Video player usage 2019

[stax76]

What's your player of choice? I like open source and being able to extend software via scripts/add-ons/plugins/extensions/packages/modules etc., the only open source players I know that support this are mpv, vlc and kodi.

[hubblec4]

MPC-HC has the best Matroska support.

[stax76]

MPC-HC has the best Matroska support.

Maybe it isn't difficult to add better support to mpv via script, could you upload a sample video?

edit:

It wasn't difficult to create a test file with your app.

[hubblec4]

I guess you created an mkv with multiple editions.

Here is a test sample for Matroska Medium Linking (download both Parts and copy to one folder)
https://forum.videohelp.com/attachments/44753-1519146038/VLC_Medium-Linking-issue_Sample_Part1.7z
https://forum.videohelp.com/attachments/44754-1519146901/VLC_Medium-Linking-issue_Sample_Part2.7z

When I have time I could write an overview about all this great Matroska features.

VLC has the most Matroska features on borad, but with many bugs.

[Sparktank]

Yeah, I used to like VLC; but, it tries too much in so little.
I only use it as a last resort now.

I'll use MPC-BC as a backup to try other files. Only as a portable.
As long as it has MadVR support, I'm good.

But I'm too familiar with MPC-HC to start trying out other players.
I don't need that much more than what MPC-HC offers for support.

I'll use the custom builds of MPV that comes with SVP Player for HDR content (requires VapourSynth).

[ashlar42]

Kodi DSPlayer.

From the results I think the grand majority of users here does not watch stuff in an home theater environment.

[stax76]

VLC has the most Matroska features on borad, but with many bugs.

Thanks for the sample. Maybe mpv has more stable support. In mpv(.net) you can test MKV features via CLI, IPC or input commands, in mpv.net you would select the following menu:

Context Menu > Tools > Execute mpv command

to change the edition you would enter:

set edition 0

documentation is here:

https://mpv.io/manual/master/#command-interface-set-%3Cproperty%3E-%22%3Cvalue%3E%22

https://mpv.io/manual/master/#command-interface-edition

If everything works out like planed then you will be able to select the edition in the context menu of mpv.net, later this week.

[Sparktank]

Kodi DSPlayer.

From the results I think the grand majority of users here do not watch stuff in an home theater environment.

Yeah. I keep trying to install and use Kodi, but have no real use for it when I'm the sole user at a desktop.

But I want to set up an HTPC for family, so something like Kodi would be better for them.

I just need to make sure there's an app they can use on their phone as a remote control.
You can bring the caveman out of the cave...

[Klaus1189]

From the results I think the grand majority of users here do not watch stuff in an home theater environment.

not necessarily - you can use both MPC-HC and MPC-BE as external player in Kodi

[Charky]

VLC (French power !) has been my #1 choice for a long time, it's a safe fallback, a swiss knife that does everything good, but not perfectly, and I still install it on each and every PC I use.

Then I discovered MPC-HC + madvr and my life changed a few years ago.

When MPC-HC was discontinued I switched to MPC-BE and it's been my #1 player for 18 months or so now. It has my vote.

But maybe not for long.

Recently I tried to give Kodi a new chance. I had tried XBMC/Kodi a few times over the years and always ended up uninstalling it quite quickly, deciding I didn't need the fancy but hard to navigate UI (@ashlar42 Windows Explorer and a keyboard/mouse combo can't be beaten IMO, and certainly not by any remote...) and feeling It was a complete pain in the ass to configure.

After seeing a friend of mine use Infuse on his Apple TV, I ended up installing Kodi again. I didn't want to lose madvr support though. I tried using and configuring MPC-BE as an external player but it's quirky at best and Kodi is obviously not meant to be used like this. The main drawback is that, as far as i'm aware, you lose the ability to autodownload subtitles through Kodi (unless there is a way to search and download them before lauching a video but I haven't seen that option anywhere...).

Anyway, I switched to Kodi DSPlayer a few days ago and am willing to give it a chance...

To be continued...

[chros]

When MPC-HC was discontinued I switched to MPC-BE and it's been my #1 player for 18 months or so now. It has my vote.
Same here, I don't need any fancy UI, I like the minimalistic approach, I use this remote app (https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=175007) with them.

[ashlar42]

After seeing a friend of mine use Infuse on his Apple TV, I ended up installing Kodi again. I didn't want to lose madvr support though. I tried using and configuring MPC-BE as an external player but it's quirky at best and Kodi is obviously not meant to be used like this. The main drawback is that, as far as i'm aware, you lose the ability to autodownload subtitles through Kodi (unless there is a way to search and download them before lauching a video but I haven't seen that option anywhere...).There isn't. And it's one of the main reasons (if not the main one) for me to stick with DSPlayer. Don't want to lose madVR, don't want to lose subtitles integration with all the services I use.
MPC-HC has subtitles download functionality but it's not designed with couch/remote use in mind (understandably).