
video compression Processing saves space and makes distribution and consumption of video content feasible. There are several methods available to achieve compression, one of the most popular being the Xvid.
Although we don't often think about it, digital video takes up an incredible amount of storage space. storageWhile we enjoy the increase in quality that HD and 4K recording technologies provide, the amount of visual data packed into each frame is staggering.
Xvid is a video codec that prioritizes file compression while maintaining a basic level of video quality. Commonly used to prepare video files for sharing online, via file-sharing services such as BitTorrent, video files encoded with Xvid They are saved with the extension .xvid.
What is Xvid
Xvid It is a video codec that can maintain MPEG-4 encoding, particularly MPEG-4 ASP, Advanced Simple Profile (ASP (Advanced Simple Profile, for short). A codec, short for coder-decoder, is a program that runs in the background to process video or audio files as you use them.
Codecs exist for audio and video files and use algorithms to compress data into a smaller encoded form. When you use a file encoded by a codec program, the codec decodes the data into a viewable form.
When a codec compresses an audio or video file, some quality is lost in exchange for a smaller file size. The amount of quality sacrificed differs between codecs.
This is why an encoded movie watched through a free streaming site looks worse than the same movie on Blu-ray or through an official streaming service.
In addition to a codec, Xvid is a video format. It is a program and video codec that compresses and decompresses the format MPEG-4 ASP. As Xvid presents MPEG-4 Advanced Single Profile Compression, the video that is encoded with Xvid is MPEG-4 ASP video (not a "Xvid video«) and can therefore be decoded with all ASP-compatible decoders.
The Xvid codec It is very useful. It can be used to compress a full DVD quality movie to fit on a single CD while maintaining the original DVD quality.
In other words, the Xvid codec allows you to keep the high quality of the video in a smaller file size. Xvid videos are usually combined with AC3 or ACXNUMX audio codec. MP3.
Whenever you download and install the Xvid codec On your system, you can easily play videos with Windows Media Player or any other multimedia player compatible with Xvid.
What can Xvid be used for?
Xvid videos in HD quality are known to fit on a CD-ROM or basic DVD-ROM disc while maintaining visual quality despite the small file size.
According to the developers of Xvid, a digital video file with a size of 100 GB per hour of footage can be compressed to a size of 500 MB per hour of footage while retaining at least DVD quality.
This has made the codec incredibly popular online. Because Xvid is open source software, many modern Blu-ray and DVD players support the codec format, allowing for smooth playback of DVDs recorded with Xvid-encoded video files.
Using Xvid with VLC
While some media players are compatible with the Xvid codec, not all programs accept the encoded file by default. In this scenario, the easiest way to watch Xvid movies is to install and use VLC Media Player.
As one of the most popular media players, VLC Media Player has earned its reputation for a long time. No doubt, it is really an excellent media player to offer all kinds of video and audio playback solutions without any hassle.
However, I can play Xvid files in VLCIf you're not familiar with MPEG, Xvid files are used to compress digital video formats. Many media players do not support Xvid files without the Xvid codec.
by design, VLC It supports a wide variety of video codecs out of the box. After installing the free program, watching an Xvid-encoded video is as simple as dragging and dropping it into the VLC program window and pressing Play, or double-click the video file, as you would when watching a video with Windows Media Player or iTunes.
Manual Xvid Installation
If you prefer to use files Xvid With a different video player, you can install the Xvid codec on your computer by installing a codec multi-pack that includes Xvid with some other generalized codecs, such as CCCP or the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack, or by installing the Xvid codec only through the Xvid website.
To install the codec, download the Xvid installer from the codec's website and follow the installation instructions.
You may need to tell the installer the directory where the media player of your choice is installed, but after installation, you will be able to play Xvid videos as if they were normal video files.
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Features of Xvid
- Xvid optimization, allows you to decode videos in this format at an impressive speed.
- Plus, it doesn't affect your machine's performance.
- It is ideal for raster images such as television, because it greatly improves compression and the final result in these situations.
- Reduces spatial redundancy, one of the foundations of video compression.
- Adaptive quantization is a psycho-visual innovation of Xvid and uses different quantization matrices for each macroblock. It compresses very bright or very dark colors more strongly since they are less noticeable to the eye than mid-tone colors.
- MPEG, H.263 and special quantization matrices can be used. MPEG delivers sharper images with great detail, ideal for high bit rates.
- Home devices can handle these types of files.
- Its compression power is approximately 200:1, even more.
- The result is of great quality, since the compression is done with “Non-visible quality loss"That is, the loss is not perceived by the human eye.
Advantages
- Great compatibility with a respectable number of players.
- Some of the players on the market can play Xvid without the need to download the additional codec.
- The Xvid Codec is compatible with Windows and Linux.
- It is also compatible with mobile platforms iOS y Android.
- Save disk space.
- Transfers are faster.
- It is totally free.
Disadvantages
Sometimes the Xvid file format is associated with problems that may prevent you from playing the videos altogether. For example, you may get the error “Xvid file is corrupted» when trying to reproduce them.
Even if you have Xvid codecs installed, you may still not be able to play them properly.
Plans and prices
Xvid It is completely free, open source, and does not feature any kind of payment plan. It is available for download from its official website: Xvid.
How and where to download Xvid
Codecs can only be installed on Linux and Windows computers running x86 and x64 architecture. To download and install Xvid codecs manually, the steps are very simple.
- Visit the official page of Xvid.
- On your home, click the blue button “Get Xvid codec".
- A new page appears, with all the versions of the software available for Windows and Linux. In our case we select Xvid for Windows x64.
- Directs you to the site Digital Digest, where you can find all the information about the software to download. Click the “Download".
- The installation file will be downloaded to the “ folderDownloads” from your PC.
- Once the download is complete, double-click the file to begin the installation.
- Select language Spanish and click on “Accept".
- Then, accept the terms and conditions and click “Next".
- In the next window, select to be notified about updates, click “Yes”. Then click on “Next".
- Then, in the directory window, leave the default option and click “Next".
- The installation window opens, click on “Install".
- Wait for the installation to complete. Once finished, the codec will be available. Xvid on your computer and you will be able to watch videos in MPEG-4 format.
Once the codec pack has been downloaded to your computer, follow the on-screen instructions, which are usually straightforward.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that the codecs must be installed in the same directory as the media player you are going to use.
However, not all media players support Xvid codec. So sometimes even if you have downloaded and installed Xvid video codec for the players, the players still fail to play the Xvid files properly.
VLC can be used to play files Xvid when the Xvid codec has been successfully installed on your computer. It is quite easy to play Xvid files using the Xvid codec. Make sure that the Xvid codec has been installed in the same directory path.
Then download and install the VLC on your computer. Next, open VLC and load the Xvid video into the player or simply drag the Xvid file into the program directly. Once you have imported the file Xvid to the player, the player can play it immediately.
Opinions from users who have used Xvid
Let's see some comments that downloaded and used Xvid.
- Will:
“Using a custom matrix like Fox will probably choke your DVD player and never play. Through an Android box or similar media player, I don’t think there will be any issues.”
However, I would go for Q2 for full quality, but it would be a larger file compared to h264 encodes. There is also a modified Jawor Xvid 1.4 on codecs.com that is also excellent.
For me, Xvid still gives an authentic look to movies and never looks as waxy smooth as some h264 encodes I've done. H265 is even worse for this! Xvid handles film grain and detail much better.
Many movies are ruined on Blu-ray by destroying the color palette and removing too much grain. Xvid can't compete for the compression capabilities of newer AVC/HEVC codecs, but it can certainly maintain its quality!
- Jacko:
“Aging now, but reliable. Bitrates of 1500kbps give good results on a clean source. You can get away with much less if your source is pristine, but the artifacts and macroblocks are horrible when exploited on an HD TV if the codec is not set correctly.
So just apply the bitrate and you will like the end result.”
- Ted:
“Give Xvid enough bitrate and the output is very pleasing. Yes, h264 works better at lower bitrates, but anyone who knows anything about the video encoding game will tell you that h264 has a smoothing effect on grain and “washes out” fine film detail, which Xvid retains much better.
H265 is worse than h264 in this respect of smoothing. IMHO, Xvid at 1800/1900 kbps of true quality comes into play, but it all depends on your source.
- MickMan:
“This codec is a must-have and performs fantastically, even in live capture. If you have a smart processing option on your NLE, your movie is done in a fraction of minutes and ready to be burned to a CD/DVD/Blu-ray disc.
Forget about Divx because any certified DivX device plays Xvid movies, even game consoles and satellite and DVB-T/DVB-T2/TNT-HD decoders with a card slot or a USB port. USB. From me, a thumbs up to the Xvid developers, thanks a lot guys, great job.”
- 7of9:
“Many, including myself, have a great affection for Xvid and have faithfully followed its development over the years. Although we can now mainly use h264 or avc, Xvid is still very usable as it retains film grain much better than the others and leaves the source looking authentic at a good bitrate. Long may it reign!”
Xvid Alternatives. Top 5 of this year
Let's see some alternatives to Xvid available in the market. For some beginner users, downloading and installing the Xvid codec is quite complex and difficult.
If you belong to this group, another easier way is to take the help of players that can support files Xvid natively. Here, we present the main alternative tools to play files Xvid on your computer, no need to download Xvid.
1. Leawo Blu-ray Player
Leawo Blu-ray Player It is one of the most powerful media players to support Xvid playback. With this player, users can easily get the lossless picture quality even for 4K videos with stereo audio enjoyment and Dolby Vision.
Leawo Blu-ray Player It is a completely free media player that can present the most complete playback solutions, ranging from Blu-ray and DVD discs, to more than 180 kinds of digital video formats, including AVI, Xvid, MKV, FLV, ASF and WMV.
With it, you don't have to worry about playing any discs with region code protection. This player can easily decode the region codes correctly.
In addition to basic playback functions, Leawo Blu-ray Player It includes the useful power manager, custom skin, language, background screenshot, etc. Users can easily get the personalized display experience from the related settings.
2.GOM Player
GOM Player It can support most popular video formats (Xvid, MP4, AVI, WMV, MKV, MOV, FLV, etc.) and has a variety of advanced functions such as image capture, audio interception, video playback speed control, etc.).
Its decoder search feature can also help users find missing decoders and direct users to download and install them.
Users can also use GOM Player to watch AVI files that have not been downloaded or are incomplete. Download GOM Player for free and you will find that GOM Player is one of the best video players for your needs.
3.KM Player
KMPlayer is one of the media players that supports Xvid files. KMPlayer collects all the decoders visible on the network and supports most of the formats such as movies, music and images.
You can make various settings when playing a movie, such as image filtering, channel, brightness, screen zoom, screen switching, jumping from 5 seconds to 10 minutes, etc. It also supports custom buttons and supports skin replacement.
Powerful file support features of KMPlayer are well received by users. Supported video files include: AVI, RealMedia, MPEG 1/2/4. ASF, MKV, OGM, FLV, VCD, SVCD, MP4, etc.
KMPlayer It is available for Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android. It even has an APK version.
4. K-Lite Codec Pack
If you want to play all kinds of formats on your Windows PC, K-Lite Codec Pack is a must-have for you. Along with the ability to play any format or codec imaginable, this package comes with a standard media player, the Media Player Classic.
Its enhanced functionality and limited focus on appearance makes it more of a tool than a full-fledged application, so it should be considered a Swiss Army knife in the multimedia realm.
It is available in different sizes of 10, 17 and 20 MB; the larger the size, the more codec support it has. It is one of the few free programs available today that makes and suggests updates promptly.
Almost all versions of Microsoft Windows support the codec pack, as its main purpose is to support formats that are not supported by Windows by default. There are no special requirements for installation, apart from 50 MB of available memory.
The main buttons like pause/play, stop, fast forward, and audio control are all present, followed by many options available through top-down menus. These options, combined with the codecs included in the package, make this player a go-to choice for movie enthusiasts.
5. Matroska
Sailor is an open source multimedia container format that contains multiple tracks of audio, video, photos and subtitles. There are software players for Windows, Mac, Linux and smartphones available to play Matroska files.
Matroska files, named after the Russian nesting dolls "matroshka", are often referred to as "MKV files» because the .MKV extension is used for movies. Audio-only and subtitle-only files use the .MKA and .MKS extensions.
Derived from the open source Multimedia Container Format (MCF) in 2002, Matroska uses a binary XML format known as Extended Binary Meta Language (EBML) instead of binary format in MCF.
FAQs
Let's look at some frequently asked questions related to the Xvid codec.
1. What is a codec?
The word codec is short for compressor/decompressor. When you install a video codec on your system, it basically acts as a plug-in to your system with instructions on how to compress and decompress videos in that format.
If the required codec is missing, you will receive an error message stating that Windows Media Player cannot download a suitable decompressor.
2. How to edit an Xvid file?
To edit Xvid files or any other video formats, you can make use of third-party converter software, which can help you with all your video conversion and editing needs.
3. Is Xvid safe?
Yes, the software is completely safe, without adware, spyware or malware of any kind. You just have to make sure you download from their official site.
4. What are the hardware requirements to run Xvid?
All you need is a fast enough computer. We don't know the exact minimum requirements, but anything less than a Pentium 300MHz is likely to have problems.
For AMD K6/K6-2 computers, we have found the minimum requirements to be higher and recommend at least a AMD K6-2 400MHz for proper reproduction.
5. What can I do if I have problems with the Xvid installer?
If you receive the error message «The installer you are trying to use is corrupted or incomplete"When you try to install the Xvid codec it is because there was a problem during the download process that caused the installation file to become corrupted or incomplete.
To fix the problem, you can try to download the installation file again, or if you have general problems with downloading EXE files from the web, you can download its alternative ZIP version.
Conclusion
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While some media players, such as VLC, can decode Xvid without any additional software, other players may require you to install the Xvid codec to compress and decompress content correctly. Windows Media Player needs this, for example.
On a PC, any software program that can decode MPEG-4 ASP encoded video can play XVID files.
My name is Javier Chirinos and I am passionate about technology. Ever since I can remember, I have been interested in computers and video games, and that passion has turned into a job.
I have been publishing about technology and gadgets on the Internet for over 15 years, especially in mundobytes.com
I am also an expert in online marketing and communication and have knowledge in WordPress development.