Video

Very important parameter of video file is browser support. Modern browsers have built-in mechanisms of playback of some common files - without any plugins. Other formats may require additional browser plugins (Windows Media Player, QuickTime Player, Flash Player etc.).

MP4/H.264

MP4 is actually container, which contains video compressed according to H.264 standard and audio in AAC or MP3 format. This is probably the most common modern format of video with compression. It is supported internally by almost all modern browsers (but not all). Lack of browser support is due to patent issues. Nevertheless, we recommend to use this format of audio (probably in bundle with OGG).

OGG

Quite common format of video with compression (.ogg, .ogv). Ogg is open source standard that have no patent or license restrictions. Format is developed by Xiph.Org consortium. It is supported internally by almost all modern browsers (but with the exception of Internet Explorer family). It is recommended to use this format as bundle to MP4.

WebM

Format of video with compression promoted by Google (.webm). This format has no patent or license restrictions. It is supported internally by many modern browsers, including mobile browsers (but with the exception of Internet Explorer family).

QuickTime

Format of video with compression promoted by Apple (.mov, .3gp). Browsers require Apple QuickTime Player plugin to play such files. This plugin is free, but some users may not have it nstalled, therefore it is not recommended to use such format.

Windows Media

Format of video with compression, that uses Microsoft Video codecs (.wmv, .avi). Browsers require Windows Media Player plugin to play such files. This plugin is free, but some users may not have it nstalled, therefore it is not recommended to use such format.

Flash Video

Flash-movies with embedded video (.flv, .f4v). Browsers require Adobe Flash Player plugin to play such files.

WARNING! Flash is outdated! Flash is no longer supported by browsers since 2021.

Bundle files

CourseLab runtime uses "bundle" technology to play MP4 files:

• runtime sends request to play MP4 to the browser,
• if the browser confirms that it can play this file, then runtime starts playback of the file,
• if the browser denies playing such file, then runtime sends request to play OGG to the browser,
• if the browser confirms that it can play OGG file, then runtime attempts to start playback of the file with the same name, but with .ogv extension.

Usually the browsers that do not support MP4 - supports OGG (and vice versa), therefore such MP4/OGG bundle allows to play video in almost any case. To make such bundle please prepare 2 video files: MP4 and OGG with the same name, but different extension (.mp4 and .ogv), select MP4 file as the main video file, then add the file with .ogv extension into the Module using special Additional files Object.

About MIME-types

Some browsers require that web-server must provide correct type of file in response header (so called MIME Type) an dp not start playback of file if the MIME type does not correspond to expected type. Some outdated LMS servers provide incorrect MIME types for modern media files. Therefore some "browser-server" combinations may lead to failure to play the file. This is not the course error - in this case you may need to configure web-server to provide correct MIME type.