Video Help

TigerTronics stores video in a number of formats, which can occassionally lead to playback problems. The software needed to play back all of the video and audio downloadable from our website is available on all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and some handheld devices. However, you may have trouble viewing some videos if you do not have the proper playback software or plugins (which may not be installed on your computer by default), or if network conditions do not permit streaming.

This page contains helpful information for anyone having difficulty playing the videos found on TigerTronics' website, including links to applications compatible with all of the video and audio formats used on our site.

General Troubleshooting

Browser or media player displays a message indicating it cannot play a video, it needs to download a plugin to play a video, or it can not find a program suitable to play a video

These error messages indicate you do not have the software on your computer needed to play the video file your have selected. If your browser or media player offers to automatically download and install an extension or plugin to play the video, it is recommended you allow your browser or media player to do so. Many media players and some browsers are capable of playing all the video formats TigerTronics uses but do not install the software needed to do so automatically. These browsers and media players generally ask to automatically install the necessary software when needed.

If your browser or media player does not automatically ask to download and install the necessary software to display a video file, see the section in "Video Formats" (below) which corresponds to the format of the video which is not playing correctly (the video format is given with the title and size of a video on the Videos page of TigerTronics' website. Examples include: MPEG-4, Theora, WMV, and MJPEG).

Either video or audio plays, but not both

If your computer's speakers are on and the volume is not muted (sound works except for the video), this problem is caused by a video file (typically AVI) which contains video (or audio) in a format your media player or browser is compatible with, but audio (or video) in a format it is not. Video files generally have distinct video and audio tracks, which may be encoded in different formats, causing this problem. Your media player or browser may ask you to install a plugin or extension to play the missing part of the video. If so, it is recommended you do. Otherwise, you a video player compatible with all of the video and audio formats used on TigerTronics' website, such as VLC Media Player. See the "Video Formats" section (below) for more information about media player and browser compatibility.

Video playback is not smooth, or pauses or buffers frequently

This issue is usually due to either too slow of a computer or too slow of an Internet connection. Some video formats (such as MJPEG) can be slow to decode, and some computers may have difficulity playing them smoothly.

If a video is buffering or pausing frequently, but playback is smooth which playing, the issue is most likely too slow of an Internet connection. Some of the videos on TigerTronics' website are encoded at high bitrates, and your Internet connection may be too slow to play them without frequent buffering. TigerTronics' server's Internet connect might be too slow as well. If this is the case, the following will work around the problem:

Pause the video and wait for it to competely load before playing it (many media players provide some sort of indication of how much of a video has been downloaded).
Download the video to your computer and play it from there.

Video Formats

AVI

AVI is a container format, which means it can contain audio, video, and other information in a variety of formats. Knowing a file is "an AVI file" does not give any indication as to what the actual format of the audio or video is. This means an AVI file which plays on one computer or program may not play correctly on a different computer or program. Almost all media players support the AVI container format, so their compatibility with an AVI file is determined by the format of the audio and video in the AVI file, not compatibility with AVI itself. Most AVI files on TigerTronics' website contain video in one of the below formats, so you'll need a browser or media player with the below formats to play the AVI files on TigerTronics' website.

MPEG-4

MPEG-4 is made up of a large number parts and specifications. The format provides good audio and video compression and is a common format. However, since it has so many parts, slightly different formats may still be considered MPEG-4, so in some cases a media player or browser which claims to "support MPEG-4 video" may not play every MPEG-4 video on TigerTronics' website.

Compatible Browsers and Media Players

Most media players are compatible with MPEG-4, although they many not be compatible with every part of MPEG-4.
VLC Media Player is compatible with MPEG-4, although some versions may not be compatible with every part without additional plugins.
MPlayer is compatible with MPEG-4, although some versions are not compatible with every part.

MJPEG

Motion JPEG (MJPEG) is a stream of JPEG compressed images, played together in rapid succession to create a video, along with uncompressed audio. It is most frequently produced by low end digital cameras. Although compressed, Motion JPEG is much less compressed than most other video formats, so it may not stream glitch free on all Internet connections. Motion JPEG video must be held in a container format such as MOV or AVI. On TigerTronics' website, MJPEG video is held in the AVI container format. Since the Motion JPEG format videos on TigerTronics website are a high bitrate but short, they are relatively small in size, and it is recommended they be downloaded and then played locally, to avoid streaming issues.

Compatible Browsers and Media Players

MJPEG is supported by many media players when used with the AVI container format, as it is on TigerTronics' website.
QuickTime can play MJPEG video.
VLC Media Player can play MJPEG videos.
MPlayer can play MJPEG videos.
An MJPEG plugin exists for most media players.

Theora

Theora is a free, high quality, patent and royalty free video format. It is frequently used with the Vorbis audio format. Theora video and Vorbis audio are generally found in files ending with ".ogg".

Compatible Browsers and Media Players

Firefox version 3.5 and higher can play Theora video directly in the browser with no external programs or plugins needed.
Recent versions of the Google Chrome and Apple Safari browsers can play Theora video directly in the browser with no external programs or plugins needed.
Internet Explorer can play Theora video with a plugin.
VLC Media Player can play Theora video.
Quicktime Player can play Theora video with a plugin.
MPlayer can play Theora video.
A Theora and Vorbis plugin exists for most media players.

WMV

Windows Media Video (WMV) is a video format invented by Microsoft and used in their Windows Media Player product (which also supports many other video formats). The format is also supported by other media players, although many support the format by using extensions of Windows Media Player which can plug into other media players.

Compatible Browsers and Media Players

Windows Media Player is compatible with WMV video.
RealPlayer can play WMV format video.
MPlayer can play WMV video.

Please contact the TigerTronics webmaster to report additional media players and browsers compatible with the video formats listed on this page.


	Video Help TigerTronics stores video in a number of formats, which can occassionally lead to playback problems. The software needed to play back all of the video and audio downloadable from our website is available on all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and some handheld devices. However, you may have trouble viewing some videos if you do not have the proper playback software or plugins (which may not be installed on your computer by default), or if network conditions do not permit streaming. This page contains helpful information for anyone having difficulty playing the videos found on TigerTronics' website, including links to applications compatible with all of the video and audio formats used on our site. General Troubleshooting Browser or media player displays a message indicating it cannot play a video, it needs to download a plugin to play a video, or it can not find a program suitable to play a video These error messages indicate you do not have the software on your computer needed to play the video file your have selected. If your browser or media player offers to automatically download and install an extension or plugin to play the video, it is recommended you allow your browser or media player to do so. Many media players and some browsers are capable of playing all the video formats TigerTronics uses but do not install the software needed to do so automatically. These browsers and media players generally ask to automatically install the necessary software when needed. If your browser or media player does not automatically ask to download and install the necessary software to display a video file, see the section in "Video Formats" (below) which corresponds to the format of the video which is not playing correctly (the video format is given with the title and size of a video on the Videos page of TigerTronics' website. Examples include: MPEG-4, Theora, WMV, and MJPEG). Either video or audio plays, but not both If your computer's speakers are on and the volume is not muted (sound works except for the video), this problem is caused by a video file (typically AVI) which contains video (or audio) in a format your media player or browser is compatible with, but audio (or video) in a format it is not. Video files generally have distinct video and audio tracks, which may be encoded in different formats, causing this problem. Your media player or browser may ask you to install a plugin or extension to play the missing part of the video. If so, it is recommended you do. Otherwise, you a video player compatible with all of the video and audio formats used on TigerTronics' website, such as VLC Media Player. See the "Video Formats" section (below) for more information about media player and browser compatibility. Video playback is not smooth, or pauses or buffers frequently This issue is usually due to either too slow of a computer or too slow of an Internet connection. Some video formats (such as MJPEG) can be slow to decode, and some computers may have difficulity playing them smoothly. If a video is buffering or pausing frequently, but playback is smooth which playing, the issue is most likely too slow of an Internet connection. Some of the videos on TigerTronics' website are encoded at high bitrates, and your Internet connection may be too slow to play them without frequent buffering. TigerTronics' server's Internet connect might be too slow as well. If this is the case, the following will work around the problem: Pause the video and wait for it to competely load before playing it (many media players provide some sort of indication of how much of a video has been downloaded). Download the video to your computer and play it from there. Video Formats AVI AVI is a container format, which means it can contain audio, video, and other information in a variety of formats. Knowing a file is "an AVI file" does not give any indication as to what the actual format of the audio or video is. This means an AVI file which plays on one computer or program may not play correctly on a different computer or program. Almost all media players support the AVI container format, so their compatibility with an AVI file is determined by the format of the audio and video in the AVI file, not compatibility with AVI itself. Most AVI files on TigerTronics' website contain video in one of the below formats, so you'll need a browser or media player with the below formats to play the AVI files on TigerTronics' website. MPEG-4 MPEG-4 is made up of a large number parts and specifications. The format provides good audio and video compression and is a common format. However, since it has so many parts, slightly different formats may still be considered MPEG-4, so in some cases a media player or browser which claims to "support MPEG-4 video" may not play every MPEG-4 video on TigerTronics' website. Compatible Browsers and Media Players Most media players are compatible with MPEG-4, although they many not be compatible with every part of MPEG-4. VLC Media Player is compatible with MPEG-4, although some versions may not be compatible with every part without additional plugins. MPlayer is compatible with MPEG-4, although some versions are not compatible with every part. MJPEG Motion JPEG (MJPEG) is a stream of JPEG compressed images, played together in rapid succession to create a video, along with uncompressed audio. It is most frequently produced by low end digital cameras. Although compressed, Motion JPEG is much less compressed than most other video formats, so it may not stream glitch free on all Internet connections. Motion JPEG video must be held in a container format such as MOV or AVI. On TigerTronics' website, MJPEG video is held in the AVI container format. Since the Motion JPEG format videos on TigerTronics website are a high bitrate but short, they are relatively small in size, and it is recommended they be downloaded and then played locally, to avoid streaming issues. Compatible Browsers and Media Players MJPEG is supported by many media players when used with the AVI container format, as it is on TigerTronics' website. QuickTime can play MJPEG video. VLC Media Player can play MJPEG videos. MPlayer can play MJPEG videos. An MJPEG plugin exists for most media players. Theora Theora is a free, high quality, patent and royalty free video format. It is frequently used with the Vorbis audio format. Theora video and Vorbis audio are generally found in files ending with ".ogg". Compatible Browsers and Media Players Firefox version 3.5 and higher can play Theora video directly in the browser with no external programs or plugins needed. Recent versions of the Google Chrome and Apple Safari browsers can play Theora video directly in the browser with no external programs or plugins needed. Internet Explorer can play Theora video with a plugin. VLC Media Player can play Theora video. Quicktime Player can play Theora video with a plugin. MPlayer can play Theora video. A Theora and Vorbis plugin exists for most media players. WMV Windows Media Video (WMV) is a video format invented by Microsoft and used in their Windows Media Player product (which also supports many other video formats). The format is also supported by other media players, although many support the format by using extensions of Windows Media Player which can plug into other media players. Compatible Browsers and Media Players Windows Media Player is compatible with WMV video. RealPlayer can play WMV format video. MPlayer can play WMV video. Please contact the TigerTronics webmaster to report additional media players and browsers compatible with the video formats listed on this page. TigerTronics is primarily sponsored by