Flac Codecs

[RST101]

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).

 

[torrentg]

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#general__software_wmp

but the link seems to be broken here.

 

[RST101]

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.

 

[jimbo45]

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).

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 W7 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

 

[RST101]

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.

 

[jimbo45]

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

Cheers
jimbo

 

[ickymay]

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

 

[jimbo45]

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 W7 X-64 no probs).

cheers
jimbo

 

[Chappy]

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 W7. 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 W7 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.

 

[t41]

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

 

[PhilSE1]

I use Media Monkey to play my music. You need to have both WMP and Quicktime installed because MM piggybacks on those for some formats. Here's more info: MediaMonkey » Free Media Jukebox, Music Manager, CD Ripper & Converter

Cheers

Phil

 

[jimbo45]

I might be wrong but I don't think WMP has user settable "plugins" so you are stuck with whatever Microsoft dishes up.

For Audio there are so many better choices around and smaller too -- apart from Winamp, Media Monkey, Foobar etc etc why not go for the really simple and FREE player VLC. (It "does" DVD's as well).

If you need a Music Organiser / Media Library system or whatever then that's another issue but as a player VLC will handle almost any codec in the known universe including those "from a galaxy far far away...".

Cheers
jimbo

 

[t41]

I use Media Monkey to play my music. You need to have both WMP and Quicktime installed because MM piggybacks on those for some formats.

Maybe for movies, but not for audio, i've ran media monkey without wmp nor quicktime or realplayer

i would not use the same program to run audio and video - winamp can do it, but km player is a lot better for the video - as in the same way media monkey or Jriver or winamp are better and specialize in audio. Media Center - J. River Media Center software

as for libraries go - the best i have found to date - is orangecd - OrangeCD – Best CD catalog software to organize MP3 collection this is the only cataloger i'd use, and it connects with winamp or others to play files from catalogue as well, most do not.

The only way to figure this out is to try them out one at a time and see what you like. I did that and a lot of research to come up with my conclusions, but opinions are just like A#holes everyone has one. lol

 

[Charles Kane]

but I guarantee you'll be happy with this set

Yup, this is an excellent find and I appreciate your link and description, haven't tried all the file formats yet, and may well go back to WinAmp - but WMP 12 is pretty solid and looks good so, not having a built in rejection response to Microsoft (just healthy suspicion) and now being able to play my amon Tobin in Flac I'm pretty pleased.

 

[jimbo45]

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 W7. 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

.

Hi there
any WORKING links to this package

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Quill]

Personally I use foobar2000 for all my audio needs it's very versatile (hopefully I'll be able to listen to some music when I get the realtek issue sorted) it comes with everything needed to play most media formats.

If you do need something specific by way of a codec you can go to:

Free-Codecs.com :: Download latest audio codecs, video codecs, codec packs and tools, FREE!
or
Codec Guide: K-Lite Codec Pack and other useful stuff

The both have a great selection of free codecs and utilities available.

I tried win7codec pack and after installation I was unable to play mp3 files, so I removed it.

 

[Charles Kane]

Hi there
any WORKING links to this package

Cheers
jimbo

Works for me - here's the direct link to the win7 Codecs

good luck

 

[psteiny]

well I tried to get the codec from Shark007's FREE Codec solutions - Windows 7 codecs, but stupid as it may seem. All the immediate download links on the page send you somewhere else to software I don't want.

It kinda seems the site was created for advertising someone else's software than the intended codec.

Am I alone in thinking the site is very poorly made?

 

[NickF]

Don't be put off by the route to the download site. Follow the link to MajorGeeks.com near the bottom of Shark007's explanation page. Choose the Official Mirror at the top of the MajorGeeks page and you will get the Win7Codecs file. Remember his instructions, particularly to uninstall all other codecs. It worked fine for me. You also need WMPTagPlus. Good luck.

Nick.

 

[psteiny]

all sorted, thanks heaps for the pointers.