Error: The file requires the following codec to be installed on your system: xxx

[Alfonso Pérez Escudero]

This error message means that the format of video you are trying to track is incompatible with idTracker (because it is not compatible with Matlab). While in theory the problem can be solved by installing the missing codec, in practice I have never been able so solve it that way. Therefore, the only workaround is to transform the video into a different format. For example, mp4 usually works well with idTracker. You can transform your video using Handbrake or any other software for video manipulation.

[daniel...@gmail.com]

Using an Ubuntu 14.04 I followed these instructions below:

cd to (matlabroot)/sys/os/glnxa64/

Rename libstdc++.so.6 to backuplibstdc++.so.6

Rename libstdc++.so.6.0.10 to backuplibstdc++.so.6.0.10

Restart MATLAB and execute the code again.

It might also be necessary to install some extra codecs, but this may not be essential:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mc3man/trusty-media

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg

source: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/18173418/matlab-videoreader-codec-error/27024311#27024311?newreg=5a78bd12ca0446ae99fa3a1243b6b215