mkv codec only

[u53r_n4m3]

is there a codec that i can download that only contains the mkv codec? i've searched the internet and i only found codec packs with a bunch of stuff that i don't really need. i'm looking for one that has the mkv codec only and nothing else

thanks

[guns1inger]

mkv isn't a codec, it is another container format that may contain a number of different codecs for video and audio. I have seen mkvs with Xvid and MP3, or h.264 and aac.

Try playing it back in VLC - it uses it's own built-in codecs and will save you having to install lots of codecs just for viewing.

[celtic_druid]

A codec is for decoding and encoding audio/video streams. For a container you need a splitter or parser for playback and a muxer for muxing. Haali's splitter includes a muxer and Gabest has two seperate filters; a splitter and muxer.

Problem is that Haali's setup includes other filters (renderer avi, ogm, etc. splitter) and Gabest's are two seperate filters. So basically neither fit your requirement of a single filter. That is using your analogy of codec where you have decoding/encoding compared to muxing/demuxing.

As said though mkv can container many different audio, video and subtitle streams and without a decoder to connect to, a splitter isn't much good. You can probably handle a majority of mkv files though by installing ffdshow (XviD/ASP MPEG-4, AVC, vorbis and aac) and directvobsub together with Gabest's or Haali's splitter.

[u53r_n4m3]

if i have the splitter, would i be able to play them? that's all i really need since i not planning on making mkv files and i also have most of the codecs that i need (mpeg-4, vorbis, acc, xvid)

so all i really need is something to play an mkv in winmedia player.

wher can i get just the splitter? do i also need the muxer to play videos? if i do, where do i get just the muxer.


thanks

[Ai Haibara]

Just curious, but is there a reason you don't want to install the 'normal' (official) Matroska pack (from http://www.matroska.org/), for playing MKVs (in WMP and other players)?

[u53r_n4m3]

Just curious, but is there a reason you don't want to install the 'normal' (official) Matroska pack (from http://www.matroska.org/), for playing MKVs (in WMP and other players)?

i checked their site but i'm not sure which one to download. cuase i read the descriptions and some of them are packs, which i kinda down't wanna install.

[celtic_druid]

You don't need a muxer for playback. I simply suggested it going along with your codec request. For playback you just need the splitter, but that would be the equiv of a decoder, not a codec. A codec is required for encoding and decoding. For playback you only need a decoder. You asked for a codec, not a decoder though.

Basically you have
[SOURCE]-->[PARSER]-->[DECODER]-->[RENDERER]
or you can have a parser/splitter which is source and parser in one. Also there would be multiple streams normally so you have several connections from the splitter going to different decoders/renderers (audio, video, subtitles).

Just a splitter isn't enough, neither is just a valid decoder. Same applies to all container formats. Just that windows includes some filters by default (avi splitter, mp3 decoder, etc.).

There are basically two splitters; Haali's and Gabest's. Either as part of a pack or individually, you are going to have to install one or the other. Gabest's requires a seperate switcher for multiple streams. So it wouldn't be usefull with say WMP. Works well with MPC, but then MPC includes it anyway.

[Ai Haibara]

i checked their site but i'm not sure which one to download. cuase i read the descriptions and some of them are packs, which i kinda down't wanna install.

You don't need to be afraid of the packs on this page: http://packs.matroska.org/prev_index.php . (I know they're suggesting people use the CCCP pack instead, now, but I'm still not sure about that one and for the time being, I'm going to continue recommending the original Matroska setup packages instead.)

If you'd like to know what's in the pack/what it installs, you can find that information on this page: http://packs.matroska.org/Matroska_Pack_Full_v1.1.2_ReadMe.html

[u53r_n4m3]

i downloaded and installed cccp

is there a cccp or something like it for linux?

[celtic_druid]

Linux doesn't use dshow filters. I guess maybe gstreamer (for which there is an mkv plugin) is the closest equiv. mplayer, VLC, xine, etc. should all handle mkv. mplayer handles ssa/ass subtitles now to via libass.