mp4 in WMP

[jyeh74]

Aren't all mp4 compatible with Windows Media Player? Some of my mp4 play using WMP while other mp4 only play audio. The mp4 doesn't play video through WMP. I have to use VLC media to play these mp4s. Aren't all mp4s created equal?

[Baldrick]

Nope. A mp4 is a container that can store different video codecs.

Identify the video codec with mediainfo or in vlc by pressing CTRL-J.

[Hoser Rob]

More than not all mp4's being created equal, not all video players are created equal. WMP is just awful. It doesn't even support FLAC audio. The last time I used it was ages ago and it was by accident.

[jyeh74]

Nope. A mp4 is a container that can store different video codecs.

Identify the video codec with mediainfo or in vlc by pressing CTRL-J.

Codec is H264- MPEG-4 AVC (avc1).The other mp4 that would not run in WMP and would only run in vlc is codec mpgv.I downloaded ffdshow and that didn't do anything.

Strange thing is that my other mp4, which also have that same codec H264- MPEG-4 AVC (avc1), runs in WMP, but this particular one does not. Why would 2 mp4s, with the same avc1 codec, 1 run in WMP and 1 does not run in WMP?

[sum_guy]

Have you tried LAV Filters? or Haali Media Splitter?

[jyeh74]

Have you tried LAV Filters? or Haali Media Splitter?

Don't know what these are. But I just tried downloading both + ffdshow, and did not run. Something to do with this particular mp4 with avc1 codec and WMP. Other avc1 mp4 works. Why is that?

[davexnet]

If there is a doubt about whether it's a codec issue or not,
you can try running graphstudio and opening the affected video file.
It will tell you whether it's playable with directshow with your currently installed filters.

In Windows XP, you'll certainly need the haali media splitter, not sure about later OS's

[jyeh74]

Are you saying you can have 2 mp4s, both with the same avc1 codec. But because one file may be corrupted. That's why WMP won't play it but VLC media player will? I've never really had an issue with avi or mpgs, only mp4s.

[davexnet]

Are you saying you can have 2 mp4s, both with the same avc1 codec. But because one file may be corrupted. That's why WMP won't play it but VLC media player will? I've never really had an issue with avi or mpgs, only mp4s.

Yes, this may be possible.

[jyeh74]

But how does vlc run it? does it have some decoder than WMP does not have?

[davexnet]

But how does vlc run it? does it have some decoder than WMP does not have?

Yes, it does, along with some other players such as mpchc.

WMP depends on the system-wide directshow mechanism, while those others, by default,
have their own internal splitters and filters, etc, etc.