Vista Codec Pack or K-Lite Codecs

[gonwk]

Hi folks,

I just did a Fresh Install on my laptop and before I install a Codec Pack ... I was wondering if the Video experts here would be kind enough to steer me in the right direction.

I have a Gateway, with Vista Home Premium, SP1, 64-Bit. And I play around with Videos, AVIs, Music, ...

Q1: Should I install Vista Codec Pack or the K-Lite codec pack? And why if you can tell me?

Q2: If you recommend K-Lite ... should I nistall the Mega or the Plain version? Please specify?

Q3: If neither then can you give me the Minimum list of the Codecs that I must have on my laptop to have things running smoothly? Like FFDSHOW, FFMPEG, ... etc.

Thanks,

G! :)

[Dark Eiri]

Just install Haali Media Splitter and the latest ffdshow-tryouts and you're good to go! If you mess with RealMedia, install RealAlternative. No need for codec packs. You'll have to go with the 32 bit version of both of them, since HMS isn't available in 64 bit yet, so you wouldn't be able to decode MKVs \ MP4s with ffdshow.

[lych_necross]

Most of the users on this site will recommend against installing codec packs because of their history of causing problems; however, recent versions of the K-Lite pack don't cause any system problems and can actually fix issues in some cases. The developer of k-lite hangs around these forums (I don't know about the vista pack).

If you want to minimize the number of programs to install, simply install Media Player Classic Home Cinema (http://sourceforge.net/projects/mpc-hc/). It comes with just about everything needed to watch videos.

If you are looking for something a more robust, install MPC-HC along with the Haali Media Splitter (http://haali.net/mkv/) and ffdshow tryout (http://sourceforge.net/projects/ffdshow-tryout/).

If you wanted to go with a codec pack, I'd go with the K-Lite mega pack that includes real media support (its basically mpc-hc + haali + ffdshow all in one). An alternative would be CCCP (its pretty safe).

[clsid]

If you only play mainstream video formats, then the Standard version of the K-Lite pack would be sufficient for you. That uses MPC + ffdshow + Haali as the main components.

[gonwk]

Hi Dark Eiri, lych_necross, and WOW clsid himself,

THANKS for your replies and help.

Actually I do use VLC and MPC for watching AVIs and what not ...

But I also mess around with Conversions and so forth ... and I want to make sure that the Freebie converters will not be asking for something missing ...

The Converter that I mess with are like WinFF, MediaConverter, AviDemux, Format Factory, Audacity, FAVC, DVD Flick, and other freebies and may be sometime a DVDRebuilder that uses HCEnc and QuEnc, and what not.

Q1: So, on top of Haali Media Splitter and the latest ffdshow-tryouts ... would I still need like XviD and DivX codecs installed ... and what else.

Q2: So, if I do choose to go with a Codec Package you guys are leaning toward K-Lite Basic or K-Lite Mega? Right?

THANKS again in advance for you folks Help!

G! :)

[Inspector.Gadget]

You only need DivX and XviD installed to decode most MPEG-4 ASP if you don't have ffdshow installed (this applies separately to Directshow and VFW). You may want them installed to encode with VFW-based encoders if you prefer them to the ffdshow VFW encoder for whatever reason. If you're using Avisynth with AviSource() [vfw] or DirectShowSource() or DSS2(), you will need at least one of the three VFW decoders. ffdshow has a lot of built-in processing filters for various effects and IIRC is also generally faster as a decoder than either of the two standalone VFW decoders.

[gonwk]

Hi Inspector Gadget,

Nice to see You around ... Thanks for your answer ... Your Expert explanation ... but boy it was many clicks over my head. :D

OK, I think you meant to just use ffdshow instead of bothering to install XviD or even DivX ... right!?!?

Q1: What if an application asks specifically for XviD?

Q2: Also if you install FFDShow ... don't I still need HCEnc or QuEnc for something like DVDRebuilder or some other App like that!?!?

But overall I understood all of you folks suggestion ... just to install Haali Media Splitter and the latest ffdshow-tryouts and Stay away from Codec Packs.

Also, I think Inspector Gadget your Sigline gave me the other stuff that I should have ... like AviSynth.

Q3: Inspector Gadget what the is DG*Tools!?!? Do you have a link to their downloads.

Thanks,

G! :)

[Inspector.Gadget]

OK, I think you meant to just use ffdshow instead of bothering to install XviD or even DivX ... right!?!?

Yes, unless you want to encode with either using a VFW application like VirtualDub.

Q1: What if an application asks specifically for XviD?

Decoding or encoding?

Q2: Also if you install FFDShow ... don't I still need HCEnc or QuEnc for something like DVDRebuilder or some other App like that!?!?

You do still need them because both HCEnc and QuEnc are ENCODERS, while ffdshow is mostly a DECODER (with a vfw encoder included).

Q3: Inspector Gadget what the is DG*Tools!?!? Do you have a link to their downloads.

Neuron2's app suite; DGIndex, etc.

[Mr901]

I've been using CCCP ( COmbined Community COdec Pack) and it works flawlessly

[paolo1983]

about playing videos, VLC solved all my problems, I just use it and always works :-)

About encoding or using other tools..
Install what those tools need...
If you install X , and you read "need avisynth" , then install it.

As a general advice, I don't like to install things "in advance" , saying "maybe one day some software will ask for it"

Just my 2 cents