Do I need the LAV filters to play flac files on wmp?

[lascetic]

I was wondering if I need the LAV filters or I can just install the flac codecs? I'm really not sure I even understand the difference. Are both options more or less the same? Will I be able to add artwork to my flac files?

[lascetic]

I still haven't figured out what is the best codec to install for flac and WAV. Any suggestions?

[El Heggunte]

LAV Filters is the way to go. Not sure why would you prefer WMP to MPC-BE though.

Editing tags and cover art in FLAC files is a different subject, and foobar2000 makes the job easier (IMHO at least).

[lascetic]

The only reason I stay with wmp is the library folder view, that I haven't seen in any other (I tried jungle, musicbee and foobar). It is the way I short my music that makes folder view more convenient, otherwise I would run away from wmp. I also use mp3tag which I think works with flac. I used to install k-lite (only the flac and wav codecs) but after all I've heard about it, I steer away.
Thanks a lot for the suggestion, I'm gonna give it a go.

[Cornucopia]

Lav may be a preferred way, but there are many options. I find it easy and straightforward to just install the Dshow codecs.

Don't know what you are getting on about with "wav codecs". Wav has been directly supported by Windows since v3.1.

Scott

[lascetic]

Lav may be a preferred way, but there are many options. I find it easy and straightforward to just install the Dshow codecs.

Don't know what you are getting on about with "wav codecs". Wav has been directly supported by Windows since v3.1.

Scott

I just want to install as less as possible to avoid possible incompatibilities. How do Dshow codecs compare to LAV? What are the differences?

I think there is some format similar to WAV that can't be played without codecs. Maybe it's "wave"?

[Cornucopia]

1. The Dshow filters are only codecs/splitters for Ogg + Flac (IIRC). LAV filters have additional codecs/splitters for a wider range of types. Both seem to work fine. The dshow filters woud seem to have a somewhat smaller footprint, but I'd guess the difference is minimal.

2. WAV is a container (RIFF-type, similar to AVI). Same thing as "wave". It can contain a number of types of audio data, either compressed or uncompressed.
Native support is include in Windows for: LPCM, ADPCM, Float PCM, possibly mp3-compressed. There are some other compressed codec types that can be encapsulated within WAV that you would need plugins for (AC/3, DTS, etc), but they are not that common. What you may be encountering is the difference between WAVEFORMAT and WAVEFORMATEX subtypes. The WAV spec has been updated a few times. Some apps still only support the original spec, some support orig+later/latest specs.

Like I said before, for 90% of users out there, you shouldn't need to do ANYTHING extra to support WAV.

Scott

[lascetic]

1. The Dshow filters are only codecs/splitters for Ogg + Flac (IIRC). LAV filters have additional codecs/splitters for a wider range of types. Both seem to work fine. The dshow filters woud seem to have a somewhat smaller footprint, but I'd guess the difference is minimal.

2. WAV is a container (RIFF-type, similar to AVI). Same thing as "wave". It can contain a number of types of audio data, either compressed or uncompressed.
Native support is include in Windows for: LPCM, ADPCM, Float PCM, possibly mp3-compressed. There are some other compressed codec types that can be encapsulated within WAV that you would need plugins for (AC/3, DTS, etc), but they are not that common. What you may be encountering is the difference between WAVEFORMAT and WAVEFORMATEX subtypes. The WAV spec has been updated a few times. Some apps still only support the original spec, some support orig+later/latest specs.

Like I said before, for 90% of users out there, you shouldn't need to do ANYTHING extra to support WAV.

Scott

Hey Scott. Thanks a lot. That was really helpful. I have one more question. Is it possible (and maybe easier) to just instal the flac codec? From where can I safely download the dshow filters or the flac codec?
I have few wave files that don't have the wmp (or any other) icon (just white) and I have to click open, choose a program and if I choose wmp it still gives a warning that it might not be able to play it (though it does). That was not happening (for the same files) when I had the k-lite pack installed. So, I thought I missed some codecs. VLC also plays them but they don't have the orange vlc icon by default.

[Cornucopia]

Google "flac". 1st & 2nd hits: http://flac.sourceforge.net/download.html

Icon is just what app "owns" by default that particular extension. Can easily be changed either manually (via Explorer [View | FileTypes]...) or automatically when installing or uninstalling apps.

Scott

[lascetic]

I'm gonna try to install just the flac codec and see how it goes. Thanks a lot for the help.

[lascetic]

I tried installing flac from the suggested link but wmp wouldn't play flac files. So I uninstalled it and installed the LAV filters. I can now play them but they don't appear in wmp's library. In my old pc I used to have k-lite codec pack and the files where showing in library, tagged as well. I'm just trying to avoid k-lite at the moment. Are there any suggestion's of how to make the flac files appear in wmp's library?

I also have another question. Many people claim they had problems with codec packages. What if I install K-lite and choose only the flac codec from the package? Should be alright, no?

[Cornucopia]

Did you just install the main codec at that link? or did you go further down the page and install the Directshow filters that would allow you specifically to play in WMP? (it mentions that specifically in the "Players and plugins" section)

AVOID K-lite, and similar packages.

Scott

[lascetic]

Did you just install the main codec at that link? or did you go further down the page and install the Directshow filters that would allow you specifically to play in WMP? (it mentions that specifically in the "Players and plugins" section)

AVOID K-lite, and similar packages.

Scott

I installed the main codec because I only figured out later that I had to install the particular one for wmp. Meanwhile I installed media jukebox (that plays flac files) and it looks alright until now. So I'm gonna "play" a little with it and see how it goes. The library is decent (for my preferences) and it seems to be very configurable. If I'm happy, I may not have to install the codecs.

Thanks for coming back to the thread.