Hmm, I usually just install xvid and VLC. Even do it on lab computers with students throwing all kinds of crap at VLC and it plays almost everything without a problem
I've always used CCCP but I think I am gonna go the Thrax way on this and see how it goes as it's true there's a lot you won't touch unless you do alot of work with them all. BTW does those codecs support MKV Thrax?
MKV is just a container format. It contains any codec inside of it. Most MKV files are XViD or H264, both of which will be supported by the codecs I've listed.
That said, it's also important to have a good player. I prefer Media Player Classic, but others support VLC. Either way, one of these two is essential.
One nice thing with VLC is that you don't need to install codec's for VLC. Just install VLC and your done if all you want is playback through VLC.
Yep, that's it exactly. I use VLC for everything but Quicktime but I install XVID on lab machines since some people prefer WMP but anything else and I'll just tell them to use VLC.
Oh, so what do you guys use for DVD decoding? I know Vista comes with it built in but XP and Server 2008 don't, I usually just fire up VLC for DVDs but I have noticed some deinterlacing poo on some DVDs.
CCCP isn't really a codec pack either. All it has is the most current build of FFDShow (the same engine that powers VLC), a container splitter (Haali), and a subtitle renderer (DirectVobSub). The bonus is that I can use whatever DShow-capable media player I want instead of just being limited to one player.
I recently had preoblems with k-lite. I tried to download and the first page which appeared to be the K-Lite home page wanted me to register before I downloaded. I then found another mirror site and when I downloaded it Avira came up with a warning that the pack contained a trojan!
I think I am with Thrax as well that it is better to just download the ones you need.
As an asside is it possible to tell what codec has been used to compress a file if you don't have the codec installed?
Oh, so what do you guys use for DVD decoding? I know Vista comes with it built in but XP and Server 2008 don't, I usually just fire up VLC for DVDs but I have noticed some deinterlacing poo on some DVDs.
Vista home basic doesn't. You have to have premium.
I've used CCCP with any number of media players for DVD playback (FFDShow includes everything you need). However, on most of my machines I've changed the decoder priority to favor the Nero DVD decoder included in most versions of Nero Burning ROM since it can interface with my nVidia graphics cards' PureVideoHD features.
Comments
-drasnor
You really only need a few:
QuickTime Lite
XViD
DiVX
AC3 Filter
OGG Directshow
That should take care of damn near anything.
That said, it's also important to have a good player. I prefer Media Player Classic, but others support VLC. Either way, one of these two is essential.
Yep, that's it exactly. I use VLC for everything but Quicktime but I install XVID on lab machines since some people prefer WMP but anything else and I'll just tell them to use VLC.
-drasnor
I think I am with Thrax as well that it is better to just download the ones you need.
As an asside is it possible to tell what codec has been used to compress a file if you don't have the codec installed?
Vista home basic doesn't. You have to have premium.
-drasnor
Oh, gotcha
So any suggestions
-drasnor
I tried both K-lite, and CCCP.
K-lite was.. odd. And it didnt work very well with GOM player, from my experience.
CCCP, I havent had a problem with yet. So, IMHO, CCCP.