Which CODEC pack should I use?

[aliumalik]

It's really a pain when you have to install all those codecs by yourself. I wanted to know which codec pack do you guys use. I have been using the K-Lite codec pack for quite some time now but have been hearing more name's lik ACE, Nemo etc. Which one do you use?

[killingspree]

honestly, personally i wouldn't recommend any codec packs! but if you really want one, i'd recommend the Gordian Knot Codec Pack, which only makes sense when you are encoding though...

you can find it here:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/gordianknot/Gordian.Knot.Codec.Pack.1.6.Setup.exe?download

it contains:
DivX3.11alpha, DivX5.11 Pro, XviD Koepi 24062003-1, Huffyuv 0.2.2.1, AC3Filter 0.70b, mpgaudioax, Morgan Stream Switcher and ffdshow alpha 2003-05-23

if you do not need encoding capabilities and just want playback you can omit divx 3.11 alpha, divx 5.11, xvid and huffyuv... installing divx and xvid for playback also makes sense if you want native decoding!

oh and please keep away from the Nimo Codec pack, once installed it will be on your system for good, no way to get rid of it completely, but formating your system drive!!

hth
steVe

[Inc]

Ive heard about an "ac codec" pack or so similair, where also an utlity is included where you can switch codec on/off, or setting merids .....

[aliumalik]

So we shouldn't use codec packs?

[echooff]

Having played the codec pack game I am of the firm opinion you should not install any. Select the codecs you need and install only the ones you really need. The only codec I have installed that did not come with another program is xvid. I have also installed the ffdshow filter. My dvd software installed codecs and a few other programs have added to the mix.

[DAvenger]

Codec packs = evil

[killingspree]

i guess aliumalik got the point there, guys :)

[aliumalik]

heh yes I did get the point :) . One last question can someone guide me on what ffdshow is and what are its uses, advantages etc

[killingspree]

ffdshow is a generic mpeg4 directshow playback filter! you can play divx and xvid videos with it, without having the actual codecs installed! In addition it lets you adjust a couple of other playback settings. Some argue that native playback by the codec is better, other's claim the

Keep in mind though that ffdshow is completely useless for encoding. it is just playback, so for any encoding work you'll have to have the appropriate codecs installed!

steVe

[ac-chan123]

ffdshow is a playback/record directshow filter with VfW interface for:
VIDEO
-Xvid/DivX(3.11 -5.x), 3ivX/ ...
-wmv1(MS Mediaplayer up to 7)
-wmv2(MS Media layer 8 and higer)(incomplete)
-H.263(+)
-H.264(also know as MPEG 4 Part10 and AVC)(incomplete)
-MPEG1 (current broken)
-MPEG2 (current broken)
-MPEG in avi
-MJPEG
-DV
-CYUV
-ASV 1/2(hardware Codec of TV/Capture cards)
-VCR1(ATI Hardware Codec for All in Wonder TV Cards)
-SVQ1
-SVQ3
-HuffYUV
-MS Video 1
-Indeo3
-Cinepack
-MSRLE
-MSZH
-ZLIB
-RV10/RV20
-FFV1
-Theora
-VP31
-Raw Video in YUV ord RGB versions

AUDIO
-WMA1
-WMA2
-MP2
-MP3
-AC§
-AAC
-AMR
-Uncompressed

You kann disable or bypass any of this codec. When you bypass you can use the other filters inside(color corection, aspect radio correctio, crop, deinterlace, equalizer, mixer, Volume, and many many more).
see http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=168#comments

[bond]

altough it has been said already, it cant be said enough:

dont use codec packs!
grap the codecs you need from the developers themselves!

[aliumalik]

So does ffdshow really provide better playback (any articles, comparisons etc would be nice)?

[jggimi]

You'll find plenty of discussion on ffdshow if you follow the recommendation in my signature.

[aliumalik]

Originally posted by jggimi
You'll find plenty of discussion on ffdshow if you follow the recommendation in my signature.
Tried before and again but found nothing relevant

[killingspree]

get your own impression:
take a movie encoded with rather bad quality (so differences get more visible) and then watch some scenes with ffdshow switched on/off - you know, best is what works best for YOU ;)

steVe

[SeeMoreDigital]

Originally posted by DAvenger
Codec packs = evil Agreed

[bond]

if you dont use postprocessing and everything goes as it should be every mpeg-4 decoder should give exactly the same image