The Ogg bitstream format, spearheaded by the Xiph.Org Foundation, has been created as the framework of a larger initiative aimed at developing a set of components for the coding and decoding of multimedia content, which are available free of charge and freely re-implementable in software.

The Ogg container format can multiplex a number of independent streams for audio, video, text (such as subtitles), and metadata. The format consists of chunks of data each called an Ogg Page. Each page begins with the "OggS" string to identify the file as Ogg format.

In the Ogg multimedia framework, Theora provides a lossy video layer. The audio layer is most commonly provided by the music-oriented Vorbis format but other options include the human speech compression codec Speex, the lossless audio compression codec FLAC, and OggPCM.

OGG is a popular free container format suitable for audio and video streams. Quite often it is used with the Vorbis codec; the latter is known to be quite effective for encoding music. Thus pure audio files in OGG format are often referred to as OGG Vorbis files.

However, the problem with audio files in OGG format is the same as with many other formats. Many devices simply don't support the format. That's why many people still prefer keeping their collections in MP3 format. The latter is supported by a wide range of devices, including portable players, mobile phones, DVD players, etc.

To convert OGG to MP3, you can use a tool like AudioConverter Studio.

Step 1: Download and install the program.

Download AudioConverter Studio to a known location. Run setup and follow its on-screen instructions to install the application.

Step 2: Start the program. Select OGG files to convert.

Launch AudioConverter Studio. By default the program starts in the Wizard mode. If for some reason the Wizard isn't shown, press Ctrl + W on your keyboard, or choose Show Wizard from the File menu.

Select to convert a group of files and click Next.

A usual Open dialog will pop up. Browse to the folder where your OGG files are stored, select the ones that you want to convert to MP3. Click Open.

The files will be added to the conversion list.

You can add more files, or remove some mistakenly added files from the list. If you need to convert only selected OGG files, just click Next.

Step 3: Set output folder and filename format.

The next step of the wizard asks for output folder (1) and filename format (2).

You can set any folder on your computer as output folder. If you want to use the same folder where the input files are stored, you can check the corresponding box in the Options menu.

The second option, output filename format, allows to rename files while converting. However, if you choose something different from <Old filename> here, the corresponding information should be present in ID3 fields of the source files. While renaming, AudioConverter Studio can also create folders.

If you are not sure which filename format to select, it is always safe to use Old filename.

Click Next to continue.

Step 4: Set MP3 quality.

The next step offers to set an output format and its quality. You can choose MP3 here.

Quality settings (bit rate, frequency, mode) can be freely adjusted within their ranges, but you can use default settings.

Prelisten conversion means that only a few seconds of each song will be converted. You don't need this option, so you can simply uncheck it.

Click Next.

Step 5: Check your settings. Convert OGG to MP3.

The final page of the wizard shows a summary.

Check the settings and click Finish to start converting your OGG files to MP3 format.

The trial version of AudioConverter Studio is fully functional for 30 days of its trial period.

OGG is a multimedia container format that can store video, audio, and lots of other multimedia content. A file with an .OGG extension generally contains audio. Xiph.org maintains the OGG multimedia container as well as several types of OGG audio that you can use, including vobis, theora, and speex.

Here are a variety of methods in which you can enjoy audio in the OGG container.

Easiest Method -- VLC Media Player

The VideoLAN client player does not only support the OGG multimedia container, but it also supports the Vorbis, Theora and Speex formats, meaning that right from installation is able to play the vast majority of OGG files you will obtain.

The player directly supports OGG without the need for DirectShow filters or special codecs to be installed. If you are looking for a quick solution then this is certainly it, but if you want to look at other examples of these players or learn to play with Windows Media Player and store it in your Media Library, then read on.

You can get VLC for Windows from this URL.

Click File and click the Open File option.

Now, click the Browse button next to the first white line at the top of the window with title Open.. and navigate through your harddrive for the OGG file you wish to listen to and select it. After you have selected the file, click OK and VLC will start playing the OGG audio you chose.

For other Operating Systems...

Mac: http://www.afterdawn.com/software/alternative_platforms/mac_software/vlc_for_mac.cfm

Linux: http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/video_players/vlc_linux.cfm

Another Player with Direct Support for OGG - Foobar 2000

One of the most excellent audio players and converters available is Foobar 2000. It is available as a free download from AfterDawn and it natively supports OGG format. It also will allow you to easily convert it to another format or edit the tag information.

Download Foobar 2000 from AfterDawn at:

http://www.afterdawn.com/software/audio_software/audio_players/foobar2000.cfm

Play OGG in Windows Media Player and other DirectShow players

It is totally possible to play OGG files in Windows Media Player and technically any DirectShow-based player. Before you look at Windows Media Player directly, please first take a look at Media Player Classic, because with Windows Media Player, you will also need to install a plug-in to read the OGG tags correctly.

The first thing you need is a DirectShow filter. For OGG, you can download the Illiminable OGG Directshow Filter that adds support to DirectShow-based players for OGG.

Download it from:

http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/codecs_and_filters/oggcodecs.cfm

Download Media Player Classic from:

http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/video_players/media_player_classic.cfm

Install Illiminable OGG Directshow Filter

Once you have downloaded the DirectShow filter you will have to install it. The install process is very easy, just accept the license agreement and click Next until it is complete. There is nothing to configure now, but if everything went correctly you should be able to play OGG in DirectShow-based players like Media Player Classic and Windows Media Player.

With Windows Media Player however, while you can now play the files, the tag information (album info, artist info etc.) that is useful for the Media Library won't actually work. However you can fix that with WMP Tag Support Extender.

Download WMP Tag Support Extender.

Install WMP Tag Support Extender

When you have downloaded WMP Tag Support Extender, run the installer. It is just a basic install and requires you to just clicking Next until it is complete, at which time, you can click Close.

Now you must configure Windows Media Player to use this add-on.

Configure Windows Media Player for WMP Tag Support Extender - 1

Open Windows Media Player. If you do not have the latest Windows Media Player, this might not work.

Download Windows Media Player by clicking here.

Now open Windows Media Player and you should see something similar to the picture located to the right of this text. Right-click somewhere on the top bar and scroll your pointer down to Tools --> Plug-ins --> WMPTagSupportExtender Plugin. This usually is already selected.

Make sure that there is a tick beside this plug-in or else Windows Media Player won't use it while playing OGG audio. Now there is another bit of configuring to do. Again, right click in the same spot, navigate to Tools --> Plug-ins --> Options and left-click on Options. This will open Windows Media Player Options in the Plug-in tab.

Configure Windows Media Player for WMP Tag Support Extender - 2

In the Plug-in tab in options you will see a list underneath Category. As you can see from the picture, you need to click Background. Now from the list that appears below, click on WMPTagSupportExtender (don't untick the box, click the text) and then move the mouse below to the Properties button and click it. This will now open a new window.

Configure Windows Media Player for WMP Tag Support Extender - 3

Now as you can see in the picture, a new Window will pop-up with settings for WMP Tag Support Extender. From here you can change some of the Read/Write options for tags. I recommend selecting Allow Write and then selecting both the options available to you below it.

Once you are done, click Refresh Now to refresh your library, then click OK. This should now work.

OGG files, which are also called OGM files, are video files that need to be converted to other video file formats to be used with most programs and devices. Using a video converter program, you can easily convert your OGG files to WMV files that you can use with other things. The River Past Video Cleaner is a popular OGG to WMV video converter program that can quickly convert all of your OGG files to WMV files.

Instructions

Step 1

Find the River Past Video Cleaner on the CNET Download Center and download and install it onto your computer. The River Past Video Cleaner is software that is free to download and use for a trial period.

Step 2

Download other needed items. To work with the OGG files, you will need to download and install either the Radlight Ogg Media Filters or the Torbias' OGG DirectShow Filters. The CCCP, which is a codec, may also be needed and can be download from River Past.

Step 3

Select the OGG files. In the River Past Video Cleaner program, click on the button labeled Add File and select the OGG files you want to convert. Multiple OGG files can be converted at the same time.

Step 4

Tweak output settings. For your output settings, be sure to select WMV as the output file type in the drop-down.

The audio and video quality settings can also be changed from their default setting of good, or standard, quality. Set the location of the new WMV files under the Output Directory setting.

Click Browse button so that you can get the files saved to a place where you can find them.

Step 5

Convert to WMV. There is a convert button on the toolbar that you will need to click to start the file conversion. A pop-up will appear once the OGG to WMV conversion is complete. Click OK, and you will be able to use the new WMV files that you have created.