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Guides for Codecs and Media Players

258 guides on codecs, media players and the tools around them.

5 new in the last 7 days

Updated Oct 2, 202622,559 views7 min read

StaxRip HEVC Encoding: How to Cut Video File Sizes in Half for Free

Free 10-step StaxRip workflow to encode any source video into half-size HEVC files with the x265 encoder.

Updated Oct 2, 202617,786 views4 min read

Best Video Codec Tutorials: 6 Free Videos That Make Codecs Click

Six free videos that explain codecs, containers and compression in the order to watch them, with a hands-on next step after each one.

Updated Oct 2, 20265,285 views6 min read

HDR Video Has No Sound at the Start? 5 Fixes for LAV Filters Users

Why HDR films start silent on a Windows PC running LAV Filters, and five fixes - from switching HDR on first to one audio setting that stops the gap.

Updated Oct 2, 202622,318 views6 min read

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows 11 (and Actually Use It)

Get FFmpeg working on Windows in minutes - one-command or manual install, the PATH fix, ten everyday commands and free GUIs if you prefer buttons.

Updated Oct 1, 20264,839 views6 min read

How to Run Chrome Portable From a USB Drive - No Install, No Admin

Put Google Chrome on a USB stick and use it on locked-down work, school or public Windows PCs, with the privacy settings and update routine that keep it safe.

Updated Oct 1, 202623,335 views6 min read

Play H.265 Videos Free on Windows Using LAV Filters

How to get H.265 video playing in MPC-HC, PotPlayer and other DirectShow players with LAV Filters, GPU decoding switched on and the usual black-screen fixes.

Updated Oct 1, 20261 comment8,586 views5 min read

Convert WAV to MP3 Without Losing Quality: The Right LAME Settings

The exact LAME setting and commands to turn WAV into MP3 with no audible loss, plus no-typing options and the one case where sample rate matters.

Updated Sep 30, 20266,213 views5 min read

Chromium vs Chrome: What Google Adds - and Which One You Should Use

What Chrome adds on top of Chromium - codecs, Netflix DRM, auto-updates and Google tracking - and which of the two, or Brave, fits the way you browse.

Sep 30, 20261,146 views7 min read

BitLocker Is Probably Already On: Find Your Recovery Key Before You Need It

Windows 11 can encrypt your drive during setup without saying a word - check if it did, save the recovery key and stay out of the lockout screen.

Updated Sep 30, 202645,744 views3 min read

Official User Guides and Manuals for Free Media Software

Where to find the official manual for VLC, HandBrake, Audacity, DaVinci Resolve, OBS Studio and more - online guides and free PDF downloads in one list.

Updated Sep 30, 20268,612 views6 min read

Best 4K Video Players for PC That Actually Work: 6 Free Picks

Six free Windows players that play 4K HEVC, AV1 and HDR smoothly, plus the graphics cards each codec needs and a fix list for stuttering video.

Updated Sep 29, 20267,619 views6 min read

Best Linux Distros for Beginners: 5 Easy Picks for Windows Switchers

Five beginner-friendly Linux distros for Windows and Mac switchers, with RAM needs, old-PC picks and a safe way to test from a USB stick.

Updated Sep 29, 20265,506 views6 min read

Portable SSD on Android: Watch 4K Movies Without Filling Your Phone

Carry your whole film library on a portable SSD and play it on an Android phone - the cable, the format and the free player apps that make it work.

Updated Sep 29, 20263,005 views3 min read

Stop Converting iPhone Photos to JPEG: The Free Microsoft Fix for Windows

What converting iPhone HEIC photos to JPEG really costs, when it is still worth doing, and the two free components that let Windows open the originals.

Updated Sep 29, 20264,706 views5 min read

Free Spotify Alternative: Build Your Own Music and Radio Playlist With M3U

Swap a streaming subscription for a free M3U playlist of radio, YouTube and IPTV links, built and checked with five free tools, plus the player to open it.

Updated Sep 28, 202618,505 views4 min read

Convert Video and Audio Files With VLC - No Extra Software

VLC's built-in converter, step by step - how to change format, extract audio, and what to do when the output file will not play.

Updated Sep 28, 202641,490 views5 min read

Best GPU for Video Encoding in 2026: NVIDIA vs AMD vs Intel

Which graphics card encodes video best in 2026 - NVIDIA, AMD or Intel - with encoder counts, AV1 and 4:2:2 support, and when your current card is enough.