EXPERIMENT DESIGN: Codec Config [22687]

Codec Config provides the ability to choose codecs used for Movie and Sound rendering detail. For a detailed Tutorial on how to use Codec Config, please view AV: CodecConfig Tutorial [18101].

Detail
E-Prime uses portions of the Microsoft DirectShow technology to render audio and media files. By default, DirectShow uses a mechanism called "Intelligent Connect" or "Auto Connect" to query your system to determine which codecs should be used when rendering a media file. This querying process is time consuming taking away computer cycles that should be used for the critical timed portions of your E-Prime experiment. Because the AutoConnect system works by checking the merit system, akin to a ranking, installing other pieces of software can install newer codecs which can cause a working system to no longer work as expected.

Codec Config is used to facilitate the most efficient and consistent method of loading media files in E-Prime. When using CodecConfig, media files/types can be "mapped" in the CodecConfig interface to instruct E-Prime at runtime what to use when a certain file extension or media type is found. CodecConfig has the ability to setup default mappings which will choose common file extension and media types and then map them to the best codecs found on your system. The Render File option provides the ability to verify that a specific file will be mapped and find any errors/warnings associated with the mappings.

Quick Guide 

1. Ensure you have the latest codecs installed on your system (see Codecs section below)
2. Open Codec Config from the Tools menu in E-Studio or from Start Menu
3. Choose the Default Mappings option from the tools menu
4. Choose the Render File option from the File menu
5. Choose a media file you plan on using in an experiment
6. A report will appear about the success/failure of the media file being loaded
7. If the report shows no errors but just warnings that indicate "AutoConnect" in the detailed column, then run the Render File option again
8. If the report shows errors or not, review the yellow highlighted nodes and choose the most appropriate mappings
9. Save your settings when closing Codec Config
10. Confirm the settings are working as expected during an experiment run

Choosing Mappings
For each extension or media type the section on the right will list any codec that shows characteristics of handling the media type. There is a column indicating how likely the match may work (Preferred, Likely, Possible). Select the Choose Codec toolbar button or double click the entry and it will become selected. If choosing a codec in the listing continues to exhibit failure results, consider installing an updated codec or converting the file to another media type format.

Codecs
Mainly due to licensing restrictions and because all paradigms have different requirements, PST cannot directly distribute nor formally recommend a specific set of codecs for compatibility, quality, or efficiency reasons. However, many end users have reported that a combination of the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack (http://www.codecguide.com/download_k-lite_codec_pack_mega.htm) and the DivX 7.0 or higher (http://www.divx.com) set of codecs have proven to find good results. PST also recommends using CodecConfig to "map" the associations from file extension to video/audio decompression to provide the fastest load times and to ensure system reproducibility.

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