Gspot video info and codec finder

Filed under: Utilities, Video, Open Source

Gspot video info and codec finder

by Ryan Carter (RSS feed) Sep 6th 2006 at 10:00AM

Despite the risque title, Gspot is an awesome little app. For a while, I was sick of video files I would find and then try to play on my PC, so much so, that my chagrin was overloaded. If you have a video file that only plays audio, or won't play at all, Gspot will tell you what type of file, what codec you need, and whether you have it currently installed or not. It lists just about every other video file detail you can imagine including meta-data, bit-rate, fps, video dimensions, even the codec or test it thinks will fix your playing problem. Most of the time, you can just go download a codec and the file will play. It is very nearly brilliant (I can hear the Guinness guys in the back of my head, Brilliant!), and takes the frustration out of trying to get the bleeping thing to play.

Here is another portion of the Gspot window. The level of detail is great for finding out what works to play your file.

This shows Gspot's advanced features, this one is the interlace field analysis screen.

Tags: codec, help, video

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Amber Rhea said 10:21AM on 9-06-2006

"Despite?" I think you mean "in addition to!"

Ryan Carter said 10:22AM on 9-06-2006

You know, six of one...

nn said 12:34PM on 9-06-2006

This is now open soure. maybe you should bother to read the license?

Ryan Carter said 12:36PM on 9-06-2006

Did you even read the post? It is filed under open-source. Not sure what you are talking about.

stevievep said 3:06PM on 9-06-2006

If only it were 'Gspot finder, video, and codec info'

hazard said 11:58PM on 9-06-2006

I've found the open source program MediaInfo to the best video codec and info sniffer. Granted it's been alomst a year since I've used Gspot, but since finding MediaInfo I haven't needed or wanted to use Gspot.

http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/en

Nicole Simon said 5:25PM on 9-07-2006

I usually just use one of the "several codecs in one" packages.

But I was getting furious about why my system would not play videos on the WMP until I noticed that it automatically only streamed audio because I had set the connection speed to low.

Upped that to a more realistic one and whups all the video I wanted was there. :)

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