

You'll find several tools as well as useful related info. To find one, search for "codec identification tool" on the web. Use a non-Microsoft codec identification tool.

On the File tab, look at the Audio codec and Video codec sections. While the file is playing, right-click the file in the library, and then select Properties.

To determine what codec was used with a specific file, play the file in the Player, if possible. There isn't a way to determine with absolute certainty the codec used to compress a file, but the following are your best options: This lets you return to your original system configuration, if necessary. Before installing any digital media components, set up a system restore point. Even then, use caution: some codec providers offer minimal customer support. Install codecs, filters, and plug-ins only from trusted sources, such as the provider's official website. Therefore, we strongly discourage you from installing these codec packs and recommend that you remove them if you have installed them and are having problems with the Player. As you spend more time with the software you’ll notice plenty of neat touches, including the audio equalizer and the sleep timer, which you can use to drift off to your tunes.Use caution when installing codecs that you find on the internet, particularly some of the free codec packs that claim to include codecs from a wide variety of companies or organizations. There are known compatibility issues with some of the components in these codec packs, and these can trigger serious playback problems in Windows Media Player and other players, cause system corruption, and make it difficult for Microsoft Support to diagnose and troubleshoot playback issues. This is all a bonus to the main functionality, which is playing your local audio and video files-and MediaMonkey does that very well indeed. The software supports podcasts as well, and can even stream media around your home to compatible devices (like other computers) across your local Wi-Fi network. If you want to know more about the artists you’re listening to, MediaMonkey also gives you a direct link to their Wikipedia pages. The app will make short work of organizing the music and movies sprawled across your hard drive, and will import any missing metadata from your files (like artist names or the years songs were published) from the internet. If you’re not keen on iTunes, but you still want an application that comes with a host of content management features as well as the ability to play audio and video, then MediaMonkey fits the bill.
