# Smoothstreaming FourCC on video

**URL:** <https://community.wowza.com/t/smoothstreaming-fourcc-on-video/38338>\
**Category:** Wowza Streaming Engine\
**Created:** [March 16, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/smoothstreaming-fourcc-on-video/38338 "2012-03-16T15:08:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mal\_Hubert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Mal\_Hubert](https://community.wowza.com/u/Mal_Hubert)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/smoothstreaming-fourcc-on-video/38338/1 "2012-03-16T15:08:04Z")

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Hey All,

I’m using Wowza 2.2.4.07 (waiting for my Wowza 3 license), and I’m having trouble with playback on my STB client.

Looking at the Microsoft site [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff728116(v=vs.90).aspx](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff728116%28v=vs.90%29.aspx) it says

> When the Type of the StreamIndex element is video, the FourCC attribute indicates the video codec. Supported values are:
> 
> WVC1, which represents the VC-1 codec
> 
> AVC1, which represents H.264 MPEG 4 Part 15. Other synonyms are X264, DAVC, and H264.
> 
> AVCB, which represents H.264 MPEG 4 Annex B
> 
> **Note that X264, DAVC, H264 values should not be used; instead, use AVC1 as noted in the second bullet point above.**

Wowza appears to use the H264 FOURCC and it is stopping my STB client from playing, shouldnt it be using FOURCC AVC1 as per Microsoft ? Is this configurable at all ? Is this fixed in Wowza 3 or a another patch ?

Let me know, thanks.

Mal

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**Author:** ![Richard\_Lanham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Richard\_Lanham](https://community.wowza.com/u/Richard_Lanham)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/smoothstreaming-fourcc-on-video/38338/2 "2012-03-16T18:53:58Z")

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Wowza reflects the stream source.

Richard

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**Author:** ![Charlie\_Good](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.wowza.com/charlie_good/32/383_2.png) [@Charlie\_Good](https://community.wowza.com/u/Charlie_Good)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/smoothstreaming-fourcc-on-video/38338/3 "2012-03-19T03:42:29Z")

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I believe with Wowza Media Server 3 this is still set to H264. I will do a little research and look into either changing it to AVC1 or will make it configurable. I do not have a timeframe as to when this will happen but will report back to this thread with progress.

Charlie

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**Author:** ![Charlie\_Good](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.wowza.com/charlie_good/32/383_2.png) [@Charlie\_Good](https://community.wowza.com/u/Charlie_Good)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/smoothstreaming-fourcc-on-video/38338/4 "2012-03-19T15:20:49Z")

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I did add support for chaning this value. Install Wowza Media Server 3.0.5 then install this patch:

WowzaMediaServer3.0.5-patch4.zip

Then add the following property to the HTTPStreams/Properties in [install-dir]/conf/[application]/Application.xml:

```auto
<Property>
	<Name>smoothStreamingVideoCodecIDH264</Name>
	<Value>AVC1</Value>
</Property>

```

We are still doing research to determine if we will change the default value to AVC1.

Charlie

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mal\_Hubert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Mal\_Hubert](https://community.wowza.com/u/Mal_Hubert)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/smoothstreaming-fourcc-on-video/38338/5 "2012-03-18T21:28:32Z")

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> Wowza reflects the stream source.
> 
> Richard

Indeed and the source is indeed H264, however Microsoft suggests (see link) that use of H264 as FOURCC is invalid, and it should be AVC1. Ask Mr Knowlton 🙂

Mal