How to tell which codec is used?

[sundance]

Hi folks,

for years I've been using MediaPlayer Classic together with ffdshow on my XP machine. No complaints.
Now I installed those two on my new notebook (came pre-installed with Windows XP-SP3). Problem is: When I playback a movie (e.g. x264/AC3) both video and audio is OK but (opposite to my home pc) here only ffdshow's video icon shows up in the taskbar, and not both video and audio (of course, both ffdshow codecs are configured to display the tray icon).
Is there a way to find out what codec is currently used to decode the sound track?

.sundance.

[DarkZell666]

In the Play > Filters menu ?

[sundance]

Aaah, now I see. (How blind can one be?)

This gives me a list like that:
- Default DirectSound Device
- Video Renderer
- Audio Switcher
- ffdshow Video Decoder
- AC3 Audio Decoder
- AC3 Audio Decoder
- [filename]

Clicking on either of the "AC3 Audio Decoder" items, a properties window show up (see attachments).
But unfortunatelly, I can't find out who supplied that decoders (AC3, DTS and AAC); there's an OEM version of WinDVD5 on that particular notebook but AAC decoding in WinDVD5?

Is there a way to force the use of ffdshow's audio decoders?

[nurbs]

I'm not on a windows pc right now so I can't check, but I think you are using MPCs internal AC3 decoder. You can deactivate it in the settings.

[sundance]

but I think you are using MPCs internal AC3 decoder...Bingo!
Thanks a lot pal, you made my day!
Somehow I forgot that MPC has some onboard codes, too.
After deselcting AC3 it now uses ffdshow's decoder (and displays the appropriate tray icon...)