Windows 7: Flac Codecs

Does anybody on this fine forum know how to enable my use of the flac format? Been to the various places that Iv'e been pointed towards when both trying to open in explorer and also media player and Iv'e had no joy thus far. Has anybody had any success in getting the said format to play. your help would be greatly appreciated.


p.s I wish not to change from WMP12 so comments on get this media player and that media player will fall on deaf ears (and eyes).

I install this.

FLAC - download

I don't know about wmp however, because I don't use that often at all.

It also has this, here...

http://flac.sourceforge.net/faq.html...__software_wmp

but the link seems to be broken here.

Thanks mate. It is supposed to play in wmp (dont know about 12) and even though I have installed it is still not recognized in explorer as any kind of format.

Hi Guy

I'm a BIG supporter of FLAC -- I HATE compressed mp3 music.

1) install NERO mega plugin pack -- this will allow you to create "Virtual" or real Audio CD's directly from FLAC files.

2) Winamp or other similar sofware will rip CD's etc directly to FLAC (and play FLAC directly).

3) Mount the virtual CD and then use whatever music software you need to copy to IPOD (or other music device -- I still use a Minidisc player -- beats the shXT out of IPODS even though it's for old Dinosaurs like me.

If you can't find th NERO mega plugin pack PM me and I'll send it to you --works fine on Windows 7 X-64 (even build 7068).

However this link should work

Chose the Romanian mirror rather than the US one -- no DRM probs.


http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Codec-Packs-Video-Codecs/Nero-Mega-Plugin-Pack.shtml


Added -- Winamp etc play FLAC direcly -- and if you use Audio streaming such as Squeezebox etc. these devices will also play flac directly.

BTW once you've ripped FLAC to a virtual Audio CD ( or compiled your own CD from FLAC) all the standard CD players will play the music. It's always better to keep music UNCOMPRESSED then you can do anything you like with it. FLAC whilst compressed is LOSSLESS.

P me if you need more help on FLAC.

cheers
jimbo

Will it work even without having Nero installed. I hate Nero as it is just bloatware in my opinion. Thanks for the response anyway jimbo. I shall look around google for said product if I don't need Nero installed.

winamp will play flac codecs. I think Mediamonkey also wil play flac codecs and VLC should also play flac codecs.

Cheers
jimbo

personally i use foobar2000 simply download add files then right click to convert to mp3 or just play in foobar as flac format

There's loads of decent apps including foobar. You are literally spoilt for choice.

I use Winamp simply because I'm used to it and it rips to FLAC really fast and the GUI is simple and intuitive.

Unlike MP3 compression (or other LOSSY compression) FLAC is LOSSLESS so you don't have to worry about the quality of encoding -- all MP3's BTW are NOT created equal even at the same level of compression so the quality of the encoder IS important. In this case with FLAC any encoder will do the job properly -- the encoding although compressed is 100% LOSSLESS.

Enc image shot

(works in Windows 7 X-64 no probs).

cheers
jimbo

There's really only one Codec pack that I'll use anymore these days. It's lightweight and has all codecs needed to play any file in Vista and Windows 7. There's no extraneous crud like some others carry and it's constantly being updated as codecs and certain filter tools are released.
Shark007 Codec Pack and 64bit Tools

He's developed a pack specifically for Windows 7 now and the x64 tool are all you'll need including the ability to set either the 32 or 64bit WMP as the default one used when you call WMP. That's important because some codecs simply don't work in a 64bit environment due to lazy developers, and this allows you to easily set the 32bit player as default which has no working difference from the 64bit player.

Shark007 was simply a frustrated user as we all were back with Vista when finding Codecs that worked was a lesson in frustration. From those simple roots he has become one of the top packager of Codecs for Windows today and has a board at Wilders Security forums dedicated to his codec pack development.
He's constantly working on his pack and listening to users requests, to improve this beauty, but I guarantee you'll be happy with this set as it has everything you'll need and the ability to customize the install.

Read the instructions tho as any other installed pack must be uninstalled before using this pack.

Directshow Filters for Ogg Vorbis, Speex, Theora and FLAC :: Main / HomePage

this is what i installed and works great for me on WMP12, if I'm off track or too late i apologize. i just saw you are in need of flac codes for wmp12. really no reason to install the full nero mega plugin unless you need it. Not required to run flac.
I personally don't use that player much, but want to help out as i must have lossless audio as well .
Looking to see how or where to install my shn codec for wmp12 - have in for winamp and all others - i see no place in wmp folder for plugins