Where to get Functional h.264 codec

[thunderpanda]

I am using a program called skystudio pro to make time lapse videos. It encodes on the fly, from what I understand, using a codec, like most video programs. I cannot for the life of me find a functional h.264 codec for free to install. I downloaded a couple that self-install but don't show up in this program or others. Since they come as .exe's, there are no files for me to manually install.

All I am trying to do is use a codec to achieve reasonable quality and file size for HD video. I had no idea it was this difficult. I am trying to achieve what most high quality .mkv movies have. You can have a great looking 1080p movie, 2.5 hours, less than 10gb. Every codec I have tried has taken either massive hits to quality or little file size reduction (often both).

I am not sure if this program supports creating files that are not .avi's, and I have no idea if that matters or not. I am also not positive if this is the right forum to post this in. Any help would be appreciated.

[jagabo]

Try x264vfw. But x264 won't encode in realtime unless you use very fast settings and have a fast computer.

[epsilonalpha]

I had no idea it was this difficult.

Well now, who would have thought!

Try Handbrake if you want something straightforward, x264 if you don't mind CLI, and read some guide about h.264 encoding.

[thunderpanda]

Thanks guys! I tried the x264vfw codec, it installed fine and seems to have done the job, and they look great! And at a tiny fraction of the file size. That's awesome.

Out of curiosity, do you know offhand if there is a way to get it to play in a media player like VLC? Another codec or something maybe? It plays great in Windows Media Player but VLC won't play it, it doesn't recognize the encoding type. Which is weird since I have that codec I used to make it obviously... I guess it is not absolutely necessary but it would certainly be nice. Thanks again!

[thunderpanda]

Thanks guys! The x264vfw codec worked great! I guess I don't actually know that it is encoding in real time, but it works great, good quality and tiny file size.

One question though, do you happen to know offhand if there is a way to get this file to play in VLC? It plays great in Windows media player but VLC won't play it. Which is weird since you would think it could use the codec I used to MAKE the file but apparently it doesn't. Thanks!

[usually_quiet]

Thanks guys! The x264vfw codec worked great! I guess I don't actually know that it is encoding in real time, but it works great, good quality and tiny file size.

One question though, do you happen to know offhand if there is a way to get this file to play in VLC? It plays great in Windows media player but VLC won't play it. Which is weird since you would think it could use the codec I used to MAKE the file but apparently it doesn't. Thanks!

A codec can be just a compressor, or just a decompressor. They do not always include both. x264vfw is strictly a compressor.

VLC uses its own decompressors, while WMP uses Direct Show filters like ffdshow, which I think includes a h.264 decompressor. I would have thought VLC could decode h.264 files too, and I can't tell you why it doesn't.

[jagabo]

VLC plays h.264 in AVI (made with VirtualDub and x264vfw) on my computer. Upload a short sample...