Codec is the abbreviation for compressor/decompressor. Codecs are applied to audio, video and image files to compress their size. The benefit is that the files don't use as much disk space when stored or as much network bandwidth when streamed. To open a compressed file, the same codec must be used to decompress the file.

Compression is the coding of data to reduce file size or the bit rate of a stream.

Lossy is a compression technique that decreases image, audio, or video quality in order to reduce the file size.

So, the video codec is responsible for compressing the video frames during recording and for reconstructing the video frames during playback. Often, the makers of a codec will sacrifice image quality in order to achieve higher compression and smaller file sizes. These codecs are termed "lossy" and are incapable of reconstructing the video at its original fidelity. Most commonly available codecs for recording screen videos are lossy, resulting in screen capture videos with reduced image quality and a "fuzzy" appearance.

XVID is the default method of compressing/decompressing video in WinCapture, providing lossless image quality coupled with excellent compression ratios. Since the XVID is lossless, it preserves 100% of the image quality, even through multiple decompression/recompression cycles that are typical during the production process.

The compression codec also affects the capture frame rate or speed of compression. The high frame rates required for smooth video increase the need for high compression speed. High color screens also impact compression speed. The XVID codec offers exceptional compression speed at all color depths - unlike, for example, some codecs that only support 8-bit color. (The Microsoft RLE codec is lossless but is restricted to 8-bit color.)

Options:
XVID is the default method of compressing/decompressing video in WinCapture. While the default codec can easily be changed to any of the standard Windows codecs, we recommend that you use XVID when recording your videos with WinCapture. You can still change the codec later, in WinCapture Producer.

When a video is compressed with XVID, anyone wishing to view the video must have XVID installed on his or her computer. There are no charges, royalties or licensing requirements for distributing videos encoded with XVID or with distributing the codec to others for viewing.

Use one of the following methods to share the WinCapture Screen Capture Codec:

• Distribute a copy of the codec installer, XviD_Install.exe, which is available on the WinCapture Setup Pack and on our Web site. Copy XviD_Install.exe onto the same media where your video distribution resides and either have your installer run it at installation time or instruct the user to do so.