Two sets of codecs installed - is that bad?

[lilblu]

If I have ffdshow installed do I need to remove any pre-existing codecs? I was reading something about the K-lite codecs and how it was important to remove any pre-existing codecs because it could cause damage to the computer. I don't know if that's true or even what that's supposed to mean. Can anyone clear up this confusion for me? Thanks.

[guns1inger]

Simple answer is not to use codec packs at all. K-lite etc ate all asking for trouble.

FFDShow is not a codec pack in the same way that k-lite is. K-lite and the like a collection of many different codecs, complete with has-arsed installers, often conflicting settings, and a tendency to be unable to be removed cleanly after the fact.

The first and best option is to install only the codecs you really need for converting, and to use a self-contained player, such as VLC or The KM Player, that don't require many external codecs. If you do need something broader then use FFDShow.

But don't put k-lite and it's ilk on your system if you value it in any way.

[lilblu]

Here's another question for you.

When I tried to play a file that had AC3 audio, the sound was kind of choppy. I went into the audio settings of ffdshow and noticed that AC3 was disabled. I changed it to libavcodec and now the sound plays fine. Why is that?

[guns1inger]

Whatever codec you had been using for AC3 playback wasn't doing a very good job. You chose a different codec through FFDShow to decode it, and you problem was fixed. Part of the problem with codec packs is that you often get conflicting settings and codecs that interfere with each other. You then get unstable or unpredictable playback, and can waste long hours tryong to resolve the issue.

[lordsmurf]

Putting a codec pack on your computer is about on par with sticking your pecker in a blender. What happens afterward ain't pretty.

[filmboss80]

LOL, lordsmurf! Best analogy I've heard so far.