What are MP4 and how to play MP4 files
How to play MP4 files
MP4 files (MPEG-4 Part 14) are multimedia files. MP4 is a container format that can store video, audio and subtitle data (as well as more depending on content). Since stores like iTunes uses this container format, and it is used with iPod and PlayStation Portable (PSP), MP4 files have become more common. This guide aims to show you how to play MP4 files on your computer on several different players using a variety of methods. To understand MP4 and other video file formats, please read and follow the entire article.
What are MP4 files?
As mentioned in the introduction, MP4 is a container format and can store video, audio and other information. Although audio-only MP4 files usually have the extension .M4A, there is no real difference so MP4 files do not always contain video streams. In order to playback MP4 files you need three different things, a splitter (used with playback software to access the actual video and audio data), decoders/codecs/filters and playback software.
For example, Windows operating systems come loaded with Windows Media Player, but it would need some way to "split" the file to access audio and video data (and control extras like subtitles) and then it would need to decode the video and audio streams. It cannot really do this on its own fresh out of the box, so some tweaking has to be done to play back MP4 in Windows Media Player.
Some playback software comes with built-in support to open MP4 files, but that does not guarantee that the video and audio data can be played without additional software. MP4 files, more often than not, contain either MPEG-4 ASP or AVC (H.264) video with AAC audio. Of course, almost anything can be packed into the MP4 container just like AVI, but AVI would still be the mast used container for video like DivX and XviD. Nevertheless, this guide aims to cover all angles one way or another.
What will we try?
In this guide, we will look at a one-off solution called VideoLAN Client (VLC), installing Haali Media Splitter to add MP4 support for some players (like WMP), installing codecs and filters for most common forms of video around and we will talk about certain players like Media Player Classic. However, before we begin, I would just like to remind you that Apple's iTunes software does support playing MP4 files (might have problems with certain types of video though) but will not be included in this guide.
The Easiest Method
Download and install the VLC player. The VLC package already includes software to play MP4 files and supports decoding a lot of video and audio formats out of the box..
You can get VLC for Windows from this URL.
Click File and click the Open File option.
Now, click the Browse button next to the first white line at the top of the window with title "Open.." and navigate through your hard drive for the video you wish to watch and select it. After you have selected the video, click OK and VLC will start playing the video you chose.
For other Operating Systems...
Mac: http://www.afterdawn.com/software/alternative_platforms/mac_software/vlc_for_mac.cfm
MP4 files (MPEG-4 Part 14) are multimedia files. MP4 is a container format that can store video, audio and subtitle data (as well as more depending on content). Since stores like iTunes uses this container format, and it is used with iPod and PlayStation Portable (PSP), MP4 files have become more common. This guide aims to show you how to play MP4 files on your computer on several different players using a variety of methods. To understand MP4 and other video file formats, please read and follow the entire article.
What are MP4 files?
As mentioned in the introduction, MP4 is a container format and can store video, audio and other information. Although audio-only MP4 files usually have the extension .M4A, there is no real difference so MP4 files do not always contain video streams. In order to playback MP4 files you need three different things, a splitter (used with playback software to access the actual video and audio data), decoders/codecs/filters and playback software.
For example, Windows operating systems come loaded with Windows Media Player, but it would need some way to "split" the file to access audio and video data (and control extras like subtitles) and then it would need to decode the video and audio streams. It cannot really do this on its own fresh out of the box, so some tweaking has to be done to play back MP4 in Windows Media Player.
Some playback software comes with built-in support to open MP4 files, but that does not guarantee that the video and audio data can be played without additional software. MP4 files, more often than not, contain either MPEG-4 ASP or AVC (H.264) video with AAC audio. Of course, almost anything can be packed into the MP4 container just like AVI, but AVI would still be the mast used container for video like DivX and XviD. Nevertheless, this guide aims to cover all angles one way or another.
What will we try?
In this guide, we will look at a one-off solution called VideoLAN Client (VLC), installing Haali Media Splitter to add MP4 support for some players (like WMP), installing codecs and filters for most common forms of video around and we will talk about certain players like Media Player Classic. However, before we begin, I would just like to remind you that Apple's iTunes software does support playing MP4 files (might have problems with certain types of video though) but will not be included in this guide.
The Easiest Method
Download and install the VLC player. The VLC package already includes software to play MP4 files and supports decoding a lot of video and audio formats out of the box..
You can get VLC for Windows from this URL.
Click File and click the Open File option.
Now, click the Browse button next to the first white line at the top of the window with title "Open.." and navigate through your hard drive for the video you wish to watch and select it. After you have selected the video, click OK and VLC will start playing the video you chose.
For other Operating Systems...
Mac: http://www.afterdawn.com/software/alternative_platforms/mac_software/vlc_for_mac.cfm
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