Good day!
Every time you open a multimedia file (music, movies, etc.), the codecs (special software that converts data, signal).
A lot depends on the choice of a set of codecs: will you open only a part of video files or all without exception; whether the video will slow down; how audio and video will be converted and compressed, etc.
Now you can find dozens of sets of codecs, but not all of them deserve attention (in my opinion ☝). In this article, I will recommend a few sets that have helped me out more than once in my daily work.
So...
👉 Remark!
Nowadays, video players are popular that do not need codecs in the system (everything that is needed is already built into them!).
K-Lite Codec Pack
Website: //www.codecguide.com/download_kl.htm
One of the best (if not the most!) Sets of codecs for working with audio and video files. The set is distinguished by its versatility: it is suitable for both novice users and more experienced ones.
K-Lite Codec Pack supports all the most common video formats: AVI, MKV, MP4, FLV, MPEG, MOV, TS, M2TS, WMV, RM, RMVB, OGM, WebM, etc. The same applies to audio formats: MP3, FLAC, M4A, AAC, OGG, 3GP, AMR, APE, MKA, Opus, Wavpack, etc.
In total, there are 4 options for a set of codecs:
- Basic and Standard : basic sets, suitable for all novice users (well, or those who do not encode, convert video files);
- Full and Mega : a large set of codecs. If your videos sometimes do not play (for example, a black screen is shown instead of a picture), I recommend choosing these particular versions.
There are versions of codecs for absolutely all Windows operating systems:
- the latest versions are suitable for Windows 7, 8, 10 (moreover, codecs are present at once in one set for 32/64 bit systems);
- For Windows 95/98 / Me - choose version 3.4.5;
- For Windows 2000 / XP - version 7.1.0 (for Windows XP SP2 +, by the way, you can try to install a modern version of the set).
👉 Important!
When installing the MEGA pack - select the option in the settings "Lots of stuff" - this way you will have all the necessary codecs in the system to view ANY video files ..
Option to install a set of codecs MEGA pack - Lots of stuff
Note! By the way, the set of codecs includes an excellent video player - Media Player Classic (I recommend it!).
Media Player Codec Pack
Developer site: //www.mediaplayercodecpack.com/
Free and large enough codec package designed for ordinary home PCs (laptops). After installation, as a rule, the user does not need to install anything else: all video and audio files will open and play without problems.
It is also worth noting its simple installation: a minimum of actions is required from the user! The codec is distributed in three versions: the minimum set (Lite), standard (Standart) and extended (Plus).
Supported video files: DivX, XviD, x264, h.264, AVI, MKV, OGM, MP4, 3GPP, MPEG, VOB, DAT, FLV, PS, TS, etc.
Supported audio files: AC3, DTS, AAC, APE, FLAC, TTA, WV, OGG, Vorbis, MO3, IT, XM, S3M, MTM, MOD, UMX, etc.
After installing Media Player Codec Pack - you will be able to open and view ~ 99.9% of files (including formats: XCD, VCD, SVCD and DVD).
Codec List Media Player Codec Pack
Pros:
- support for a huge number of multimedia file formats;
- the set of codecs is completely free;
- ease of installation and configuration;
- large set of tools and fine tuning.
Minuses:
- no support for the Russian language;
- in some cases it is necessary to adjust the sound (apparently a set of codecs cannot configure "contact" with some versions of audio drivers by default);
- before installing the set - you must completely remove the old codecs (to avoid conflicts and incorrect operation of this set).
ADVANCED Codecs for Windows 10 / 8.1 / 7
Developer site: //shark007.net/win7codecs.html
The famous codecs from Sharkey are better known and popular abroad than in our country. The set of codecs is just great, as the name implies, it will work in Windows 7, 8, 10 (32/64 bits).
About what ADVANCED Codecs supports all popular (and not so much) video and audio formats, probably it makes no sense to say.
But it is worth saying about some significant advantages (this is no longer in any set of codecs):
- this set does not contain any video players - thus. it does not change file associations in Windows and all your files will be played in previous programs;
- this package includes codecs for playing streaming video, which can be viewed, including in a browser (that is, online video is popular at the moment);
- The installer of the program will automatically (i.e. you do not have to delete anything before installing) remove all old codecs and make all the necessary changes to the Windows registry! After the codecs are installed, your programs, such as Windows Media Player, will automatically use the new codecs from this set;
- during installation, you can choose not only which codecs are needed, but also the directory for installing each. After installation, those codecs that you no longer need can be easily removed (or add the missing ones). In general, the installer in this program is extremely convenient!
Configuring codecs
By the way it's worth mentioning that this set of codecs is completely free!
StarCodec
Developer site: //www.starcodec.com/en/
Another free codec pack (developed by Koreans) for high-quality playback of audio and video files. Its main advantage: in uniqueness, in the fact that this package has everything you need to work with video, so to speak, "all in one"!
Supports a huge variety of video files : DivX, XviD, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MJPEG, WebM, AVI, MP4, MKV, MOV, FLV, RM, FourCC Changer, MediaInfo, etc.
Supports a huge variety of audio files : MP3, OGG, AC3, DTS, AAC, FLAC, etc.
It should be added that all the necessary codecs for 64-bit systems are also present in the set. Supported OS Windows: 7, 8, 10. The set of codecs is constantly updated and replenished.
Note! What else is good about this set is its lower requirements in comparison with analogues. Those. you can try to install and use it on old PCs (laptops).
StarCode - installation
There is no need to set any special settings and parameters, for most users everything will work by default (i.e. immediately after installation). However, for advanced users, there is room for fine tuning. In general, the set is very interesting and deserves attention.
CCCP: Combined Community Codec Pack
Website: //www.cccp-project.net/
A specific set of codecs. Created, for the most part, for playing anime (+ support for subtitles, in these videos, not all players are able to read subtitles).
The main features of the set:
- contains only the main codecs (far from all): thus, greater compatibility of distributed anime videos is achieved. In addition, the risk of conflicts between different codecs is reduced;
- simplicity and ease of installation / uninstallation. The developers have thought over and made the master in such a way that even those who just sat down at the PC yesterday can cope;
- support for all popular Windows versions: XP / Vista / 7/8 / 8.1 / 10;
- the last update of the set was in 2015. (in principle, this is not so critical for codecs).
Supported multimedia formats:
- Video: MPEG-2, DivX, XviD, H.264, WMV9, FLV, Theora, Generic MPEG-4 ASP (3ivx, lavc, etc.), AVI, OGM, MKV, MP4, FLV, 3GP, TS.
- Audio: MP1, MP2, MP3, AC3, DTS, AAC, Vorbis, LPCM, FLAC, TTA, WavPack
Popular formats that are not supported:
- QuickTime .qt .mov (can be played after installing QuickTime);
- RealMedia .rm .rmvb (can be played after installing RealPlayer).
XP Codec Pack
Developer site: //www.xpcodecpack.com/
A good alternative to the K-Lite Codec Pack and Media Player Codec Pack. Despite the name (note: there is XP) - the codec pack supports all the latest Windows OS: XP, 7, 8, 10 (32/64 bits).
The set has a well-implemented installer: you will be prompted to choose video filters to install (DVD, msdVR, LAV Filters, Real, xy-VSFilter, xySubFilter); will be asked to indicate audio codecs: AC3 Filter, LAV Audio, FLAC, Monkey Audio, MusePack, OptimFROG, TTA.
Basically, if you do not know what to choose - you can leave everything by default and click the "next" button - the program is configured in such a way that in this case everything will work for you out of the box.
I also recommend including the Media Player Classic Home Cinema in the installation list (it is distinguished by its low system requirements, support for a large number of video files).
XP Codec Pack: Installation Window
Note! In the list of tools installed along with the codec pack, there is the Codec Detective utility, which is designed to show you all installed codecs in Windows, as well as suggest which ones work incorrectly and conflict.
Matroska Pack Full
Website: //www.matroska.org/
A solid universal set of codecs. It removes special attention to two formats: MKA and MKV (many modern high-quality films, today, are distributed in this format!).
Also in Matroska the situation with subtitles is very good: you can even watch "tricky" Korean videos with subtitles (including, you can load external subtitles).
Key Features:
- compactness of the package with a wide variety of video filters, support for most popular video files;
- support for MKV format in full (many other packages have problems when working with this format);
- in addition to MKV, playback of audio files with FLAC encoding (lossless!) is supported;
- there are no unnecessary additional applications in the codec package (which they love to add to all other similar sets);
- codecs work in any player (note: which supports DirectShow) ;
- VSFilter - special a module that allows you to load any subtitles;
- all Windows versions are supported: XP, 7, 8, 10 (32/64 bits).
What else can I recommend:
- Ace Mega Codec Pack - a huge set of codecs, probably the largest! There is only one small detail - it has not been updated for a long time (since about 2006). Thus, it is not very relevant today, unless you want to install it on an old PC;
- DivX (developer site: //www.divx.com/) is one of the most popular codecs. If you want to get the latest version of this codec, I recommend downloading it from the official site. By the way, many who are engaged in encoding video files, I recommend downloading only the specific codec you need and not using the sets at all;
- Xvid (developer site: //www.xvid.com) is another very popular codec, many films and videos on the Internet are encoded with it. In some cases, it provides better compression than the previous one (but in my opinion - this codec affects more PC resources for compression, and is slower);
- x264 Video Codec (developer site: //www.videolan.org/) - an alternative codec to the Mpeg4 and Divx format, allows you to compress and encode video in the H.264 / AVC format. Differs in high quality compression, coupled with a good picture. In general, it is a worthy competitor to the previous codecs.
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That's all for me today.
All the best!
👋
First publication: 27.11.2016
Correction: 01/05/2020
