Vista Codec Pack Help

[RonDMC]

I need some help with my Vista media centre with Vista codec pack installed. I have some mkv files with embedded subtitles and can't turn them off.

The settings I am after are:

Audio default to english
Subtitles off
Only display forced subtitles

I have tried going through all the settings and managed to change it a while back but I updated my codecs and now it has reset all my settings.

If anyone can help would be much appreciated, cheers.

[Sharktooth]

Codec Packs are EVIL. NEVER EVER install or use one of them. Remove it and install Haali media splitter and FFDshow. It's enough to watch/decode almost everything, including subs.
If you want, you can use a decent player (MPC-HC) and install also quicktime or real alternative...
If yuo dont want to mess with this stuff there is also Mplayer, VLC... etc, all in one solutions without the need of codecs.

[RonDMC]

thanks for the reply but as mentioned I am using Vista media centre so everything is played through media player. I will try removing the codec pack and just installing what you mentioned although Haali media splitter and FFDshow are contained in the codec pack I have installed, if these two are all that I need to pretty much play anything then I will give it a shot.

Question though, which one of these contains the settings to modify the default language, subtitles off and only display forced subtitles? Sorry don't really know anything about codecs.

cheers

[Sharktooth]

the media center uses DShow so haali MS and ffdshow will still work correctly.
Language depends on the player, subtitles on/off can be set in FFDShow.
There is also a whole media center based on all in one solutions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MediaPortal

[clsid]

I think VCP hides all systemtray icons by default. Which is very stupid because that makes it harder to adjust settings things during playback. So configure Haali, ffdshow and DirectVobSub to display their icons.

But if you want a good codec pack, switch to either K-Lite or CCCP.

[Sharktooth]

i cant stress more the fact there's no need for a codec pack when you infact need only 2 softwares or just a player.
however, except for some rare cases, codec packs are the source of all playback problems.

[RonDMC]

I have enabled the system tray icons for VCP and can adjust it that way but after I play a video each time the settings change back. I have to minimise media centre and it kinda of takes away from the media centre experience so thats why I want to change the settings for good as the tray icons don't seem to keep the settings.

[Sharktooth]

as i said... evil...

[clsid]

You did not mention which settings, but some are supposed to reset itself after playback. You can however configure Haali Media Splitter to always use some preferred language for subtitles and audio. But that only works with embedded stuff.

If you want subtitles to default to disabled, then you can find an option for that in DirectVobSub.

[Sharktooth]

you can also use ffdshow subtitles function which has persistent settings.

[clsid]

But it also has many limitations...

[RonDMC]

as i said... evil...

It may be evil and install lots of crap I don't need but at least it works with everything I throw at it and without stuffing around. I just installed FDDshow and Haali and I get no video just audio.

All I want to do is set MKV files so they default to english language and only displayed forced subtitles I can't believe it's this hard.

BTW all the files I have issues with have embedded subtitles and multiple embedded audio tracks. The other thing is when I minimise media centre and change the audio and subtitle options in the system tray it unpauses the movie and I can hear the audi go to english once I click back in media centre it changes back to audio stream 1 in the file which is not english, if I play the file outside of media centre its all ok and I can change the language in the system tray and it doesn't change back. I had this sorted at one point but I can't remember the damn options there are so many it makes things confusing.

[clsid]

What are 'forced' subtitles? Because I think that isn't something that actually exists.

Haali Media Splitter has options to configure your preferred audio language.

[RonDMC]

What are 'forced' subtitles? Because I think that isn't something that actually exists.

Haali Media Splitter has options to configure your preferred audio language.

an example of forced subtitles is where the movies is in english for example and another language is spoken for a few mins and subtitles are displayed for the other language, if that makes sense.

They do exisit and there are options for them in the codecs.

[clsid]

Aren't such subtitles generally hardsubs, meaning that they are part of the video, instead of softsubs?

[Sharktooth]

if you're talking about DVDs, install DirectVobSub or avoid using the crappy media center and use a DECENT player, like MPC-HC.

[ricardo.santos]

It may be evil and install lots of crap I don't need but at least it works with everything I throw at it and without stuffing around. I just installed FDDshow and Haali and I get no video just audio.

All I want to do is set MKV files so they default to english language and only displayed forced subtitles I can't believe it's this hard.


Ron if youre not getting audio and video its probably because of those damn codec packs, ive leraned the hard way by having to format my pc, like sharktooth said ffdshow and hali is all you need, if you cant see video or hear audio something affected your system.

Evil

[Sharktooth]

It may be evil and install lots of crap I don't need but at least it works with everything I throw at it and without stuffing around.
then why are you here asking for help?