vReveal can open many different types of videos. However, vReveal doesn't come with any decoders on its own. Instead, vReveal relies on DirectShow codecs that are available on your PC to to open a video. In addition, vReveal relies on a DirectShow wrapper for QuickTime codecs, which enables it to open file formats supported by Apple’s QuickTime.

Other video players and editors may come with their own decoders -- popular examples are VLC and RealPlayer. But the fact that a file plays OK in a non-DirectShow player is (unfortunately) not related in any way with its compatibility with vReveal.

To get an idea on how a file should behave in vReveal (or any other DirectShow-based application), we recommend opening it in a free tool called GraphStudio (download link in the middle of the page). vReveal uses the same graph of filters to open audio and video streams.

The only alternative to native DirectShow filters in vReveal is QuickTime (we always test vReveal with the latest QuickTime version, which is currently 7.6.9). If a file plays OK in QuickTime, it should play OK in vReveal -- you just need to check the option “try to open with QuickTime, first” under Tools/Options.

Using Monogram GraphStudio and QuickTime, you can easily debug any problem with importing files into vReveal. For example, you may discover that an unexpected codec is trying to open your audio or video stream and having problems with it. Disabling or unistalling it may solve your file compatibility problems.

If you’ve tried it all and you still can’t open your file in vReveal, but it plays OK in graphstudio or QuickTime, you can help us debug the problem by uploading it at http://upload.vreveal.com/. Please attach a detailed description of your problem and link the original Forum post.

There is a 100MB limit; if your file is bigger than that, we recommend using a tool that will trim it without re-encoding. You can use a tool like Video Splitter for this (30-day free trial available).