Codec info

[stigslim]

Just a quicky, i have just done a fresh install of XP and i am looking to find out which codc pack is best.Now i know some of them are bloated and have stuff you don't need.I am loking for a simple pack with no frills so to speak, an wold be very greatfull if someone could point me in the right direction.Thanx in advance for your help.

[redwudz]

Simple answer, none of them. They range from bad to worse. If I was going to recommend any codec solution, it would be ffdshow. It's not a codec pack, but will enable play of most common formats of video.

From there, Gspot or MediaInfo will tell you what codecs you need, then you can install just them. Some codec packs are known to install the wrong codecs, old codecs, incompatible codecs, and often overwrite existing good codecs. Worst case, they can damage the system enough to require a re-install to clean up the mess.

[stigslim]

well i am looking to convert on the PC mentioned but only resolution so i can fit my DivX on a handheld.Will putting ffdshow allow me to do this or do i need to install each codec as i need it?

[redwudz]

What brand/model of handheld? There are quite a few converters especially for handheld/portable devices: https://www.videohelp.com/tools/sections/portable-mobile-psp-ipod

If you look at the documentation for your device, you should see what formats/settings it requires.

The codec itself is just part of it. It's the codec settings themselves that are more important. Framerate, framesize, bitrate, etc. One of the programs from the link above would usually be the easier way to do that sort of conversion.

ffdshow is mainly for playback (Decoding). I still install the Xvid and Divx codecs for encoding, and a few others that I use occasionally.