Best Codec Pack for Windows 7

[Shark007]

Shark007
I would try your pack of codes , but you package them in a way that I cannot see the contents.

I want to know what files are installing and what version they are i use Universal Extractor to unpack .the files so I know whats inside them..

Could you give us a listing?

In this post you recommend K-crap.
K-crap actually password protects thier installer to not allow you to extract with Uninversal extractor.

I on the otherhand use no such protection whatsoever.

You should also know, many of the files placed on you hdd are not activated (in use) by default. The Settings Application allows splitters and codecs to be actvated or disabled as the user requires/chooses.

 

[kegobeer]

Shark007
I would try your pack of codes , but you package them in a way that I cannot see the contents.

I want to know what files are installing and what version they are i use Universal Extractor to unpack .the files so I know whats inside them..

Could you give us a listing?

Just go to his website - he lists all of the codecs there.

http://shark007.net/description7.txt

 

[Assassin151]

Grateful for Sharks

Hi, I'm new to these forums, I have been using Shark007 Codec Pack for a year now, and i have to say haven't had a problem since, the main reason i like this pack is it does everything i need:

-Allows every type of media file to be played in WMP.
- Perfectly gives me the options of audio/video/subtitle streams. (other codecs have missed some streams for some reason :S)
- Setting APP which lets you do anything!!!

Mr. Shark007, I've read this whole thread sorry about some of the unappreciation/harsh words you have been receiving, but I'd like to say Thankyou so much to you and your friend who convinced you to share your efforts with the public. Know that I and all my family/friends appreciate your hard work and efforts on making this pack and keeping it perfect as the weeks go by.

P.S. 7 Smilies for Shark007!


EDIT: I'd like to ask something...
I have just formatted my PC with Windows 7 Pro x64 that I purchased. I'd like to know do I have to know do i need the Shark x64 components? What does it add to the standard Shark package?

 

[Shark007]

I have just formatted my PC with Windows 7 Pro x64 that I purchased. I'd like to know do I have to know do i need the Shark x64 components? What does it add to the standard Shark package?

Thanks for the kind words.

On an x64 system, the x64 addon allows playback in Media Center
and supplies the thumbnailing of formats not natively supported by the Operating System.

 

[Assassin151]

I have just formatted my PC with Windows 7 Pro x64 that I purchased. I'd like to know do I have to know do i need the Shark x64 components? What does it add to the standard Shark package?

Thanks for the kind words.

On an x64 system, the x64 addon allows playback in Media Center
and supplies the thumbnailing of formats not natively supported by the Operating System.

No worries, you deserve them.

OK thanks i'll go ahead and install both packs then

EDIT: OK i have installed both and everything works perfectly but mkv's still dont make a thumbnail

 

[Shark007]

OK i have installed both and everything works perfectly but mkv's still dont make a thumbnail

MKV Thumbnails while using Shark007 Codecs.
Read the whole topic, the last post will make them picture perfect too.

 

[AngelProcesser]

Shouldn't plugins or addons make things easier? I'm not seeing that.

 

[Assassin151]

hmmm.. shark i did what you said and the thumbnails work now, but something has gone wrong... MKV files still play in wmp, but the subs dont work? also .rm files crash in wmp.

 

[Suspekt]

I have just formatted my PC with Windows 7 Pro x64 that I purchased. I'd like to know do I have to know do i need the Shark x64 components? What does it add to the standard Shark package?

Thanks for the kind words.

On an x64 system, the x64 addon allows playback in Media Center
and supplies the thumbnailing of formats not natively supported by the Operating System.

So if i don't use Media Center on my windows 7x64 system,i don't need to install the x64 addon ?

 

[brunces]

I'd really like to know that...

Shark007, I've read this whole thread and I'd like to say that I'm on your side. Because of guys like you, people like me (newbie) get their downloaded videos to work like a charm.

There's a question I've always wanted to ask someone and I guess maybe this could be an opportunity. As I said before, I don't know much about codecs and stuffs and I'm pretty sure there's a lot of people in the world just like me. All we know is that if we download and install a codec pack, our videos will play correctly. But, I confess, I would like to know how to really use these packs because I've always used them with their default settings. For example, after installing your pack, what exactly should I enable or disable? There are so many options to mark or not and I really don't know what the heck they are for. When I use it with the default settings, it works fine, but maybe there are lots of options that I could manage to work better, I don't know.

I'm not asking you for a lesson on codecs and their particularities. I just wanted to know, for example, what to mark or not on "Config" tab, on "Misc" tab, on "Audio" tab, and so on. I believe the settings may be related to my computer configuration, I mean, it's a kind of an individual setting that wouldn't apply to all computers, am I right? So, I should mark or not what applies to it only. But, that's the point... How do I know what applies to my computer? See my desperation? (lol)

Anyway, could you please, point me to a guide or any kind of source of information which I could use to help me figure out how to deal with your pack correctly, and get the best from what it can offer? I can go after it, no problem. The point is I don't even know what to go after.

If you could help me, I would really appreciate it.

By the way, I've been using SMPlayer for a long time, for it comes with embedded codecs. What do you think about it? Is it worth?

Congratulations for your great work. Even not knowing how to deal with it correctly, it works very well. That's a sign it is good. (lol)

Cheers,

brunces

 

[Shark007]

Visit Shark007's WIKI for complete usage information... or seek solutions on MY FORUM

I know nothing about alternate players. I use the players that come with Windows.
The only player I test with other than the Windows players is Media Player Classic - Homecinema and even then, I use the preconfigured versions which I distribute from the Tools page of my website.

 

[brunces]

Very good. Thanks, Shark007. Just one more thing... How do I avoid disabling Aero in full screen mode? Every time I play a video in full screen mode (Windows Media Player), I get my Aero disabled automatically. Do you know how to fix it? Does your pack fix this with any settings?

I usually use Direct3D renderer on other players, but Windows Media Player doesn't allow me to change the renderer, does it? I've never seen any option.

Thanks again.

brunces

 

[Shark007]

The fact that you have not filled out your system specs (see the clicky in the lower left of everyones posts?) leaves me no choice but to guess. Most likely Aero is being disabled by the OS because your GPU is integrated and lacks the RAM to play the video properly or it is just to old for the tasks you ask of it.

 

[brunces]

Shark007, I don't know exactly what you need, but according to DirectX Diagnostic Tool...

[Device]
Name: SiS Mirage 3 Graphics
Manufacturer: Silicon Integrated System Corp.
Chip Type: SiS672 series
DAC Type: Internel
Approx. Total Memory: 312 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor

[Drivers]
Main Driver: SISGRUMD.dll,SiSClone.dll,SiSF...
Version: 7.14.10.5270
Date: 14/01 08:57:04
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
DDI Version: 9Ex
Driver Model: WDDM 1.0

[DirectX Features]
DirectDraw Acceleration: Enabled
Direc3D Acceleration: Enabled
AGP Texture Accelearation: Enabled

[Notes]
No problems found.

According to CPU-Z...

- Intel Pentium Dual CPU T3400 @ 2.16GHz (MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, EM64T)
- Cache Level 2 = 1024 KBytes
- Mainboard = Clevo M540SS, Chipset SiS672 Rev. 00
- BIOS = Phoenix Technologies LTD, Version 6.00, Date 02/06/2009
- Graphic Interface = AGP version 3.0, Transfer Rate 8x, Max. Supported 8x, Side Band enabled
- Memory = DDR2, 3072 MBytes, Frequency 333.4 MHz
- GPU SiS Mirage 3 Graphics, Revision 10, Memory 256 MBytes

All 256 MB are set to be used, on BIOS.
Running Windows 7 Ultimate x86.

Detail: the Aero-related issue doesn't happen with other players such as SMPlayer and Media Player Classic - Homecinema (both with renders set to Direct3D). I don't know much about this stuff, but if other programs work well, without disabling Aero in full screen mode, I believe this issue must be something related to Windows Media Player only, and not to my GPU. Am I wrong? I don't know.

Thanks.

brunces

 

[Shark007]

your system's hardware is not up to the task.
The OS is disabling Aero to allow maximum RAM to be used for playback.

If other players allow proper playback without stutter, you are very lucky.

 

[brunces]

Hum, weird conclusion, but you know more than me, so you might be right. Thanks.

brunces

 

[Unicorn7]

Much Ado About Nothing
After reading so much of Forums, Reference materials like Wikipedia, About.com and after spending a lot of time hunting for a Best Codec Pack the Question of "Best codec pack for windows Os (XP, Vista, Seven)" seeems rather odd. But one can ask the question of which is the Best Codec for Coding/Decoding a Multimedia File.

Codec Packs: After all they are just Codec packs, ie pack containing all the necessary Codecs from different sources to help the amatuers, average user & lazy proffessionals to play the multimedia rather than hunting for a specific codec for playing a file

Wikipedia: Codec Pack is a collection of audio and video components for Microsoft Windows that enables the operating system and its software to play back various audio and video formats generally not supported by the operating system itself (little edited)

About.Com: Codec packs are collections of codecs gathered in single large files. There is much debate over whether it is necessary to get a large group of codec files, but it certainly is the easiest and least-frustrating option for new downloaders

So no big deal here and my suggetion is just instal the one which meets the following Basic Critteria
1) Plays most of the formats if not all the Formats available currently,
2) Free of malware/adware/spyware and simillar crap,
3) Reasaonably stable and makes least Changes to OS
4) Easy to Install or Unistall alteast for Amatures & Less Technical average users
5) For Professionals and Advanced users - Individual Preferences like Advanced options etc.,

I guess most of the popular packs meet the above criteria since each one tries to excel the other, but nothing is perfect each one has its own Merits and Demerits. From my personal expereince i have tried a lot of codec packs finally i settled with K-Lite Mega Codec Pack since it met most of the above criteria. I have not tried Shark's Codec packs, will do so in the Future.

Here are the codec packs recommend by About.com: (What Exactly Is 'Codec', and Why Would I Ever Need It?)
1. CCCP Combined Community Codec Pack
2. XP Codec Pack
3. K-Lite Codec
4. K-Lite Mega Codec

As for Mr.Shark who's is to be appreciated for pains takingly creating a codec pack and spoon feeding it to most of the users - hats off to you, But his emotional outburts come a like stone to the face of those who make casual remarks about his works making him Mr.Stony Shark 007 - sorry Mr.Shark just kidding. If Mr.Shark were to remain cool and diplomatic to his critics it would only add to his reputation. A Person like you will definitly recieve negative remarks just go easy on them, show your skill in your works instead of insulting them that would shut their mouth, wouldn't it Mr.Shark ? And Mr.Shark you keep on metioning K-Crap if it is a crap to you so is your's to others, learn to respect others crap as you would want them to respect yours. I'm just trying to be fair here thats it.

As for a the Best Codec is concerend its goes by Bit Rate, Lossy codecs: / Lossless codecs, In case of Lossy codec the comppression ratio, whether it is an open source or not and so on.
See Wikipedia: Comparison of Codecs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_video_codecs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_audio_codecs

Also See Video compression codecs, how to compare video codecs the right way

This is the head ache of the person who is Creating and or Distributing the multimedia file to select a particular codec for compressing his File. The end user need not be worried about it because you just download the file that is already encoded with a certain type of codec, if you are not saftisfied by the quality of the video go for a different one or you don't have much choice here.



Article From About.Com - What Exactly Is 'Codec', and Why Would I Ever Need It?
What Exactly Is 'Codec'? Why Would I Ever Need It?
About.com Internet for Beginners
By Paul Gil, About.com Guide
Question: What Exactly Is 'Codec'? Why Would I Ever Need It?

Answer: (February, 2010)
"Codec" is a technical name for "compression/decompression". It also stands for "compressor/decompressor" and "code/decode". All of these variations mean the same thing: a codec is a computer program that both shrinks large movie files, and makes them playable on your computer. Codec programs are required for your media player to play your downloaded music and movies.

"Why do we need codecs?"
ANS: Because video and music files are large, they become difficult to transfer across the Internet quickly. To help speed up downloads, mathematical "codecs" were built to encode ("shrink") a signal for transmission and then decode it for viewing or editing. Without codecs, downloads would take three to five times longer than they do now.

"Is there only one codec I need?"
ANS: Sadly, there are hundreds of codecs being used on the Internet, and you will need combinations that specifically play your files. There are codecs for audio and video compression, for streaming media over the Internet, videoconferencing, playing mp3's, speech, or screen capture. To make matters more confusing, some people who share their files on the Net choose to use very obscure codecs to shrink their files. This makes it very frustrating for users who download these files, but do not know which codecs to get to play these files. If you are a regular downloader, you will probably need ten to twelve codecs to play your music and movies.

"How do I know which codec to download and install?"
ANS: Your Windows Media Player will often try to communicate to you the 4-character code of the specific codec it needs. Note this code, then visit this website http://www.fourcc.org/fcccodec.htm1 to obtain the missing codec. For a small FAQ section, follow the link on the left called "Sample Code".

"What are the codecs I should download and install?"
ANS: There is no single best answer to this question. There are so many codec choices. The easiest option is to download "codec packs". Codec packs are collections of codecs gathered in single large files. There is much debate over whether it is necessary to get a large group of codec files, but it certainly is the easiest and least-frustrating option for new downloaders. Here are the codec packs we recommend at About.com:

1. CCCP2 Combined Community Codec Pack is one of the most comprehensive codec packages you can download. CCCP was put together by users who like to share and watch movies online, and the codecs they've chosen are designed for 99% of the video formats you will experience as a P2P downloader. It is still virus-free as of February, 2010, so definitely consider CCCP if you think your computer needs updated codecs.

2. XP Codec Pack3 XP Codec Pack is a sleek, all-in-one, spyware / adware free codec collection that also offers a good, solid Media Player Classic. Currently just under 6MB in size, XP Codec Pack is truly one of the most complete assemblies of codecs needed to play all major audio and video formats.

3. K-Lite Codec Pack4 Very user-friendly and well tested, K-Lite Codec Pack is loaded with goodies. It will enable you to play all the popular movie formats. K-Lite comes in 4 flavors: Basic, Standard, Full and Mega. If all you need is to be able to play DivX and XviD formats, Basic will do just fine. Standard pack is probably the most popular - it has everything an average user needs to play the most common file formats. Full pack, designed for power users, has even more codecs plus encoding support.

4. K-Lite Mega Codec Pack5 Mega is a very comprehensive bundle...it has everything but a kitchen sink. Mega even contains QuickTime Alternative and Real Alternative.

 

[too]

Just One

Just Shark007 here plays everything, I could even finally get rid off crappie quicktime here!

 

[madtownidiot]

For XP I use k-lite, but with windows 7, I've found the WMP 12 has built in support for almost anything I throw at it, with VLC filling most of the gaps

 

[Ged]

I have a home theatre setup that I couldn't have done without Shark007...his help and his codecs. Why anyone would not want to use his stuff is beyond me. Thanks Shark007!