a video anew in order to get a suitable header can outsmart the player by means of the Codec Checker. This tool can select a suitable identification from a list and write it to the header of the video file with a mouse click. This can make your movie night.

Manfred Heppmeier: "DivX-certified MPEG-4-players in particular often insist on finding the character string 'DIVX' and/or 'DX..' in the header – even if basically they would be able to play videos that were created by means of other codecs like e.g. HDX4 or Xvid. How comfortable if you can conjure up the correct character string with the SuperEasy Codec Checker."

SuperEasy Codec Checker 1: Supported formats

SuperEasy Codec Checker supports the formats AVI, DV Type-1, DV Type-2, DivX AVI, MPEG, MPEG-1, Video CD, MPEG-2, Super Video CD, MPEG-M1V, MPEG-M2V, VOB, MP4, Nero Digital, 3GP, 3G2, PSP, WMV, ASF, Nintendo DS, Ogg, Matroska, DVD, MVR, DVD+, QuickTime, MOV, Real Media, AUDIO, Wave, MP3, MPA, MPEG-M1A, MPEG-M2A, Matroska Audio, Real Media Audio, AIFF, AIFC, AU, IFF, PAF, SD2, SF, VOC, V64, MAT, PVF, XI, HTK, SDS, AVR, AC3, DTS, AAC, APE, MAC, FLAC, CDXA, Audio CD, M4P DRM, M4P, Ogg Audio, Subtitle, DVD IFO, Matroska and Real Media.

The tool can also handle the DRM-technologies iTunes protected, iTunes free, Windows Media 9 protected, Windows Media 9 free, Windows Media 10 protected, Windows Media 10 free, DivX protected, DivX free, css protected, css free and css wrong region.

The program works under Windows XP and Vista and requires .NET Framework Version 2.0. You can use the free test version (7.2 MB) for 10 days without restrictions. After online-registration you can permanently us the program free of charge.