Supported file formats
Windows Media formats (.asf, .wma, .wmv, .wm)
Advanced Systems Format (.asf)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type: • Windows Media Player 7
• Windows Media Player for Windows XP
• Windows Media Player 9 Series
• Windows Media Player 10
• Windows Media Player 11
The Advanced Systems Format (ASF) is the preferred Windows Media file format. With Windows Media Player, if the appropriate codecs are installed on your computer, you can play audio content, video content, or both, that is compressed with a wide variety of codecs and that is stored in an .asf file. Additionally, you can stream audio and video content with Windows Media Services, or you can package that content with Windows Media Rights Manager.
ASF is an extensible file format that stores synchronized multimedia data. It supports data delivery over a wide variety of networks and protocols. It is also suitable for local playback. ASF supports advanced multimedia capabilities including extensible media types, component download, scalable media types, author-specified stream prioritization, multiple language support, and extensive bibliographic capabilities that include document and content management.
Typically, ASF files that contain audio content that is compressed with the Windows Media Audio (WMA) codec use the .wma extension. Similarly, ASF files that contain audio content, video content, or both, that is compressed with Windows Media Audio (WMA) and Windows Media Video (WMV) codecs use the .wmv extension. Finally, content that is compressed with any other codec use the generic .asf extension. For more information about ASF, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa384481.aspx (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa384481.aspx)
Click to play a sample .asf file (25KB) (http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/8/3/683db9fe-8d61-4a3c-b7b8-3169ff70ae9f/simpleasx.exe)
Windows Media Audio (.wma)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type: • Windows Media Player 7
• Windows Media Player for Windows XP
• Windows Media Player 9 Series
• Windows Media Player 10
• Windows Media Player 11
Windows Media Audio (.wma) files are Advanced Systems Format (.asf) files that include audio that is compressed with the Windows Media Audio (WMA) codec. By using a separate extension, users can install multiple players on their computer and associate certain players with the .wma extension for playback of audio-only sources.
Click to play a sample .wma file (28KB) (http://support.microsoft.com/support/mediaplayer/wmptest/samples/new/mediaexample.wma)
Windows Media Video (.wmv, .wm)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type: • Windows Media Player 7
• Windows Media Player for Windows XP
• Windows Media Player 9 Series
• Windows Media Player 10
• Windows Media Player 11
Windows Media Video (.wmv) files are Advanced Systems Format (.asf) files that include audio, video, or both compressed with Windows Media Audio (WMA) and Windows Media Video (WMV) codecs. By using a separate extension, you can install multiple players on your computer and associate certain players with the .wmv extension for playback of audio and video sources.
Click to play a sample .wmv file (112KB) (http://support.microsoft.com/support/mediaplayer/wmptest/samples/new/mediaexample.wmv)
Windows Media Metafiles (.asx, .wax, .wvx, .wpl)
Advanced Stream Redirector (.asx)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type: • Windows Media Player 7
• Windows Media Player for Windows XP
• Windows Media Player 9 Series
• Windows Media Player 10
• Windows Media Player 11
Advanced Stream Redirector (.asx) files, also known as Windows Media Metafiles, are text files that provide information about a file stream and its presentation. ASX files go beyond the simple task of defining playlists to provide Windows Media Player with information about how to present particular media items of the playlist.
Windows Media Metafiles are based on XML syntax and can be encoded in either ANSI or UNICODE (UTF-8) format. They are made up of various elements with their associated tags and attributes. Each element in a Windows Media metafile defines a particular setting or action in Windows Media Player.
ASX files can point to any media file type that Windows Media Player recognizes and supports.
For more information about Windows Media Metafiles, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa385262.aspx (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa385262.aspx)
Windows Media Audio Redirector (.wax)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type: • Windows Media Player 7
• Windows Media Player for Windows XP
• Windows Media Player 9 Series
• Windows Media Player 10
• Windows Media Player 11
Windows Media Audio Redirector (.wax) files are Windows Media Metafiles that reference Windows Media Audio (.wma) files.
Windows Media Video Redirector (.wvx)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type: • Windows Media Player 7
• Windows Media Player for Windows XP
• Windows Media Player 9 Series
• Windows Media Player 10
• Windows Media Player 11
Windows Media Video Redirector (.wvx) files are Windows Media Metafiles that reference Windows Media Video (.wmv) files
Windows Media Redirector (.wmx)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type: • Windows Media Player 7
• Windows Media Player for Windows XP
• Windows Media Player 9 Series
• Windows Media Player 10
• Windows Media Player 11
Windows Media Redirector (.wmx) files are Windows Media Metafiles that reference Windows Media Audio (.wma), Windows Media Video (.wmv) files, or both.
Windows Media Player Playlist (.wpl)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type: • Windows Media Player 9 Series
• Windows Media Player 10
• Windows Media Player 11
Windows Media Player Playlist (.wpl) files are client-side playlists that are written in a proprietary format. Microsoft introduced this file format in Windows Media Player 9 Series. The .wpl format can create dynamic playlists, whereas .asx and .m3u formats cannot. In Windows Media Player 9 Series, the auto playlist feature uses the .wpl format. The .wpl format is the default file format used for playlists that you save in Windows Media Player 9 Series.
Microsoft Digital Video Recording (.dvr-ms)
In Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, Microsoft introduced the *.dvr-ms file format for storing recorded TV content. Similar to *.asf files, *.dvr-ms file enhancements permit key Personal Video Recorder (PVR) functionality, including time-shifting, live pause, and simultaneous record and playback. Video contained in a *.dvr-ms file is encoded as MPEG-2 video stream, and the audio contained in the *.dvr-ms file is encoded as MPEG-1 Layer II audio stream.
To play back unprotected *.dvr-ms files on Windows XP-based computers, you must have the following software and hardware components: • Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later.
• The update that is documented in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base must be installed on the computer: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
810243 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810243/) DirectShow playback support for files recorded with Windows XP Media Center Edition
• A Windows XP-compatible DVD decoder.
For more information about *.dvr-ms files, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms778831.aspx (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms778831.aspx)
Windows Media Download Package (.wmd)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type: • Windows Media Player 7
• Windows Media Player for Windows XP
• Windows Media Player 9 Series
• Windows Media Player 10
• Windows Media Player 11
Windows Media Download (WMD) packages combine Windows Media Player skin borders, playlist information, and multimedia content in a single downloadable file that uses a .wmd extension. A .wmd package can include a whole album of music videos that also displays advertising in the form of graphical branding and links to an online music retailer Web site.
To download a .wmd package from a Web site, click the link to the package. When the package is downloaded to your computer, Windows Media Player automatically extracts the files that are contained in the package, adds the playlists in the package, adds the content to Media Library, displays the border skin in the Now Playing pane of Windows Media Player (in full mode), and then plays the first item in the playlist. For more information about .wmd files, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa386465.aspx (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa386465.aspx)
Audio Visual Interleave (.avi)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type: • Windows Media Player 7
• Windows Media Player for Windows XP
• Windows Media Player 9 Series
• Windows Media Player 10
• Windows Media Player 11
Audio Video Interleave (AVI) is a special case of Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF). AVI is defined by Microsoft. The .avi file format is the most common format for audio and video data on a computer.
Audio content or video content that is compressed with a wide variety of codecs can be stored in an .avi file and played in Windows Media Player, if the appropriate codecs are installed on the computer. Video codecs that are frequently used in .avi files include the following codecs: • DivX codec
For more information, visit the following DivX Web site:
http://www.divx.com (http://www.divx.com)
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