Most common video codecs?

OzZie

OzZie

OzZie

Soldato
Joined
9 Jul 2004
Posts
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Nottingham
I've never really known what are the most popular codecs so im looking for a few ones that are the most popular etc.

On the net ive seen MPEG4, AC3, DivX, XviD etc but i dont have a clue as to whether they are all compatible etc.

Also, some other 3rd party players can create better playback ive heard on movie files. What are the best and most recommended codecs or 3rd party apps to use?

At the moment all i use is a standard free divx pack and WMP11. :o

Thanks. :)
 
Divx and Xvid are basically the same thing (reverse each word to get a idea) AFAIK xvid (free) is a rip-off of Divx (commerical) encoding/compression techique. They're both Mpeg-IV (Video) they can contain any type of Audio stream, Dolby Digital, MP3, OGG etc.

Mpeg-II is from DVD again can contain and/or PCM, DTS or Dolby digital.

FDDSHOW plus Media Player is a good one, as you don't need Divx and Xvid codecs, FFDSHOW supports both and many other codecs, and can scale. You don't want to install too many codecs, this is what I have installed and everything plays

FFDSHOW, scale to native rez of screen
AC-3 filter (needed if playing back AVI's with AC-3 audio to the analogue ports on the soundscard, not required if only use digital out)
Quicktime Alternative
Realtime Alteranative
OGG directshow filters
Vobsub, or use FFDSHOW's own subtitle support.
FFDSHOW RAW set to enabled
Theatretek set to FFDSHOW post processing.
 
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do a google for ace mega codecs, its a free download, all the codecs you could ever want...... someone will prove me wrong on that Bit wink
 
k3v said:
do a google for ace mega codecs, its a free download, all the codecs you could ever want...... someone will prove me wrong on that Bit wink
Click to expand...


I would just download and install specific audio/video codecs, as and when you need them. With FFDSHOW now you don't need so many. Sure you'll get a couple of Makroseka types (rare) but usually Xvid/Divx AVI, with MP3 audio, perhaps AC-3 or perhaps OGG (not so common)
 
I dont rate codec packs tbh, when I come accross a codec I dont have I just download that one by itself, then if it screws things up I can uninstall it easy.

The ones I use the most are AC3,XVID,DIVX which are free and easy to use. get mediaplayerclassic its free and very good.
 
XviD
Purevideo
CoreAVC
Haali TS Splitter
Matroska
AC3filter
FFDShow

That should sort you out for anything.

Incidentally, this_is_gav is right about some codec packs, especially when it comes to MPEG2 decoders. Regardless, most of the computers I've fixed that had video problems were due to people installing everything in a codec pack and it all conflicting.
 
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this_is_gav said:
Yeah, install illegal material, that'll sort it out.
Click to expand...

Indeed it does, all the codecs installed and all videos work, and so much less time & effort than installing scores of codecs and encoders manually. :)
 
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