View source for Windows Media

:''See also [[Windows Media Player]]''
{{wikipedia|Windows Media Video}}
'''Windows Media''' is a generic name for the set of proprietary streaming audio and video technologies developed by [[Microsoft]]. It includes the '''Windows Media Video''' (WMV) and '''Windows Media Audio''' (WMA) codecs.

Windows Media Video is not built solely on Microsoft in-house technology. From version 7 (WMV1), Microsoft has used its own non-standard version of [[MPEG-4]] Part 2.

Windows Media is often generated using Microsoft's proprietary [[Windows Media Video 9 VCM]] software for Windows. 

Microsoft has submitted Version 9 codec to the [[wikipedia:Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers|Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers]] (SMPTE), for approval as an international standard. The Trial version of standards were published by SMPTE in September 2005. A reference decoder implementation and test sequences are also available. This codec is used to distribute high definition video on standard DVDs in a format Microsoft has branded as '''WMV HD''', which can be played back on computers or compatible DVD players.

== Container ==
Windows Media files use the [[ASF]] container. They generally have the file extension '''.wmv''', '''.wma''', '''.wm''' or '''.asf'''.

Windows Media codecs can also be used inside [[AVI]] files.

=== Codecs used in WMV files ===
See next paragraph for more information on codecs in WMV files.

== Codecs ==
{{codec video|id=WMV3|altid=WMV...|for=Windows Media}}
{{codec audio|id=WMA2|altid=WMA...|for=Windows Media}}
Windows Media often uses special native codecs for '''Windows Media Video''' and '''Windows Media Audio'''. WMV3 is often called "Windows Media 9".

{| class="wikitable"
! [[Fourcc]] !! [[Codec]] !! Supported by VLC? !! Comments
|-
| MP43 || [[MPEG-4]] || {{Up-to-date}} ||
|-
| WMV1 ||Windows Media Video v7 || {{Up-to-date}} ||
|-
| WMV2 || Windows Media Video v8 || {{Up-to-date}} || Not totally implemented for rare files
|-
| WMV3 || Windows Media Video 9 (v3) || {{Up-to-date}} || Not totally implemented for rare files (VBR)
|-
| WVC1, WMVA || Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile || {{Up-to-date}} || Not totally implemented for rare files (VBR)
|-
| WMVP || Windows Media Video 9 Image || {{Up-to-date}} || with [[dmo]] ONLY
|-
| WVP2 || Windows Media Video 9.1 Image (v2) || {{Up-to-date}} || with [[dmo]] ONLY
|-
| MSS1 || Windows Media Screen v7 || {{Up-to-date}} || with [[dmo]] ONLY
|-
| MSS2 || Windows Media Video 9 screen codec || {{Up-to-date}} || with [[dmo]] ONLY
|-
|}

More info on [http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb331872.aspx MSDN]

== Compatability ==

=== Protected content ===
Windows Media files may contain [[Digital Restrictions Management]] (DRM) facilities intended to protect copyrights. VLC does not play any DRM'd files.

=== Windows Media Video 3 ===
WMV3, the Video part of Windows Media 9, is supported in VLC since version 0.8.6. Upgrade to the latest version ({{VLC:latest version}}) to play WMV files. 

If you are unable to upgrade, there are still some fixes. If you're using Windows and have Windows Media Player 9/10 installed, VLC should be able to play these files, by using Microsoft's own files. Or, if you're using Linux, see the [[common problems]] page for a workarround.

=== On Windows Media Player (Mac) ===
Microsoft's Windows Media Player for the Mac does not support all WMV encoded files since it supports only the ASF file container.{{check}}