Supported formats and CODEC combinations for Video and Audio
Applicable SongShow Plus Versions:
This article applies to all versions of SongShow Plus.
This article lists the specific Audio/Video combinations that are tested and supported* in SongShow Plus. Along with this information there may also be specific recommendations and tips for the best experience in SongShow Plus.
* In this case "supported" requires a few different things. SongShow Plus primarily uses Windows components to run media content and therefore relies on Windows support to play video and audio content. Each OS version may or may not support the media that is trying to play though it may show up in the file list in SongShow Plus. There are some exceptions to this. Review the SongShow Plus/Windows support information in each section below.
A word about CODEC vs extensions:
The extension of a file is mostly just an identifier. In most cases, this will also give an indication of the composition of the file, but not always. File extensions can be changed without altering the actual composition of the file itself. For our purposes, the CODEC used to create the file is more important. That said, extensions will be used below as a means to identify and connect this information using the common terminology.
Listed below are groups of supported file extensions and the expected CODEC combinations used to create them. If it is listed below it should work. If it is not, it probably won't. Listed video formats without audio are also supported.
CODEC - H.264 (AVC) - Advanced Video Coding
File Extensions:
MOV; MP4; M4V; MP4V; MPG4; 3GP; F4V; FLV (MP4 Recommended)
SongShow Plus/Windows Support:
Version 8.5 and earlier/All Windows - This requires a plug-in to be purchased per machine to support H.264 (AVC) playback.
Version 9.0 and later/Windows 8.1 or earlier - This requires a plug-in to be purchased per machine to support H.264 (AVC) playback.
Version 9.0 and later/Windows 10 or later - H.264 (AVC) playback is supported natively using Media Foundation.
Supported CODEC Combinations:
Video - H.264 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as H.264/MPEG-4 AVC.
Audio - AAC CODEC. In most cases this will be described as mp4a: MPEG-4 AAC LC.
OR
Video - H.264 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as H.264/MPEG-4 AVC.
Audio - SWOT CODEC. In most cases this will be described as sowt: 16-bit signed little-endian
TIPS:
These may be produced on an Apple device, MAC or other video editing software. Be careful that other unsupported legacy Apple CODECs are not used.
The 3GP; F4V; FLV extensions may be produced on an Android device or video editing software. Verify the contents to ensure compatibility. FLV in particular is more popular as a legacy flash format that is not supported.
CODEC - WMV
File Extensions:
WMV (Recommended)
SongShow Plus/Windows Support:
Version 8.5 and earlier/All Windows - WMV playback is supported natively using Windows DirectShow.
Version 9.0 and later/Windows 8.1 or earlier - WMV playback is supported natively using Windows DirectShow.
Version 9.0 and later/Windows 10 or later - WMV playback is supported natively using Windows Media Foundation.
Supported CODEC Combinations:
Video - WVC1 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as WVC1 or VC-1 Adv (WMP11) (Recommended)
Audio - WMA v2 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as 0x0161 (WMA v2).
TIPS:
None
OR
Video - WMV3 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as WMV3 or WMP v9 (VC-1 Simple/Main).
Audio - WMA v2 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as 0x0161 (WMA v2).
TIPS:
None
OR
Video - WMV2 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as WMV2 or WMP v8.
Audio - WMA v2 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as 0x0161 (WMA v2).
TIPS:
While this format is supported in SongShow Plus version 8.5 and earlier it is currently not supported in SongShow Plus version 9.0 and later. We are working to address this. See KB TS223 for more info.
CODEC - H.265 (HVEC) - High Efficiency Video Coding
File Extensions:
MOV; MP4; M4v (MP4 Recommended)
SongShow Plus/Windows Support:
Version 9.3 and later/Windows 10 or later - H.265 (HEVC) playback is supported using Media Foundation AND the Windows HEVC Video Extensions H.265 Plug-in.
Version 9.3 and later/Windows 11 Build 22H2 or later - H.265 (HEVC) playback is supported natively using Media Foundation.
Supported CODEC Combinations:
Video - H.265 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as H.265/MPEG-4 or HVC1 HEVC.
Audio - AAC CODEC. In most cases this will be described as mp4a: MPEG-4 AAC LC.
TIPS:
While this CODEC does allow for higher compression efficiency, useful for mobile and online streaming devices, it is not necessary for SSP or any local display device. There are many new features and setting in rendering that may or may not be supported in Windows natively or work as expected in SongShow Plus. If issues are encountered, the best solution is to re-render in H.264. See KB TS417 for more details.
CODEC - MPEG-1
File Extensions:
MPG; MPEG; MPE; M1V; MPV2; MP2V; M2P
SongShow Plus/Windows Support:
All SongShow Plus/All Windows - MPEG-1 is supported natively using DirectShow (Legacy).
Supported CODEC Combinations:
Video - MPEG-1 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as MPEG-1.
Audio - MPEG-1 Layer 1 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as MPEG-1 Layer 1.
OR
Video - MPEG-1 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as MPEG-1.
Audio - MPEG-1 Layer 2 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as MPEG-1 Layer 2.
CODEC - MPEG-2
File Extensions:
MPG; MPEG; MPE; M1V; MPV2; MP2V; M2P (MPEG-2)
SongShow Plus/Windows Support:
This utilizes DVD support. A licensed MPEG-2 CODEC is required - refer to KB SW27 for details.
Supported CODEC Combinations:
Video - MPEG-2 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as MPEG-2.
Audio - MPEG-1 Layer 2 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as MPEG-1 Layer 2.
TIPS:
This format is most commonly related to DVD formatting. Verify that your operating system supports this video type or has SSP compatible DVD player software installed.
CODEC - Since AVI is actually a wrapper, just about any CODEC can be used - NOT recommended.
File Extensions:
AVI (NOT recommended)
SongShow Plus/Windows Support:
This can vary depending on the makeup of the video file. This is not a recommended file type.
NOTE: the AVI format is a wrapper format meaning that it allows for non-standard combinations of video and audio. This is not preferred for use in SongShow Plus. Support for these may vary by operating system and can be highly unpredictable during playback. Also in many cases they include uncompressed or raw video that causes large file sizes and can be an issue for that reason.
Supported CODEC Combinations:
Video - cvid CODEC. In most cases this will be described as Cinepak by Supermac.
Audio - PCM CODEC. In most cases this will be described as PCM Audio.
OR
Video - dvsd CODEC. In most cases this will be described as DVC/DV Video.
Audio - PCM CODEC. In most cases this will be described as PCM Audio.
OR
Video - IV50 CODEC. In most cases this will be described as Indeo 5.x.
Audio - NONE.
OR
Video - _RGB CODEC. In most cases this will be described as BI_RGB Raw Bitmap.
Audio - NONE.
Any of the combinations listed above for other video types.
TIPS:
The support of some of these combinations may be operating system dependent. Make sure the OS has support for these.
While these files *can* work, AVI files can be very unpredictable due to the possible CODEC combinations that can be used so we do not recommend using them. There are numerous free video conversion tools - we recommend using the free Microsoft tools found in Windows Movie Maker to convert your files to an acceptable format.
If this article does not resolve the issue, contact the Support Team.
(MI018)