This derives from the fact that some codec packs in the past have been compiled from pirated and hacked software, thereby making their legality extremely dubious. There is some argument as to whether or not a codec pack is genuinely required. _Image credit: Do I Really Need a Codec Pack?
Codecs are a set of instructions that detail to media players how certain video clips are encoded, how they should be played back, etc., and while operating systems ship with up-to-date codecs built in, they soon go out of date.ĭon’t let this stand in your way of enjoying a good movie on your Mac, however – new codecs can be downloaded!
The result is either an inability to watch certain videos, or videos that only playback in the wrong colors thanks to the correct video codecs not being present. Watching videos and listening to music is one of the top desktop computing activities that we engage in, yet so many video formats (and some audio ones) are left unsupported by the operating system.
