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The term codec is an amalgamation of the terms compressor and decompressor. A codec is usually implemented as a pair of COM objects: one for encoding content, and another for decoding content. In some cases the COM objects occupy the same dynamically linked library (DLL).

Every codec object implements two separate but similar interfaces:

Not only are there different codecs for audio and for video, but also different codecs for different kinds of content that you might want to put into an audio or video file. The algorithms used to compress and decompress data for spoken words differ from the algorithms used to compress and decompress music data.

Codec Descriptions

The following table describes the intended uses of the Windows Media codecs.

Codec	Description
An audio codec that supports three categories of encoded content: Standard, Professional, and Lossless.
Audio codec optimized for encoding the human voice at high compression ratios. This is the preferred codec for streams consisting mostly of spoken words. For content that is mixed music and speech, this codec can dynamically change the encoding algorithm used, to get optimal quality.
A video codec that supports four categories of encoded content: Simple Profile, Main Profile, Advanced Profile, and Image..
Video codec optimized for encoding sequential screen shots from computer monitors. This codec is often used for software training or support by recording monitor images while computer applications are being used.

The most recent versions of the codec objects also enable access to some legacy codecs, including Windows Media Video 7 and 8, Windows Media Screen 7, the older Microsoft MPEG-4 codecs, and the Microsoft ISO MPEG-4 codecs.

Note This documentation does not cover these legacy codecs; it covers only the current versions of codecs.

For older codecs, use the same procedures as when using the current codecs; however, remember that not all features are supported in all codecs.

Source: msdn.microsoft.com

Windows Media Audio Format is a subtype of the Advanced Systems Format, developed by Microsoft for storing audio data streams. It comprises a Header Object, which describes the properties of the data streams, a Data Object, which contains the actual data streams stored in Data Packets and, optionally, one or more Index Objects. Audio data is...