best codec pack

[ecos]

hello!

1.whats the best codec pack?
2.is it possible to locate and install the most appropriate codec at the time I will need it? unfortunately, I use Media Player Classic, which asks for codecs to play a file, but it cant locate and download them

thanks!

[Krispy Kritter]

It is best to not install codec packs. Whenever you encounter a file that won't play. Use a program such as gSpot to verify the codec and then download and install the needed codec.

[mats.hogberg]

1.whats the best codec pack?

Yes, that's about the same question as "What is the best way to ruin my computer". Install the codec you need, as you need it. Pretty soon, you'll have a good setup for most video you can find. One good starting point is ffdshow - that codec alone takes care of many compression types.

/Mats

[ecos]

thanks for your reply

but, the gspot program I tried, cant tell me which codec is needed and where to download it

any other suggestions?

[mats.hogberg]

Yes, it can tell you what codec the file uses, if it's an AVI or mpg file (use latest beta version of GSpot - 2.52 last time I looked).
No, you do have to find the codec yourself. A good startingpoint is the Tools section of this site.

/Mats

[redwudz]

The 'best' codec pack is the one that you don't make the mistake of installing.
You can do a forum search for 'codec packs' and read quite a few horror stories of how people damaged their systems from installing one of those.

Gspot 2.52 should ID most needed codecs. It has problems with WMV and probably RM and a few obscure codecs, but a codec pack is unlikely to help you with them anyway.

And try VLC media player. It has it's own codecs and can play most any file.

[ecos]

thanks

is there any program that will attempt to dowload the codec?

[mats.hogberg]

Windows Media Player tries that every time it finds a file it can't decode. And fails every time.

/Mats

[Craig Tucker]

Indeed

[ecos]

haha yeah

media player classic too

[Ai Haibara]

I don't recall MPC ever trying to search the net for a codec.

[celtic_druid]

MPC does provide info when a decoder is missing though.

[ecos]

ok but this info seems so complicate

it says about audio, video codecs with many other details and I cant locate what I have to put in google to find the appropriate codec

[kschang]

So GSpot or MediaInfo it is.

[mats.hogberg]

ok but this info seems so complicate

That's the price you pay, when you blindly download (or otherwise aquire) stuff you don't know nothing about.

/Mats

[CrayonEater]

I haven't had the problems from codec packs other people here have been describing - I use the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack (I think I'm at 1.53 now), with xvid 1.10 installed separately, and I'm happy, except that Media Player Classic is included (crappy interface IMO, even compared to WMP). But I would still take MPC over WMP any day, for security reasons alone.

[Jpesker]

I agree CrayonEater.

I think these Mods are bashing Codec Packs because they have had bad experiences with them and true, some do not uninstall correctly leaving you hanging in the dust if you never find out how to fix it (which has never happen to me with K-Lite Codec Pack). They can bash them all they want but I disagree.

http://www.free-codecs.com/K_Lite_Codec_Pack_download.htm
The site has every codec pack you could ever want to download. I know I had tried ACE Codec Pack and didn't care for it much. I use to use the K-Lite Mega but then went with the FULL version. I know, more is not always better, but I have used the K-Lite pack for years, and the only problem I see is with MPC not playing certain kinds of MPG files. So in the well-taken info advice given above, Gspot will tell me what Codec for MPG i need to get MPC to play it (I think NOT, but if I'm wrong here, PLEASE TELL ME). True, VLC Media Player is invaluable, and it looks like if MPC can't figure out these problems with MPG's, I will continue to use VLC for 95% of my playing files. I just wish VLC added a way to ZOOM the sides of a video's bad aspect ratios (dimensions) the way you can in MPC 6.4 mod, then I would give it a perfect score.

[mats.hogberg]

@ JPesker: Don't dig up every old thread that contains warnings about using codec packs, just to make your point.

/Mats

[Jpesker]

GSpot 2.6 Beta is out

GSpot260b00.zip (v2.60 ß00 Build 20060904) [377 KB]

http://www.headbands.com/gspot/v26x/gspot260b00.zip

[lordsmurf]

I'm sorry, but if you use a codec pack, you're a dumbass. A lazy dumbass.

You can just as easily install codecs you need, one by one. It keeps your system clean, and if a codec causes a system problem, you'll know exactly which one is at fault (the last one you added!).

Using a codec pack is often more harmful than a computer virus or spyware.

The people who assemble these packs are warez monkeys, and not really all that knowledgeable about video. You need only look at their "DVD quality" cam crap to understand that.

[Jpesker]

Not that old of a thread, and I need to ask a question related to the question asked here.

Gspot as far as I know, says oh, that is MPG, and everything is installed correctly, yet MPG's still won't play in MPC (Is this a possible side effect of using Packs?). I noticed you say go to the Tools section, and try ffdshow etc.

Maybe this is related to the makers of Codec Packs not installing the codecs right, not sure for this one. MPC will crash for half of my MPG files. I've been trying to narrow this down for the last 6 months (for those of us who DO install CODEC PACKS).

[Jpesker]

I know when I go into MPC Internal Filters and Check MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 on the RIGHT, this seems to help it play MPGs better, but I seem to constantly go back and forth with it playing and not playing, crashing and not crashing, Media Player Classic for MPGs and M2Vs ONLY. How do I SEE the problem without guessing, or what Codec should I install by itself individually? Directshow? What?

[guns1inger]

Try using codec sniper to determine if you have any obviously broken codecs, and remove them.

However, to state that you have used codec packs with only a few problems, therefore they are good is equivelent to saying I have crossed the freeway with my eyes closed many times, and only been clipped once or twice, therefore it is safe. The odds are very definately in favour of you getting into serious trouble sooner rather than later.